Festival Square Goes Interactive

Submitted by edg on Fri, 14 Aug '09 9.11am

A new interactive game called Hungry Hungry Eat Head will be having a public airing on the Big Screen in Edinburgh's Festival Square on Saturday 15 August.

In the free event, commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council, a live overhead camera of the public space will be relayed on the 25-metre square LED monitor, giving the effect of a ‘magic mirror' where the viewer's own reflection shifts and changes.

Markers will be printed for distribution free on site during the event. By holding one up to the chest featuring a special printed symbol, players will find their heads replaced by brightly patterned characters that will morph and change.

Edible objects will also enter the space, falling from the sky or spat from blooming flowers which by eating will have a knock-on effect on other users: scoff a light bulb and electri-fry your friends or chew a thistle to turn the playing arena tartan.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion, said: "This sounds like a wonderful - if rather surreal - interactive experience. It's fantastic news that Edinburgh's Big Screen is to be the first in the UK to demonstrate this exciting technology, and I'm sure it will create something of a sensation in Festival Square."

Bren O'Callaghan, Big Screen Manager, added: "What I really like about this project is that it doesn't require anyone to own an expensive phone or portable technology. It's just an ink shape on paper that we hand out on site. Think Blue Peter for the 21st Century!"

Hungry Hungry Eat Head will take place at Festival Square from 2-5pm on Saturday 15 August 2009. The event is free.