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PlayStation in the Cathedral Article

Further reading:
Videogame Theatre
TEDx talk

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Support Andy, click to buy via us...

From Greenbelt to Theatre to TEDx to a Cathedral. Videogames can be found in the most unexpected places. When they are it's fascinating to see the enthusiasm they garner from both gamers and non-gamers.

One thing leads to another. My Greenbelt talk led to me thinking about unusual ways to review videogames and my Videogame Theatre show, this in turn was the perfect example for my Sustainable Perspectives on Videogames TEDx talk. This has been the ideal seed to take videogames into unexpected places, firstly Exeter Cathedral for their Holy Ground worship service.

"Andy Robertson will be facilitating an interactive video game throughout our worship where together we will enter a virtual creation and bring our own touch of transformation to it."

The service will make use of the PlayStation 3 game, Flower. The plan is that it will be played collaboratively by the congregation while the game’s music will form the background for other elements of the service. The controller will be passed around while other parts of the worship continue, and then brought to a conclusion as the first level of the game is completed.

I was inspired to choose Flower for the Cathedral service after experiencing a public performance of it at the GameCity festival in 2009. There, the game was performed by one person in a old shopping center, but for me it was an undeniably spiritual experience. I’m really looking forward to discovering how the experience fits, contributes to and changes the Cathedral service.

The whole idea took shape after clergy from the Cathedral attended TEDxExeter and heard my TED talk about meaning and videogames. From there the idea of using the game in a service simply seemed like a good idea.

Although at first this may sound like an odd thing to do, a videogame is actually an excellent fit for this sort of expression of faith. Not only is it inclusive, in that everyone can participate, but it also visits themes of creation, nature and our response to the world. The proof will be in the pudding this Sunday (13th May at 7pm). I will be to report back after the event.

Press Coverage of the Event

• BBC Radio 4: Why is Exeter Cathedral using a game console during their service this week? audio clip
• T3: Exeter Cathedral to host Sunday service using PS3.
• Slash Gear: PS3 game Flower used in UK church.
• GameCity: Andy Robertson is doing something interesting at Exeter Cathedral this Sunday.
• VG24/7: Flower to be featured in Exeter Cathedral service.
• The Verge: UK cathedral to use 'Flower' video game as part of upcoming service.
• Kill Screen: English cathedral to use PlayStation game Flower as part of the worship service.
• T3 Dot Com: Think church is boring? Think again...
• Telegraph: PlayStation to be used by cathedral during worship.
• Gizmodo: "Creative Eucharist" Encouraging Worship via the Medium of PlayStation3
• Kotaku: A PlayStation 3 Game Will Be Part of a Church Service This Sunday.
• This is Exeter: PlayStation to be used in Cathedral service
• Slash Gear: PS3 game Flower used in UK church
• Forbes: Video Game To Be Used in Cathedral Service
• Spong: Exeter Cathedral to Use Video Games in Service.
• Kotaku Au: PlayStation 3 Game Will Be Part Of A Church Service This Sunday.
• CNET: Let us pray (and play): Church service includes video game.
• Yahoo: Let us pray (and play): Church service includes video game.
• Christ and Pop Culture: Playing Playstation in Church?
• Bible Reflections: PlayStation Part of Cathedral Worship.

Written by Andy Robertson

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Andy Robertson writes the Faithful Gamer column.

"Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

Here are the games I've been playing recently:

• Bioshock Infinite
• Spec Ops: The Line
• Train
• Flower
• Home