“We play games and talk about them the way people in book clubs talk about books."
At the LJ Games Club, they first agree on playing a specific game, and then they discuss it at monthly meetings. They play games that are critical of their own medium. Among the games they have chosen so far are non-commercial works by artists and small teams, critiques of imperialism and capitalism, interactive poetry, critiques of games themselves, and works that explore interactivity in unique ways.
They analyze games both through their design and their anthropological significance. Occasionally, they also read — creators’ manifestos or, for example, academic articles published in game studies journals. They play short games (under 2 hours), affordable games, and those that don’t demand too much from players. They’re not interested in commercial standards aimed at profit. They’re interested in games as an art medium.
If you're interested in games and would like to discuss them, you can join the meetings every second Tuesday of the month from 18:00 to 20:00 on the ground floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM)!
LJ Games Club #22: Bloodborne PSX
According to Kotaku portal, in 2023, nine out of the ten highest rated games on Metacritic were remakes. This surge in remaking and remastering games has sparked debates around digital preservation, when remakes are justified, and - in extreme cases like 'the Skyrim of Theseus' - what is even being remastered anymore.
It's all the more surprising, then, that Bloodborne, one of FromSoftware's most acclaimed titles, has yet to receive a remake or remaster. Every new presentation by Sony, which owns the intellectual property, fuels intense speculation that a remake or remaster might finally happen.
In lieu of an official update, developer Lilith Walker released a 'demake' of Bloodborne in 2022. Bloodborne PSX reimagines the game's opening level with the retro aesthetic of the original PlayStation. Beyond its nostalgic visuals and redesigned enemy and level layout, the game drew attention for giving new players a chance to experience the PS4 exclusive title on PC before emulation was possible. Following its release, Sony issued a takedown notice, and the game is now only available via third-party archival sources.
At the next meeting, you will be discussing Bloodborne PSX, demakes, intellectual property, and the preservation of video games. To prepare, you're invited to play Bloodborne PSX – available on archive.org (https://archive.org/details/bloodborne-psx-demake-v-1.05) – and, for comparison, it is recommended that you play or watch the opening level of the original Bloodborne on YouTube.
