Make gig-gaming history at Robotronica

Music fans will be treated to a ground-breaking form of entertainment at QUT's robotics spectacular, Robotronica, on August 18.

Brisbane-based electronic artist 7Bit Hero is a world leader in gig-gaming, where the audience plays video games to the band's live soundtrack.

All you have to do to play is download an app, create an avatar and bring your smartphone, iPad or tablet to the gig.

Hans van Vliet is the game and motion designer and award-winning demoscener behind 7Bit Hero, which combines guitars, drums and electro in a quirky genre known as bitpop.

"I create absurd and fun mini games, and write songs to complement each one," Hans said.

"Each song/mini game is a level in the game, and the game is my whole live set.

"I've specifically designed the interactive experience for casual gaming - your phone is a one-button joystick and you're controlling an avatar projected onto a screen on stage."

Gig-gaming is a concept still in its infancy and 7Bit Hero is spearheading the movement.

While some bands internationally are starting to experiment with video games, none are as advanced as 7Bit Hero, which is the only band to bring its efforts to market.

7Bit Hero recently played at gaming festival PAX Australia, where Hans said the crowd response was overwhelming.

His single, Come on. Stand Out, is a Triple J favourite and a finalist in the 2013 Queensland Music Awards, to be announced on Tuesday August 13.

Robotronica creative director Jonathan Parsons said Hans and his team of musicians and tech specialists will perform two sets, including a game especially commissioned for the event.

"Robotronica is a free robot spectacular being held at QUT's Gardens Point campus on Sunday August 18," he said.

"The event will see world-leading robots from Europe and Japan come to QUT for an event that's designed to encourage people to learn about and interact with robots - from the controversial life-like variety to the downright adorable."

Between eight and 32 audience members are randomly picked to play each game in the set, with computer software ensuring turns are fairly distributed among the crowd.

Those who aren't currently playing find themselves cheering on the players around them.

Audience-to-band and audience-to-audience interactions lie at the very heart of 7Bit Hero's philosophy.

"We're on a journey to flip the music industry around - to celebrate the audience's existence, not the band's," Hans said.

"When did music become all about the band, anyway? Traditionally, music was a celebration of community."

"I'm amazed that we have the technological means to allow us to do that again."

Like a Pixar film, the all-ages games have layered messaging. Children will find them superficially funny but adults will pick up the deeper metaphors and messages.

The person with the highest score in each 7Bit Hero Robotronica set will win a prize. Depending on how extroverted they are, they'll be brought on stage for a rockstar reception from audience and band alike.

Join the gig-gaming sets at Robotronica at 4pm and 6pm.

Don't forget to download the 7Bit Hero app before you leave home. It is freely available from the Google Play or iTunes stores and is suitable for Android and iOS phones, tablets and iPads.

More information:
www.robotronica.qut.edu.au/

Provided by Queensland University of Technology