Reading 3 – Experimental Films & Games

Experimental Films are a good way to showcase alternate methods of film-making without following traditional conventions. There is no need to have a story, but rather just an idea. Experimental film more recently has evolved to cover a greater amount of media while still staying true to its original form. The video game LSD Dream Emulator (1998) on Playstation 1 uses the rules of experimental films but does so in an interactive manner. In the game you are in a dream-like state where you can wonder around different areas. Each area has random music, animals, colours and text, things can repeat, change and perform unorthodox responses and actions such as hitting a wall will make you advance to a new area. Sometimes in lieu of certain levels an experimental film will play such as a child eating or machines operating. Rather than playing like a game, it is more of a film that you can control. There is no true ending to this game and just like an experimental film its meaning and interpretation is up to the individual.

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