Can videogames be a form of poetry? It’s a provocative question that challenges the traditional boundaries between art forms. While poetry is often seen as a medium for introspection and cultural critique, videogames are typically associated with industrialism, consumerism, and resource consumption—more often about conquering worlds than contemplating them. However, these assumptions can be subverted.
The videogame installation “With Magnus to Norway” challenges the conventional narrative of videogames by reimagining the possibilities of early gaming technology. Incorporating recognizable 8-bit aesthetics, a repurposed dance pad controller, and a real-life infant stroller, the installation invites participants to experience a reflective, poetic journey that was never realized during the early console period: a contemplative walk through nature with a growing child, that is simultaneously a journey towards an ancestral homeland.
The installation suggests an alternative history of videogames while simultaneously proposing a new pathway for contemporary digital experiences. By utilizing familiar technologies for purposes of reflection rather than competition,
“With Magnus to Norway” demonstrates that the tools long used to create high-energy, goal-driven games can alsofoster introspection and connection with the natural world. By incorporating open technologies, found objects, repurposed code, supposedly “dead” platforms, and minimal computing resources, this project not only challenges traditional game design but also promotes a sustainable and accessible approach to software creation and digital art.
Jordan Magnuson is an experimental game designer and new media artist, and 2024-25 Fulbright Fellow in Digital Culture at the University of Bergen. Jordan’s serious games, art games, “notgames,” and “game poems” have been featured by Wired, PC Gamer, Le Monde, and others, shown at festivals and exhibitions around the world, and nominated for a variety of awards including the New Media Writing Prize and the IndieCade Grand Jury Award.
