Ben Neal
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Project :
Can You See Me Now?
Collaborator :
Blast Theory
Description :

Can You See Me Now? is a pioneering Mixed Reality artwork and game of chase. Online players are tracked and chased by real people running around a city using a mobile app. Online players can see the position of the real players as their avatars move via GPS location updates. Runners live stream audio commentary as they play, while online players can message each other. A photo is taken of the spot in the city when players are "caught". I was approached by Blast Theory to remake the iconic game (originally made in 2001) and it was built in Unity for iOS and Android phones - complete with avatars, geolocated buildings, GPS tracking, and a multiplayer system with voice and text chat. As well as the public app, the game can be live streamed, and a host runs the game as a server with an admin system allowing them to start and end sessions, as well as let in or kick out players.

John Sear (Museum Games) worked as co-programmer and we had support from Blast Theory's Nick Tandavanitj. The original Can You See Me Now? is one the world’s first location based games and winner of the Prix Ars Electronica. Cited by VICE as a forerunner of Pokémon Go, Can You See Me Now? toured from Tokyo to Tate Britain. This new version has so far been played at a Blast Theory Kickstarter event, and the ACCA, Brighton.

Link :
www.blasttheory.co.ukVisit Website
Year :
2024
"always at the cutting edge of technology, education and arts practice"
- Andrew Pearsall (Birmingham City University)
"continually exceeded my original design brief"
- Tony Coleman, VJ (TheLAB)
"expert advice and solutions"
- Shayal Chhibber, PHD student
"easy to communicate with, very creative, extremely reliable...
good value for money"
- Dr. C. Samantha Porter (Loughborough University)
"a talented and consummate creative force, and a pleasure to work with'"
- Shaun Kelly, Musician (The Lights)
"passion & enthusiasm for projects & challenges...
an invaluable contact"
- Charlie Levine, Arts Curator
"understands... no matter how bizarre or impossible the task"
- Nat Pitt, Gallery Owner (Pitt Studio)
"...an extremely talented, versatile creative ...very proficient..."
- Matt Robinson, Artist (Jin Pow)
"made it possible ...thanks to his computer wizardry."
- Will Parker, Artist (World of Parker)
"stretching the boundries of what most people could conceive"
- Matthew Rowley, Associate
"very genuine passion about the work and the final product"
- Ria Butler, Manager (Eastern Garden)
"excellent creative input to improve on the original prototype"
- Matthew Head, PHD Student
"understood exactly what I needed."
- Sandra Graham, Artist
"we love working with him!"
- Louise Latter, Head of Programme (Birmingham Open Media)
"Creative and considered approach to multiple unknown challenges"
- Halina Dominska, Artist
"I'm consistently amazed by Ben's breadth of knowledge
and knack for finding creative solutions."
- Edie Jo Murray, Artist
"we have had lots of different art and tech opportunities
and we really have this first experience working with Ben to thank for that"
- Anna Horton, Artist (One Five West)
"great to collaborate with, creating some really inspiring work"
- Oliver Scott, Mercurial Dance
"His combination of artistic and technical skills are unique"
- John Sear, Real-World Game Designer (Museum Games)
"A fantastic collaborator. I recommend him highly"
- Kerryn Wise, Digital Dance Artist
"extremely professional to work with
- he made the complexities of technology clearly understandable"
- Chris Poolman, Artist (General Public)
"no matter how far it pushes the imagination - Ben can make it happen"
- Harmeet Chagger-Khan, Artist
"he creates magic"
- Seraina Dejaco, Dancer
"a creative, super-technician and natural educator we have enjoyed working with him over many years"
- Matt Hogan, Head of Operations (Ikon Gallery)
"an extremely knowledgeable artist and creative technologist, who went above and beyond our expectations
- Karolina Korupczynska (Stryx Gallery)
"his work is consistently a joy!"
- Nick Murray, Producer (Now Play This)
"responsive and generous with his skills and ideas.
He's always keen to innovate and push the limits"
- Sarah Martindale (Mixed Reality Lab, Nottingham University)
"The final work was fantastic... not only due to Ben's digital skills but to the time and commitment put into ensuring the work was high quality."
- Nick Slater(LU Arts)
"a very impressive problem solver...
caring and professional commitment to the project"
- Tyrone Huggins (Actor)
"Ben combines creativity and technical proficiency...
to get the best out of any idea."
- Baff Akoto (Artist)