We interviewed acclaimed indie developer—and creator of ‘Deep Sea’—Robin Arnott about his current project ‘SoundSelf,’ which he likens to “spiritual pornography.” We also discuss the meditative potential of video games, and some of Arnott’s major influences both in and outside of the gaming world.
Thor Weston: It’s exciting to speak with you about your work and the direction of video games, Robin. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you outside of the gaming sphere at flow arts jams and Burning Man-style festivals. These subcultures, and especially anything related to spirituality, are not often associated with gaming. Is your new game SoundSelf an attempt to bridge that gap and start a conversation there? Or even to encourage a kind of mystical experience through gaming?
TW: Video games have the special property of agency to them that other media lacks, blurring the lines between viewer and actor, yet almost all games have you adopt a role or play a character rather than just being yourself. In SoundSelf you play as yourself, and to me the experience is more personal, less vicarious, and perhaps even more valuable. What potentials do you see in this space of reality-augmenting games, rather than reality-escaping games, that SoundSelf occupies?
TW: The indie game movement is an exciting one with many things happening at the fringes, large and small. What indie games have totally blown your mind, and what projects or developers are you especially excited about? Who are your biggest inspirations?
TW: There are some great clips of you in the trailer for the upcoming documentary GameLoading: Rise of the Indies. What can you tell us about your experiences interfacing with the filmmakers and the other developers featured in the film?
TW: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me Robin. How can people check out SoundSelf and stay tuned in to you and your work?
