SCOOT is a mixed reality game that employs web, mobile devices and public displays as tools of play to guide groups through unique public places. Normally set in a museum, university or park, SCOOT is a virtual carnival bringing pending chaos to these spaces. Players join forces with SCOOT Agency (http://scootgame.com) communicating via secret SMS frequencies to find and defeat the Dodgy Carnival Creatures that have hidden strange console games creating disturbances throughout our important cultural sites. Along the way players solve clues by seeking out facts about the sites and also participate in creative group activities.
SCOOT has been commissioned by and deployed for festivals, cultural institutions and educational organisations across Australia. Each time SCOOT improves and extends its inventory of game resources by custom designing the game play and game path/s to suit the site and the clients desired outcomes.
SCOOT dramatically increased public participation within contemporary cultural production via their creative engagement within a range of urban and virtual spaces. This acted as a powerful example for the staff of numerous support organisations (Museums, City Councils, Park Officials, Education Officers, Curators etc) of how to foster alternative experiences of both familiar and forgotten sites in new and innovative ways. By capitalising upon ubiquitous personal technologies (ie mobile phones) and local artifacts (ie artworks, signage, landmarks etc) SCOOT reinvigorated the public’s cultural, social and technical access to everyday inventories of place.
