Published: Oct. 6, 2021
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ATLAS Institute'sÌýÌýhas returned from the virtual wildernessÌýand will be held in personÌýon November 14 in the Roser ATLAS building.ÌýThe fourth annual event will include an arcade and conference packed with phenomenal guest speakers, bizarre gamesÌýand experimental interactions.ÌýAnd yeah, they’re gonna have cereal again, too!

Organized by Whaaat!? Lab for Games and Experimental Interactions'Ìý³¦´Ç-»å¾±°ù±ð³¦³Ù´Ç°ù²õÌýÌýMatt BethancourtÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýDanny Rankin,ÌýtheÌýdynamic duoÌýcreated the festival in 2018, connecting ATLAS with the world of indie games and successfully seeding an enthusiastic community of offbeat game makers. Working around the restrictions of the pandemic last year, the Whaaat!? Festival morphed into a regular series of online events that ran throughout the academic year.Ìý

"The festival's goal is to feature creative and original games that break the rules, inspiring delight by forging new ways to live, interact and play," says Bethancourt, a teaching associate professor with ATLAS. Putting it more succinctly, "We want to make people say 'Whaaat!?'" he says.

Two Ways to Whaaat!?: Arcade and Conference
Free and open to all, theÌýWhaaat!? ArcadeÌýwill feature specially curated tabletop and digital games for participantsÌýto play until theirÌýfingers goÌýnumb and their brains feelÌýinspired. ÌýThe arcade will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 14, and conference organizers note, "it will be a 100 percentÌýdelight!"

Sponsored by theÌýÌýand the CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵÌý, theÌýWhaaat!? ConferenceÌýis limited to 175 tickets at $30 andÌýfeatures talks, workshops, panels, lunchÌýand a ton of fun surprises. Students may apply forÌýÌýto offset the cost of attending. This year conference organizers areÌýthrilled to welcomeÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýas the event'sÌýtwo keynote speakers.Ìý

"There's a whole carnival's-worth of game-related weirdness in store," says Rankin, a teaching assistant professor.Ìý"We'll be making additional announcements as we get closer to the date. In the meantime, grab those tickets, contact us with any questions, and we’ll see you in November!"

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If you go

What: ATLAS Institute's fourth annualÌýWhaaat!? Festival

Where: University of Colorado,ÌýRoser ATLAS Center,Ìý1125 18th St., ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

When:ÌýSunday, Nov. 14:ÌýÌýConference: 10 AM – 4 PM | Arcade: 11 AM –Ìý3 PM;

Cost:ÌýArcade free;Ìý Conference $30 (Register separately for each.) Ìý