Let’s Get Phygital? Playformance and Spatiality

Abstract

This paper examines and seeks to define the emerging concept of playformance—a creative practice that merges performance art with video games in physical spaces. During the spring semester at the Department of Performing and Digital Arts, University of Peloponnese, we conducted creative experiments to explore the different forms this practice can take. Grounded in spatiality and audience engagement, our research identified three distinct forms: phygital experiences (where physical and digital spaces coexist); video games spilling into reality (where game mechanics structure live performances); and physical spaces integrating digital elements (where game essences are abstractly reimagined).

Our analysis differentiates playformance from related practices such as in-game performances, primarily through its emphasis on physical space and the audience's role as players. Based on the type of game experience being creatively evoked, we propose a further distinction between playformance and game performance. Rather than producing a strict categorization, this paper aims to design a framework that follows the open structure of both performance and games, revealing potential opportunities and limitations in both fields.