Look at me gooooooooooooo : Paul Hillier

Y’all, I’m STILL recovering from the Hand Eye Society Ball. Like, oh wow, it was so magical! I get teary-eyed thinking about how you, the community made our 10-year anniversary literally PERFECT! Thanks again to all you hard-working volunteers, fantastic artists, sponsors, friends and ahhh just everyone!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

Didn’t go to the Ball? Sorry to say, but you missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime event, but I’m sure it won’t be the last… but here’s a recap!

Get Involved!

One of our fantastic sponsors, Game Workers Unite Toronto has a Discord! Apply here! Who is Game Workers Unite? Well:

Game Workers Unite is a broad-reaching organization that seeks to connect pro-union activists, exploited workers, and allies across disciplines, classes, and countries in the name of building a unionized game industry.

Photos

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Trending: #HESBall19

https://twitter.com/HillaryPredko/status/1175787680719921152

https://twitter.com/HillaryPredko/status/1175790890280992768

Sponsors

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite, Slanted Door, MKM Group and ID@Xbox for their support!

Lead Sponsor

Artist Patrons

Venue Partner

Booklet design by Chris White.

The final countdown is on for Toronto’s fifth fancy videogame party, the Hand Eye Society Ball. But there’s a catch: A nefarious, eldritch creature called The Party Crasher is threatening to kill the good vibes, and the only way to banish it forever is… to have a most excellent time! To aid you on your mission, we’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and other information so you can enjoy Saturday night with a minimum of fuss. Forecast is looking good, so get your weather-appropriate fancy on and we’ll see you on Saturday!

[button size=’large’ style=” text=’One Day Left to Buy Tickets Online!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-10th-year-anniversary-tickets-toronto-NK58SG’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]

Previous #HESB19 Posts

Games Showcase #1

Wobble Garden, Manifold Garden, GEMETON, Skeeper, Schwister, Axe in the Dark

Games Showcase #2

Light Organ, Sloppy Forgeries, Plunge, Creepy Creperie, Snake Set

Art, Food, and Grooves

Bronwen Alexina, The Only Alexandria, Emissive, Electric Perfume and Peruvian delights

BUT FIRST: An important word about this event:

What Makes the HES Ball a Fundraiser?

After a full decade of videogame arts programming, Hand Eye Society needs your help!

As one of the most established, longest-running videogame arts organizations in the world, HES is at a critical junction. In its decade-long history, relying on an ever-fluctuating combination of project grants, membership fees, sponsorships, and volunteer power, Hand Eye Society has delivered a remarkable range of truly innovative programming that is recognized and emulated worldwide. Our activities have made a real impact in communities across Toronto, introducing hundreds of people to the gaming arts and giving game-makers a vital creative platform to express themselves. Today, Hand Eye Society continues to expand and develop its operations and programming, serving both the games community and the “game curious” public in Toronto, the GTA, Mississauga and beyond. 

Now in its 10th year, Hand Eye Society is closer now than ever to becoming an established, sustainable non-profit arts operation, staffed by a diverse and passionate group of artists, admins, and technologists who love the medium and the community. This year, we received our very first Operating Grant courtesy of the Toronto Arts Council, which is a huge step towards our sustainability goals. However, it’s not nearly enough to cover our day-to-day operations. We are always seeking alternative revenue sources in order to cover artist fees, staff labour, equipment purchases, research and development for new programming, and everything from flying in international guests to providing TTC tokens and snacks for our hard-working volunteers.

And that’s where you come in. Every ticket purchased, every sticker or shirt bought, every Membership dollar, helps keep this organization alive and thriving. It also ensures the vast majority of our year-round programming remains free, accessible, and open to the public. And with your help, we will soon be able to fully realize our long-term dreams, including artist residencies, commissioned work, new workshops and programs, more meaningful community engagement, and so much more!

We have so many plans for the future. To all of you who are helping to make that happen by volunteering, sponsoring, purchasing a ticket to the Ball, or any number of ways big and small, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

What do we do for the other 364 days of the year, when we’re not running the Ball? In 2019 alone, we also organized the following major events and initiatives: Comics X Games / Camp Make-A-Game / Game Curious at Chester Le and 4 whole programs with Evergreen Brick Works / Ontario Creates Fund Futures / WordPlay / Geek Chic Fashion Show and Play2Practice / Numerous workshops at Toronto Public Library branches all over the GTA / I could go on!

#HESBall19: 100% Walkthrough

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Important Items to Bring
• General FAQ
• Wheelchair and Accessibility
• Safe Spaces and Contact Info
• Sponsors

Important Items to Bring

TICKETS

You will need to bring your Universe ticket with a QR code and unique alphanumber underneath, preferably printed out to minimize fumbling with devices. Each ticket is good for ONE scan at the door, after which you will need a hand stamp for re-entry.

Tickets at the door will be $60, cash only. Subject to availability.

Transfers and Refunds

There is no guest list and we don’t check names unless you are a Member or VIP ticket holder, so transferring is a simple matter of giving someone else your ticket as long as it hasn’t been already scanned. Refunding is also easy; just do it via your Universe account, or e-mail amanda@handeyesociety.com and we will sort you out.

GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID

This is a 19+ event and venue security will be checking ID at the door. No exceptions.

CASH + CREDIT

Food: Our food vendor Comiditas takes cash and credit.

Drink: The venue is licensed and will be running a cash bar.

Merch: We will be taking cash and credit.

There is an ATM onsite by the elevator landing on the main level, and another at the convenience store across the parkette on Scollard Street.

WRISTBAND IDENTIFICATION

We will be issuing these at the door. Please keep your wristband on at all times! It is your passport to magic and adventure, and also lets Security know you belong in the building and aren’t some minion of the Party Crasher looking to give folks a hard time.

PURPLE: VIP

GREEN: Members

TEAL: General Attendees

YELLOW: Staff

PINK: Volunteer

LIGHTS: Staff and Safe Spaces Officers

General FAQ

When do doors open? How late can I dance for?

Doors open to VIPs at 7 PM and general attendees at 8 PM sharp. This year, we are also offering tickets at the door! Door tickets are $60 cash only, subject to availability.

The party officially ends at 1 AM, though things typically start winding down after midnight (we do encourage you to stick around at least until then, just in case something interesting happens. Just a hunch!)

~~~

Is there a dress code?

This is probably one of our most asked questions! There is no strict or enforced dress code, but we do encourage people to put the “fancy” in “fancy videogame party”. Whatever that word means to you, whether it’s a decadent masquerade ball mask or 20 top hats stacked on top of each other, feel free to wear it!

We will also have a coat check. It is free, but neither Hand Eye Society nor 888 Yonge Inc will be responsible for lost or damaged items, so please keep all valuables on your person!

What’s the sitch with food and drink?

Our food vendor Comiditas will be providing a variety of tasty Peruvian fare including gluten free and vegan options! Check out the full menu and price list here (may be subject to change).

This year, the bar is being operated by 888 Yonge, which is a licensed venue. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks will be offered. There will be bars on both the main floor in the Concert Hall and the Red Room.

Whatcha Buyin’? Whatcha Sellin’?

We’ve got merch this year, emblazoned with our cute, wide-eyed logo designed by Josh Holinaty! All proceeds go directly to Hand Eye Society’s operations and programming.

Enamel Pins: $15

Tote bags: $10

Stickers: $3

Posters: $10 ea., $15 for both

Bundle (1 ea. of above + 5x stickers): $30

Bundles are a value of $55! Save $25 and support your local videogame arts non-profit at the same time.

Plus, HES Members and VIP get 15% off! Just flash your appropriately-coloured wristband.

~~~

Will there be WiFi?

Unfortunately, there will not be WiFi this year, so if you don’t have data, bring a friend who does! Use of the #HESBall19 hashtag is encouraged.

~~~

Are photography and videography allowed?

We will have an official photographer and videographer on site, so please keep in mind you may be recorded over the course of the evening. Footage and photos may be used for Hand Eye Society promotional purposes, such as Youtube videos or public photo albums.

Informal photography, videos, and sharing on social media using the #HESBall19 hashtag is generally encouraged. However, please be mindful of people’s space and privacy. Refrain from taking and sharing photos that are focused on strangers’ faces or bodies without their consent, and be mindful that just because someone is dressed up in a cool outfit doesn’t mean they want people taking photos of them. Ask permission if you are unsure.

See also our Safe Spaces Policy below.

~~~

Is there parking in the area?

There’s no venue parking, but there is some street parking on Davenport. Don’t park in the Canadian Tire lot as it closes early and traps cars. That being said, the venue is just a few minute’s walk from Bloor-Yonge Station if you’re taking the TTC.

~~~

What about smoking, vaping, and cannabis?

The usual laws apply and you will be asked to move an appropriate space away from the venue if you need to light up outside. There is a parkette called, appropriately enough, The Ancient Path across the street that you may use as well.

888 Yonge is a licensed venue and as such, it is illegal to bring in outside drink, edibles, or other substances.

~~~

HES throws awesome parties, but what else can I do to get involved?

So glad you asked! We’re a non-profit videogame arts organization that runs a variety of cultural and educational programming year-round, some of which is supported by your ticket purchase. Some of these activities include game-making workshops, social meetups, annual festivals and partnerships with other artistic communities both local and international. Visit our Programs and Initiatives page for more information, and consider subscribing to our e-mail newsletter, Facebook group and Twitter feed to get news fast. You might also consider becoming a member or volunteer!

Ssshh, the Ritual is in Session….

You! You remember. The Archivist can see it in your eyes. Yes. The history of this place and the Hand Eye Society may have been scattered to the wind by evil forces, but you can help. Every memory restored in the Timeline is a seed of victory. What do you remember?

Every year during the Ball, mysteries abound. There is no FAQ for that which presents no easy answer. You may however catch an exclusive glimpse of the strangeness to come by purchasing a VIP ticket, which comes with a free drink, access to a pre-party reception in the fabled Red Room, and a chance to experience a custom game (available to VIP ticket-holders only!) designed by acclaimed local game designer Droqen and co.

As for the rest of you general attendees? Never fear! There’s always something growing in The Thousand-Year Garden, a meeting place that transcends time and space. Play games, do quests, and defeat the Party Crasher once and for all by having an inter-dimensional blast!

This year’s meta-game is brought to you by Len Predko, Paloma Dawkins, Daniele Hopkins & Kyle Duffield of Electric Perfume, Jillian Wakarchuk, Jesse Gazic, Andrew Shenkman, Alexander Martin (Droqen), Dani Jones, Mark Sparling, Kit Grant, Dani Jones, and Saffron Aurora.

Wheelchair and Accessibility

Regretfully, although there is an access lift to certain parts of the building, 888 Yonge is not a particularly wheelchair-friendly space. There is an alternative entrance around back for wheelchairs so it is possible to get to the main Concert Hall. However, the 2nd floor is completely non-accessible due to stairs and the 5th floor may require some trial-and-error with the elevator due to maintenance issues causing the car to not line up perfectly with the floor when it stops.

There is a wheelchair bathroom off the main lobby.

If you are Disabled and/or in a wheelchair and intend on coming to the Ball, we encourage you to contact staff at ball@handeyesociety.com so that we may assist you in any way possible.

Safe Spaces Policy and Contact Info

We have a Safe Spaces Policy which will be enforced and violators ejected. If you experience or witness harassment, contact any of the volunteers who will be prominently wearing an easily identifiable coloured light about their person. We will also have Safe Spaces Officers who are available to take down reports, and hired security onsite.

You are also encouraged to tell Safe Spaces Officers or staff about incidents or people who have made you uncomfortable, even if you don’t want any action to be taken. Awareness is a good step to prevention!

You may email us at safe@handeyesociety.com or use our anonymous reporting form to let us know of any concerns, or contact the general HES Ball team at ball@handeyesociety.com with general inquiries.

HES Ball Team

• Sagan Yee: Executive Director
• Amanda Wong: Ticketing
• Ken Cho: Tech and Equipment
• Len Predko: Meta-Game
• Brendan Lehman: Music
• Pree Rehal: Volunteer Coordinator
• Kit Grant: Volunteer Coordinator
• Kai Winter: Volunteer Coordinator

Our Sponsors

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite, Slanted Door, MKM Group, EGLX and ID@Xbox for their support!

Lead Sponsor

Artist Patrons

Venue Partner and Fundraising Support

Hey y’all! We’re just a few days away from the 10-year anniversary of the Hand Eye Society and we’re having a Ball (literally and literally)! If you haven’t gotten your tickets to this one-in-a-lifetime fundraising event, here’s a linky-dinky to get your tickets! Also, have you seen WAVE No.1 or WAVE No. 2 of the games at the Ball? I think you should check them out!

Now, without further ado…DID YOU EVEN SEE THE AMAZING POSTERS DESIGNED FOR THE BALL? LOOK AT THEM RIGHT NOW!

Poster art by Saffron Aurora (left) and Jenn Woodall (right).

You will be able to purchase posters at the Ball at our merch table!

Who To Jam With

Bronwen Alexina

Toronto, ON

House DJ at Club Milton, Shibuya
Hip Hop, Experimental, Ambient, and Soundtrack

The Only Alexandria

Toronto, ON

Resonant rhythms to cleanse the mind, body, and soul
House, R&B, Soul, and World

Emissive

Toronto, ON

The resulting frequencies of looking forwards, backwards and inwards.
VitaMix every third Tuesday on n10.as
Ambient, Techno, Experimental, and Groove

Oh, and the “And more”

We’re collaborating with the fantastic individuals Daniele Hopkins & Kyle Duffield of Electric Perfume!

Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Electric Perfume is a community-oriented gallery and creative studio focusing on the curation, creation, and exhibition of interactive installations, alt-controller gaming, tech-artworks, and visceral social experiences. When not battling tech-gremlins, they enjoy playing with cats, lasers, and contemplating how to make engaging experiences for the young, the old, and the inebriated.

Nom Noms

Instagram

Comiditas is a small food business/catering company specializing in Peruvian food creations, with a focus on community engagement. Comiditas has participated in events such as Taste of Regent Park’s Community Meal spotlight, has been regularly invited as a featured food vendor at Artscape Launchpad and operates as the official Meal Program Director for the AMY Project, a youth performance arts mentorship organization. Aemilius Milo is the lead operator//administrator//creative//caterer and launched Comiditas in the fall of 2018 – celebrating 1 year this September.

MENU

Empanadas – not gluten free/vegan – 1 for $3, 2 for $5, topped with onion/cilantro salsa and kalamata olive aioli

Ingredients:

Dough – all purpose white flour, unsalted butter, eggs, salt, evaporated milk

Filling – cauliflower OR ground beef, red onions, tomatoes, garlic, green olives, parsley, hard boiled eggs, salt, black pepper, cumin, turmeric, paprika, Peruvian hot pepper paste(aji panca and aji amarillo), white vinegar, sunflower oil

Salsa – red onions, cilantro, hot pepper(aji amarillo), salt, black pepper, lemon juice, white vinegar

Kalamata olive aioli – pitted kalamata olives, garlic, lemon juice, black pepper, vegan mayonnaise(soy free)

***

Sweet Plantains – gluten free/vegan – $4/per serving, topped with onion/cilantro salsa and kalamata olive aioli

Ingredients:
ripe plantain, sunflower oil

***

Papas con Ocopa – gluten free/vegan, cold dish – $5/serving, velvety vegan “cheese” sauce served over sliced potatoes topped with onion/cilantro salsa and chopped egg(optional)

Ingredients:
Potatoes

***

Ocopa sauce – huacatay aka Peruvian black mint, coconut cream, chick peas, red onions, Peruvian hot pepper(aji amarillo), garlic, salt, black pepper, sunflower oil

Menu is nut free, however facility where we operate from is  not.

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite, Slanted Door, MKM Group, EGLX and ID@Xbox for their support!

Lead Sponsor

Artist Patrons

Venue Partner

Illustration by Jenn Woodall

Are you ready? Are you feeling the excitement yet? The burn? The wow-factor? Good. We’re less than a two weeks away from the fifth Hand Eye Society Ball at 888 Yonge, Sept 21! I know you have been wodering when the second wave of games to be announced for our 10-year anniversary party, so without further ado, feast your eyes on more fun and games to experience at this year’s videogame party! See you…at the Ball!

☞◉❖   [button size=’large’ style=” text=’Buy Tickets!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-10th-year-anniversary-tickets-toronto-NK58SG’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]   ☞◉❖

Already got your tickets? Please RSVP on the Facebook event and spread the word on social media with #HESBall19! And remember: All HES membership tiers get a 15% discount on all ticket tiers, new Annual memberships get a 20% discount, and VIP ticket holders get access to an exclusive pre-party reception featuring a custom game by Droqen.

!!! GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES Part 2!!!

Light Organ
David Fono & Aaron Bernstein / Toronto, ON

A musical instrument that immerses you in light, and a rhythm game controlled with air.

Sloppy Forgeries
Jonah Warren / North Haven, Connecticut, USA

Sloppy Forgeries is a competitive painting game where players compete to copy famous paintings from art history as quickly and accurately is possible.

Plünge
Plünge Team / Oakville, ON

Control two plumbers as they battle through epic minigames including but not limited to: wizard battles, pipe tennis, and dating a sexy plumber.

Creepy Crêperie
Jessica Zhang, Liana Valdez, Justin San Juan, Harrison Pitts / Oakville, Brampton, and Toronto, ON

Creepy Crêperie is a fast paced alternative controller game where you assemble crepes as fast as you can! Use the different tools on the table to build each customer’s crepe.

Snake Set
sinefool / here, now

An extra-sensory snake-filled soundscape that explores the relationship between the player and the creator, combining live performance, classic arcade game, and occult journey.

!!! VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER !!!

Did you know you can get a FREE TICKET to the Ball? All for the low, low cost of helping us put on a great show for a couple hours, leaving you to enjoy the rest of the party! We’re looking for Safe Spaces Officers, game attendants, set-up and tear-down crew, and even Drama Kids with some acting/storytelling chops. Simply fill out the form below or e-mail amanda@handeyesociety.com with direct inquiries or questions about specific roles.

[button size=” style=” text=’Become a #HESBall18 Volunteer!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://goo.gl/forms/WeuEgtqb1l9ny43l1′ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]

!!! OUR SPONSORS !!!

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite Toronto, EGLX, Slanted Door, MKM Group and ID@Xbox for their support!

Lead Sponsor

Artist Patrons

Venue Partner and Funding Support

Got questions for the team? E-mail us at ball@handeyesociety.com

Illustration by Saffron Aurora

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Celebrate our 10th Anniversary on Sept 21 at the Hand Eye Society Ball!

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We’re less than a month away from the fifth Hand Eye Society Ball at 888 Yonge, Sept 21! Before we show you the first glimpse of this year’s fantastic games lineup, we’d just like to remind you that ticket prices will increase from $50 to $60 starting September 1! That means you have just 3 days to take advantage of this month’s pricing! All proceeds will go directly towards Hand Eye Society’s operations for 2020 and beyond. We’ve made it to the ten year mark and don’t intend to stop any time soon, but we need your help to continue maintaining our existing programming, develop new initiatives such as residencies and travelling exhibits, pay artists and staff fairly, buy new equipment, and tons of other exciting and important things. One VIP ticket goes a long way, and every little bit counts!

☞◉❖   [button size=’large’ style=” text=’Buy Tickets!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-10th-year-anniversary-tickets-toronto-NK58SG’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]   ☞◉❖

Already got your tickets? Please RSVP on the Facebook event and spread the word on social media with #HESBall19! And remember: All HES membership tiers get a 15% discount on all ticket tiers, new Annual memberships get a 20% discount, and VIP ticket holders get access to an exclusive pre-party reception featuring a custom game by Droqen.

!!! GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES !!!

Now without further ado, here’s a look at the first half of the games waiting for you at this year’s Ball. Hailing from around the world, many of them won’t be available to play on just any old night; from toilet plunger-operated minigames to LED alternative controllers, these games were meant to be played IRL. And where better to experience them than at Toronto’s fanciest videogame party? Check out the list and stay tuned for more soon!

Wobble Garden
Robin Baumgarten / London, UK

Wobble Garden is an experimental hardware controller and interactive art platform with sensing springs and mesmerizing LED rings. The bright and colourful lights reflect of the springs and create a unique audio-visual and tactile experience. Plus: Meet the artist in person!

Manifold Garden
William Chyr Studio / Chicago, USA

Manifold Garden is a game that reimagines the laws of physics. Rediscover gravity and explore an Escher-esque world of impossible architecture. Not yet released!

GEMETON
Hangedman / Ottawa, ON

A digital divination engine, an occult fortune-teller in which the player participates in a nostalgic ritual to tell their own story of digital daemons.

Skeeper
Gregory Kogos / Germany

A colour-matching rhythm game played with 2 buttons on a long LED contraption. Give yourself over to soothing lo-fi beeps and bloops while the hypnotic gameplay puts you into the flow state.

Schwister
Electric Perfume (Daniele Hopkins & Kyle Duffield) / Toronto, ON

A team-based multiplayer competitive light-up tabletop arcade game that combines the spirit of Twister with the frenzy of Whack-A-Mole! Tiles randomly shuffle with each play, and two teams, red and blue, compete to turn off all their tiles before the other team.

Axe in the Dark
Team Axe in the Dark / Greater Toronto Area

A thrilling competitive fighting game. Hide among the shadows and hunt your opponents down in a fresh new hide-and-seek experience!

!!! VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER !!!

Did you know you can get a FREE TICKET to the Ball? All for the low, low cost of helping us put on a great show for a couple hours, leaving you to enjoy the rest of the party! We’re looking for Safe Spaces Officers, game attendants, set-up and tear-down crew, and even Drama Kids with some acting/storytelling chops. Simply fill out the form below or e-mail amanda@handeyesociety.com with direct inquiries or questions about specific roles.

[button size=” style=” text=’Become a #HESBall19 Volunteer!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://forms.gle/sZ5sD4m6kPFE1jpu8′ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]

!!! OUR SPONSORS !!!

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite, Slanted Door, MKM Group, EGLX, Highness Global and ID@Xbox for their support!

Got questions for the team? E-mail us at ball@handeyesociety.com

Did you know that we’re currently selling tickets to our 10th Anniversary Hand Eye Society Ball? Did you know that we’re having our ‘Buy in July’ early-bird special on tickets? Did you know that time is running out? Well, consider this blog post an announcement as well as an update!

[button size=’big_large’ style=” text=’ Get your cheap tickets before its too late ’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-10th-year-anniversary-tickets-toronto-NK58SG’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]

Did you know that if you are a Hand Eye Society member you get an automatic discount to the Ball? Check your email! Not a member? Join us, and get a discount!

[button size=’medium’ style=” text=’Become a Member today!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://handeyesociety.com/join-the-society/’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=’center’ margin=”]

This is a 19+ Event. All attendees will be asked to provide legal ID at the door.

Toronto’s one-night celebration of contemporary art games and playful experiences from around the world returns! Our annual fancy videogame party helps us raise funds to sustain our ongoing year-round programming, as well as contribute towards another amazing decade exploring and supporting the playful arts. We’re planning our biggest bash yet, so don’t delay: Buy your tickets today, and spread the word!

#HESBall19 / Twitter / Facebook Event

Ticketing Info

Sponsorship includes Regular and VIP ticket packages. See our Sponsorship Deck for details.

VIP TICKET-HOLDERS RED ROOM RECEPTION! Get access to a special pre-party reception at 7 PM in 888 Yonge’s fabled Red Room. Have a drink on us, meet the artists, and play a custom mini-game designed exclusively for VIP ticket-holders. Includes a 1-year Hand Eye Society Membership!

DON’T MISS OUR JULY EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL! Save $20 off the regular Sept ticket price! Members get an additional 15-20% off!

HAND EYE SOCIETY MEMBERS GET DISCOUNTS ON ALL TIERS! Not a Member? Sign up now for as little as $5-7/month and get your code upon registration! New Annual and Studio Memberships registered after July 3 get an additional discount. All Members will also receive other perks like 15% off 10th Anniversary HES merch!

Our Sponsors

Hand Eye Society Ball: 10th Anniversary Edition

Sept 21, 2019 — The Concert Hall, 888 Yonge St.

[button size=’large’ style=” text=’BUY TICKETS’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-10th-year-anniversary-tickets-toronto-NK58SG’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=’#ff5c5c’ background_color=’#94ffea’ hover_background_color=’#fff652′ font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=’center’ margin=”]

This is a 19+ Event. All attendees will be asked to provide legal ID at the door.

Toronto’s one-night celebration of contemporary art games and playful experiences from around the world returns! Our annual fancy videogame party helps us raise funds to sustain our ongoing year-round programming, as well as contribute towards another amazing decade exploring and supporting the playful arts. We’re planning our biggest bash yet, so don’t delay: Buy your tickets today, and spread the word!

!!!GAMES GAMES GAMES!!!

GAMES, WAVE 1

GAMES, WAVE 2

#HESBall19 / Twitter / Facebook Event

!!!ART MUSIC FOOD & MORE!!!

DJs, nom noms and special guests!

!!!FAQ!!!

Questions + Answers

Ticketing Info

Sponsorship includes Regular and VIP ticket packages. See our Sponsorship Deck for details.

VIP TICKET-HOLDERS RED ROOM RECEPTION! Get access to a special pre-party reception at 7 PM in 888 Yonge’s fabled Red Room. Have a drink on us, meet the artists, and play a custom mini-game designed exclusively for VIP ticket-holders. Includes a 1-year Hand Eye Society Membership!

DON’T MISS OUR JULY EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL! Save $20 off the regular Sept ticket price! Members get an additional 15-20% off!

HAND EYE SOCIETY MEMBERS GET DISCOUNTS ON ALL TIERS! Not a Member? Sign up now for as little as $5-7/month and get your code upon registration! New Annual and Studio Memberships registered after July 3 get an additional discount. All Members will also receive other perks like 15% off 10th Anniversary HES merch!

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Guest Artists (So Far!)

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Robin Baumgarten

Robin Baumgarten is a German Indie based in London, UK. After researching Artificial Intelligence in Games and working on mobile titles, he is now fully focused on creating playable interactive installations that straddle the divide of games and art, such as Line Wobbler (featured at HES Ball 2016) and Wobble Garden.

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Palgal

Montreal-based Paloma Dawkins AKA Palgal is a cartoonist and self-taught animator turned virtual-reality and video-game artist. Known for her fantastical landscapes inhabited by strange and lovable characters, Paloma strives to create magical spaces inspired by nature and human emotion.

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cos(mos)

cos(mos) is Cale Bradbury’s trip through astrological house music, with snake set wrapping an artistic journey from games>visuals>music back around on itself, bringing all the knowledge gained into an ouroborian experience between the DJ and the players.

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Also featuring poster design by Saffron Aurora, music by Mark Sparling, tech and art by Electric Perfume, and more to be announced soon! Want to join their ranks? Game submissions are open until July 15!

A Party 10,000 Years in the Making

The Thousand-Year Garden is a cooperative Boss Battle for 700 players, featuring unique art, music, and an interactive narrative designed for one night only. Building off the successful elements of last year’s meta-game, The Night of Four Houses, The Thousand-Year Garden will feature custom-made art, experiences, and immersive gameplay by Mark Sparling, Palgal, Electric Perfume, and more, exclusive to Hand Eye Society Ball 2019.

• Explore the Playful Arts Throughout the Multiverse! Dive into alternate timelines featuring various incarnations of the Hand Eye Society throughout ancient history and beyond.
• By Our Powers Combined! Complete sidequests and mini-games to gradually wear down The Party Crasher until the final Midnight Showdown.
• Special Themed Mini-Game for VIP Ticket Holders! Join us in the Red Room for a drink, engagement with the artists, and an exclusive interactive experience custom-made for sponsors and VIP ticket-holders. You may even discover special powers that will be useful in the battle to come…

Get Involved

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We curate artsy games, interactive installations, and playful experiences from Toronto and around the world.

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Support our non-profit and fuel the next decade of year-round programming and initiatives.

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Join the team and help make this a night to remember.

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Sponsorship Inquiries: amana@highnessglobal.com; sagan@handeyesociety.com
General Information: ball@handeyesociety.com
Ticketing and Other Announcements: Subscribe to our Newsletter

FAQ

So many changes this year! What’s going on?

The Hand Eye Society Ball was initially conceived in 2014 as a fundraiser as well as a super cool party, and this year we’ve made some changes to better reflect that intention. With the cost of venue rentals rising and the sheer amount of effort that goes into putting on a production this big every year, we are taking steps to make sure that ticket pricing and sponsorship tiers reflect the true cost of supporting Hand Eye Society’s year-round activities, the vast majority of which are free and open to the public. We will continue to do our best to make sure that all our events are as accessible as possible, while still meeting the long-term needs and goals of the organization.

We thank the community for every single bit of support that comes our way, and look forward to another 10 amazing years of supporting the independent games community in Toronto and beyond!

Where does the money raised from the Ball go?

All proceeds from the Ball will go directly to supporting Hand Eye Society’s year-round programming and initiatives, including Comics X Games, WordPlay, Camp Make-a-Game, Game Curious, Fund Futures, workshops, Mississauga programming, our TPL workshops, the Torontron fleet, the monthly newsletter, and many other partnerships and activities too numerous to list here. Additionally, we have many other operational expenses that cannot be fully covered by other revenue sources like government grants. These include purchasing new computers and equipment, renting office space (a dream we hope to realize in 2020!), and research and development for new programs.

What is the Meta-Game?

The Meta-Game started in 2015 when we started introducing live performance into the Ball, and has since grown into a much more ambitious tradition. Loosely combining elements of videogames mechanics, Escape Rooms, LARPs, and immersive theatre, the Meta-Game is an immersive narrative that overlays the entire party experience. You can read more about last year’s Meta-Game, The Night of Four Houses, which involved live improv, LED bowties, and a haunted piano with secret codes.

Is this a 19+ event?

Very yes. We will be checking ID at the door, no exceptions.

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Image Credits: Annual General Mischief (top photo) by Little Dada, Len Predko and Anthony Swan, 2016. Photos by Paul Hillier, Dean Tomlinson, and Morgan Hotston. Images by The Noun Project creators: Ashwin Dinesh (Eye), sofi (Game), Nathan Morel (Hand), Janet Cordahi (Top Hat).

Hand Eye Society thanks the following organizations for their support thus far. Want your logo at the bottom of every subsequent HES Ball blog post, or even at the bottom of our monthly newsletter for an entire year? Check out our Sponsorship Deck!

Huge thanks to Ubisoft Toronto, Aird & Berlis LLC, CWA Canada, Game Workers Unite, Slanted Door, MKM Group and ID@Xbox for their support!

Lead Sponsor

Artist Patrons

Venue Partner

Celebrate our 10th Anniversary on Sept 21, 2019 at the Hand Eye Society Ball!

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Celebrate Hand Eye Society’s 10th Anniversary

Sept 21, 2019 — The Concert Hall, 888 Yonge St.

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We curate artsy games, interactive installations, and playful experiences from around the world.

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[image_hover image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SPONSOR2.png’ hover_image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SPONSOR1.png’ link=’https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1loHJ7doYM62O71nEOlvWm1R4-_npVFjRiDvKh-9sREc/edit?usp=sharing’ target=’undefined’ animation=’undefined’ transition_delay=”]

Support our non-profit and fuel the next decade of year-round programming and initiatives.

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[image_hover image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VOLUNTEER2.png’ hover_image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VOLUNTEER1.png’ link=’https://forms.gle/xn75Ev3QM9XRBAWh6′ target=’undefined’ animation=’undefined’ transition_delay=”]

Join the team and help make this a night to remember.

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Sponsorship Inquiries: amana@highnessglobal.com; sagan@handeyesociety.com
General Information: ball@handeyesociety.com
Ticketing and Other Announcements: Subscribe to our Newsletter

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Image Credits: Annual General Mischief (top photo) by Little Dada, Len Predko and Anthony Swan, 2016. Photos by Paul Hillier, Dean Tomlinson, and Morgan Hotston. Images by The Noun Project creators: Ashwin Dinesh (Eye), sofi (Game), Nathan Morel (Hand), Janet Cordahi (Top Hat).

The Hand Eye Society thanks the following organizations for their support thus far. More to come soon!

Answer: Another fancy videogame party, of course!

One of my favourite things about the Toronto games community is how tight-knit we are. We find a common ground and come together to celebrate the things we find fun, interesting, and if we find the right game, maybe even learn a thing or two — like how loudly you can yell when yet another accidental bounce-shot in Red Hot Ricochet puts you out of commission for the 5th round in a row.

The night was cool as the moon looked down upon the nerds of Toronto dressing up in clothes they probably haven’t touched in weeks to congregate at 918 Bathurst to, well, play some heckin’ video games and dance the night away!

Pix in the 6ix

The amazing Morgan Hotston was our photographer for the evening and caught us looking our best! Here’s a few snapshots:

The entire photo pool can be found right here!

Night of Four Houses

It was a night of magic! Everyone wearing bowties aglow (oooo shiny!) but for what, you may ask?

*hacker voice*

☞◉❖ THE META ☞◉❖

This year the Hand Eye Society’s four ancient Houses returned for the opportunity to gain possession of an ancient artifact — The Instrument! Points were won, lost, and traded as over 600 Ball attendees vied for dominance, acquiring coveted playing cards through games of skill and luck. Sidequests were distributed at random throughout the crowd by NPCs wearing white-bow ties, requiring chosen players to perform such impossible feats as “Take a selfie with the giant moon” or “Turn to the person next to you and perform the secret Hand Eye Society handshake”. Also in the shuffle were special cards with one half of a secret code, which bequeathed a far greater number of points to the intrepid players who managed to find its twin.

Every hour, the House Champions performed a ritualistic Duel, illustrating the tale of Hand Eye Society and the Four Houses through an ancient practice known as “improv comedy”. Long story short, although stalwart Lord Vivicus, laid-back King Tudifore, and retro-minded Queen Amiga tried their best to unseat their bubbliest colleague, Lady Moonblossom was the victor. Unfortunately, t’was at the cost of the life of Sonic T. Hedgehog. May his soul finally slow down in the afterlife. The other three Houses put up a valiant and pun-filled fight, but it wasn’t enough. (I’m looking at you, King Vivicus.)

Trending: #HESBall18

Our hashtag lives on — if there are any photos, video, Vines or GIFs from the night you wanna dig up, you can let us know by tagging or tweeting us at @handeyesociety. Here are just a few of our fave Tweets from the night!

https://twitter.com/nawafbahadur/status/1043713362981466112

https://twitter.com/KishiFishy/status/1043916477961838599

The Tunes

Bile Sister, aka Julie Reich, took the stage with three other badass women of Canadian electronica: Catherine Debard (YlangYlang), New Chance and Leucrocuta all 

As New Chance‘s music filled the room, many found their dancing shoes and were moving about to the wavy alternative tunes. Tapping feet, nodding heads were seem by many–even those who were playing games! Imagine being so moved by music that you have to multi-task!

YlangYlang‘s way of crafting a story through electronic shoulder bop is what got the crowd going. Expressing life, memories, passion, and tenderness. I actually found myself thinking that I could listen to their music while playing an exploration game, taking everything in and appreciating the beauty of discovery.

If there was anyone who could make my sweat and I mean SWEAT, in that ballroom, it was Leucrocuta. Not only did I have to hydrate, but the psychedelic beats made me think I was back at home exploring the depths of space in No Man’s Sky. If I was a real astronaut, Leucrocuta’s music is what would be on my ‘Milky Way Playlist.’

10 Games I Love About You

Between Champion Duels, you were in the basement playing Centennntable, a 100-button 2 player fighting game in which every button is randomized each round. I can assure you, there was plenty of button-mashing heard throughout the halls. Also lighting up various corners of the former Buddhist church were three RotoRings, causing concentric concentration on the faces of all who played them.

Perhaps you wanted to leave this world and enter a virtual one? Dustin Freeman’s Our Evil Tower had you playing as a Dark Lord up against 4 friends for a uniquely asymmetrical adventure. For something more balanced, we watered some funky flowers in Museum of Symmetry before grabbing a grapefruit cocktail — which we secretly named “Pink Russian (Subway Dog)” — at the secret bar next door, bathed in the multi-CRT glow of Cathode Mark 1.

We clashed glasses with beer-bashing simulator Toast Boast, zig-zigged around giant glowy box ZAGMAX 3000 (or would that be zag-zigged?), and swayed to our partner’s synchronicity with Closer — but perhaps no game drew quite so many groans of defeat and cheers of triumph as the fast-paced Red Hot Ricochet. In the end, the animals won as GTAnimalia turned us all into trash pandas trying to see how long it would take to climb the CN Tower (those players are still there, patiently holding “up” on the thumbstick for eternity).

For summaries and more information about the games and musicians, check out the full lineup here.

Upstairs

ZAGMAX 3000
David Fono & Matthew Phillips

Toast Boast
Michael Arcadi and Jesse Baker / Toronto, ON

Red Hot Ricochet
Wyatt Yeong / New York, NY

Closer
Marie Claire LeBlanc Flanagan / Montréal, QC

Downstairs

Cathode Mark 1
Ryan Mason / Toronto, Canada

Museum of Symmetry
Paloma Dawkins / Montréal, QC / 2018

Centenntable / 1000 Button Project
Amanda Hudgins / Lexington, Kentucky / On-going Project

GTAnimalia
Jason Bond / Toronto, ON / In Development

Our Evil Tower
Dustin Freeman / Toronto, ON

Everywheres

RotoRing
Gregory Kogos / Leipzig, Germany

Eternal Kudos

The fourth Hand Eye Society Ball was made possible by the following fine folks:

Hand Eye Society

Executive Director: Sagan Yee
Director of Operations: Amanda Wong
Director of Technology: Ken Cho
Special Projects: Brendan Lehman
Meta-Game and Logistics: Alenn Predko
Volunteer Coordinators: Kai Winter, Laura Barrett
Social Media: Royel Edwards
Board: Stephanie Fisher, Shaun Hatton, Chris Gehman, Chris De Castro, Adam Axbey, Emma Westecott

#HESBall18 Crew

918 Bathurst: Conor McSweeney
Music Gallery: David Dacks
Poster Art: Victor Martins
Booklet Design: Rabeea Syed
Food and Treats: Death In Venice Gelato Co.
Security: Kareem Bruzal
Bar: Kristoffer Diocampo, Alia Rhule, Dani Jones, Laura Hermiston
Photography:  Morgan Hotston
Videography: Shawn Kosmerly, Justin Arjune

Volunteers

Gregory Hayes, Katelyn Campbell, L Constantino, Bruce McCormack, Wu Zhang, Kaitlyn Dougon, Colin Sanders, Bronwen Deurbrouck, Kalli Lang, Benjamin Mora-Davison, Jaden Taylor, Kimberly Koronya, Nawaf Bahadur, Flynn Dauntless, Alex Olechnowicz, Mark Laderoute, Douglas Russell, Osioreame Ikiebe, Khan-ali Ibrahim, Jason Bond, Doyle Zhang, John Wang, Jennifer Link, Han Jiang, Kim Nguyen, Megan Chen, Whitney Chen, Gabriel Nilsen, Jacob Niedzwiecki, Krystle McKenzie, Chris Davies, Michael Arcadi, Helen Ouyang, Daniel Boldrin, Conor Norman, Victor Ostrovsky, Joshua P’ng, Jason Dourado

The Night of Four Houses

Project Lead: Alenn Predko
Project Assistant: Kit Burnham
LED Leaderboard: Jane Hacker
The Instrument: Lindy Wilkins
Characters and Lore: Jesse Gazic, Jillian Wakarchuk
Sidequests: Sagan Yee
Champion Improv Performers: Jon Blair, Kat Letwin, Kaitlin Morrow, Andrew Bushell
Musical Accompaniment: Mark Bond
Xen’s Cardinal Fates: Jord Farrell

Silent Auction

Ubisoft Toronto: Emily Claire Afan, Danika Bingley, Elizabeth Bourque, Julia Cole, Heather Steele, Meghan Lowery

Auction Contributors: Alientrap, The Beguiling, Benjamin Rivers, Casa Loma, Cineplex, CTRL V, DrinkBox Studios, Game Pill, House of VR, Inkskratch, Laundry Bear Games, MLSE, Royal Cinema, Spooky Squid Games, Studio MDHR, TIFF, Torn Banner Studios,  Trinity Square Video, Ubisoft Toronto, Vagabond Dog, Viral Arcade, Wes Dix (Tattoos on Ossington)

Community Partners

Equipment: Dames Making Games, Gamma Space, Trinity Square Video
Storage: The Brandscape, seekrit studio pals

Huge thanks to you all, and please get in touch if we missed you or anyone else!

Sponsors

Let’s keep in touch…

Missed the Ball this year and don’t want to make the same mistake twice? Looking for more local videogame arts and culture events to get involved with? Want to stay updated on other Hand Eye Society activities all year round?  Looking for more ways to support a Toronto videogame arts non-profit?

• Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter
• Join our Facebook group
• Follow us on Twitter
• Support us by becoming a Member or volunteering!

As is tradition, the Last-Minute FAQ is here to answer all of your deepest questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything! Actually it only answers questions related to the sold-out Hand Eye Society Ball on Saturday, but we think that’s comprehensive enough. Read on to find out more about parking, dress code, cash, social media, and where you can buy your very own HESBall18 poster!

Games

Cathode Mark 1 / Museum of Symmetry / Centenntable / GTAnimalia / Schwister / ZAGMAX 3000 / Red Hot Ricochet / Our Evil Tower / Closer / RotoRing

Music

Catherine Debard (YlangYlang) / New Chance / Leucrocuta / Julie Reich (Bile Sister)

Important Stuff

 Doors Open at 8pm 

Tickets

You will need to bring your Universe ticket with a QR code and unique alphanumber underneath, either printed out to minimize fumbling with devices, or ready to go on your phone with the brightness turned to maximum. Each ticket is good for ONE scan at the door, after which you will need a hand stamp for re-entry. There is no guest list and we don’t check names, so transferring is a simple matter of giving someone else your ticket as long as it hasn’t been already scanned.

Government-Issued ID

This is a 19+ event and we will be checking ID at the door!

Ca$h and Banks

Nearby banks: There are CIBC and TD ATMs nearby on Bloor Street, south of the venue. What can you do with cash? Lots of things!

• Food and drink! All the bars will be cash-only. Beer, wine, and cocktails are all $7. Don’t forget to tip!
• We will be selling HES stickers and signed posters at the Silent Auction table. Speaking of which:

Silent Auction and Merch

With the help of the fine folks at Ubisoft Toronto, we are holding our very first Silent Auction! If you’ve never been to one before, you simply write down a “bid” for any of the special prize packages laid out on the table. Anyone can outbid you at any time throughout the night and you can return the favour, until the Auction ends at 11:30 PM and the winners are announced. If you’re still at the party, you can pay for your items at this time with cash or a credit card, or arrange with us later via Paypal. We’ve got everything from Steam keys and art commissions to items from TIFF, the Beguiling, and the Royal Cinema, so be sure to stop by the table and make a bid! All proceeds will be going straight to WordPlay and our delicious 2019 programming, including artist compensation and bringing over international guests.

We will also be selling HES stickers, as well as SIGNED copies of this year’s Ball poster by the artist himself, Victor Martins! 20% of the poster proceeds will go towards printing costs, and 80% will go directly to Victor. Support an artist and get a rad poster at the same time!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dress code?

This is probably one of our most asked questions! There is no strict or enforced dress code, but we do encourage people to put the “fancy” in “fancy video game party” if they feel like it. Whatever that word means to you, feel free to wear it!

That being said: Saturday is looking to be the end of the season’s warm spell, so be prepared to bring appropriate outerwear! We will have free coat check this year, but brace yourself for a bit of a line if it’s rainy or otherwise unpleasant out. We will do our best to ensure things are kept moving along as smoothly as possible.

How do I get to the venue? Is there parking in the area?

There is no on-site parking, but 918 Bathurst is just a short walk north of Bathurst Station, right on the TTC Bloor Line. Here’s a handy guide to parking in the area:

Will there be WiFi?

Unfortunately, there is no public WiFi. If you can spare a little data, use of the #HESBall16 hashtag is encouraged!

What do I do if I experience harassment or witness something going down?

We have a Safer Spaces Policy which we expect all attendees, staff, and volunteers to observe. If you experience or witness harassment, contact a Safe Spaces Officer, who will be prominently wearing GLOW-STICKS around their upper arms. Staff and volunteer will be wearing WHITE BOW TIES. Security personnel will be onsite to help with additional policy enforcement. This policy and process will be posted publicly around the venue.

The Hand Eye Society team does not view ignorance, intoxication, or attempts at humour as an excuse for unacceptable behaviour. If you have any questions about what constitutes harassment or need further explanations about the definitions listed above, please contact ​safe@handeyesociety.com for clarification.

Will there be food and drink?

Death In Venice Gelato will be providing both cold treats and light eats (cash and credit), and there will be several bar stations (cash only) where you can purchase pop, water, juice, beer, wine, and a special cocktail. There are also plenty of restaurants along Bloor West if you decide to venture outside for some reason.

What’s the social media situation?

You can find us live-Tweeting here…

Instagramming here…

…and Snapping Stories with handeyesociety (or scan the Snapcode below to follow along)!

There will also be an official photographer and videographer on-site, but feel free to share your #HESBall18 experiences on your platform of choice.

What’s this “meta-game” I keep hearing about?

The Night of Four Houses is an interactive experience for 600 players. Competing factions, mysterious side quests, and chaotic intrigue abound… Become part of the lore by acquiring playing cards, exchanging them for points, and solving secret codes. Don’t forget to check out the hourly improv performances, in which the House Champions (played by Jon Blair, Kat Letwin, Kaitlin Morrow and Andrew Bushell with music by Mark Bond) enact a centuries-old struggle for control of The Instrument and its ancient powers. May the best House win!

What else does the Hand Eye Society do when you’re not throwing parties?

We’re a non-profit video game arts organization that runs a variety of cultural and educational programming year-round, some of which is supported by your ticket purchase! Some of these activities include game-making workshops, social meet-ups, exhibits, annual festivals, and partnerships with other artistic communities both local and international. Visit our Programs and Initiatives page for more information, and consider subscribing to our e-mail newsletter, Facebook group and Twitter feed to get news fast. You might also consider becoming a member!

See you at the Ball!

Our Sponsors