socialservice.sg presents: "Before the Ballot"

Role-playing as a Singaporean civil servant in “What’s the Matter, Mr. Monster?” (with director Roshan Singh Sambhi)

Apr 25, 2022

38:06

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Episode notes

Introduction

2min

16 White Game Jamming

2min

Singlet Block Party: A Game Jam-Like Environment

4min

Nizeng: The Art of Curiousness

5min

The Importance of Playing a Free Browser Game

2min

The Joy of the Game

2min

The Story of a Civil Service Officer

5min

The Importance of Community in Gaming

3min

How to Minimize Opportunities for Abuse in Multiplayer Environments

2min

10.

The Importance of Kindness in Games

2min

11.

The Impending Loss of Community in Game Design

6min

12.

The Joy of Working With Local Creatives

3min

Inspired by the short story “SIN” in Singaporean writer Ng Yi-Sheng's collection “Lion City” (https://epigrambookshop.sg/products/lion-city), “What’s the Matter, Mr. Monster” (https://www.ministryofmonsters.sg/) is a dialogue-driven game where one role-plays as a civil servant settling complaints of otherworldly creatures settling into Singapore. With director Roshan Singh Sambhi, we dive into its genesis at Sing Lit Station's Sing Lit Blk Party, features of the game, and its potential for community and civic engagement.

This episode is part of the "Civic Engagement and Action" series of the podcast's fifth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Ng Shi Wen.