Ever wanted to be a rock star who fights evil? With your weapon of choice a magical guitar infused with the essence of an all-powerful rock-god? Well you may soon be able to. A video game prototype has won two out of four categories in this year’s prestigious Dare to be Digital competition. Marnie McKee takes a look at the new arena where art meets gaming technology, and how it's now part of arts
24 Aug 2007 12:00
Marnie McKee
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Visual Arts
Ever wanted to be a rock star who fights evil? With your weapon of choice a magical guitar infused with the essence of an all-powerful rock-god? Well you may soon be able to. A video game prototype has won two out of four categories in this year’s prestigious Dare to be Digital competition.
The fantasy role-playing game, Ragnaraw, was created by a 5-strong team of self-selected arts & engineering students, all from the University of Abertay, and known collectively as Voodoo Boogy. The team was one of twelve to compete this year, out of a line up that included four Scottish teams, four English teams, two Irish teams, one Indian team and one Chinese team.
Marnie McKee currently lives in London. In the mid-90’s she co-founded ToyBox Circus staging fire and light shows and art installations Australia-wide. Marnie co-produced two major Bodyweather-based works with dancer/director Leah Grycewicz. They toured Pre-Millenium Drinks across Australia (1998); and staged Stratus999, a 3-month site-specific multi-media dance project involving 8 international artists, in Cairns, Queensland. Marnie studied Bodyweather as part of Tess de Quincey’s Sydney-based dance company (1999-2001). In March 2004, Marnie settled in London and has since concentrated on establishing Bodyweather training in London, with dancer/teacher Rachel Sweeney. Together they have worked as AnonAnon, researching and creating interactive performance for site-based work (ranging from nightclub to national park) using immersive, inhabitational and durational tools. Congruently, Marnie has been training with and performing for Stuart Lynch (of Holberg School) in Oslo and London, and more recently, training with Frank van de Ven of Bodyweather Amsterdam in Holland and France.