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

Hand Eye Society Ball: 10th Anniversary Edition

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

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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!

[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=”]

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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[image_hover image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SUBMITGAME2.png’ hover_image=’https://handeyesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SUBMITGAME1.png’ link=’https://forms.gle/9BwCB8zZWwFnxjiPA’ target=’undefined’ animation=’undefined’ transition_delay=”]

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!

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

T-minus two weeks until the fourth Hand Eye Society Ball at 918 Bathurst, Sept 22! Tickets are selling fast and we haven’t even announced the games, the experimental live music, the all-new Silent Auction, or the 600-player mystery experience involving Second City improv performers that may or may not devolve into absolute chaos. Has your interest been Twin Piqued yet? If you’re still on the fence, keep reading on to get a taste of the fanciness to come!

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Already got your tickets? Please RSVP on the Facebook event and spread the word with #HESBall18! And remember: All HES membership tiers get a 25% discount, new Annual memberships (does not apply to student memberships), sponsors, and volunteers get a free ticket, and everyone else .

!!! GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES !!!

Cathode Mark 1
Ryan Mason / Toronto, Canada

Coming holiday 1983, the Cathode Mark 1 is a next generation, expandable gaming console. Using the patented 16X – microswitch developed by Cathode Co, players can connect up to 16 standard CRT televisions for an unparalleled entertainment experience. Titles available at launch include the award-winning adventure ‘That Night’ as well as the re-imagining of a classic – Long Pong.

Museum of Symmetry
Paloma Dawkins / Montréal, QC / 2018

Museum of Symmetry is an “other-dimension”, 2D-in-3D playground, virtual reality adventure game that disrupts conventional storytelling with a unique experience between humans and nature. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with Casa Rara Studio, Montreal-based pioneers in virtual reality projects.

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

A 100-button fighting game for 2 players where the controls are randomized every round, and possibly every move… We’re not sure, and that’s part of the fun! A chaotic deconstruction of fighting game tropes, such as timing, precision, and knowing what the heck is going on at any given moment, this is a button-masher in the most literal sense of the term.

GTAnimalia
Jason Bond / Toronto, ON / In Development

Greater Toronto Animalia (#GTAnimalia) is an open-ended, full-scale re-creation of the entire Toronto area (generated from real mapping data) where the animals have taken over the streets. You play as one of several local wildlife species, including a red fox, white-tailed deer, black bear or of course the local mascot, the trash panda. Up to four players at a time can roam familiar surroundings, race between landmarks, search for food, or just chill out. The game is developed with the support of the Toronto Arts Council.

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. It’s also a perfect surface to put your drink on, but good luck getting people to stop knocking it over in their efforts to win.

ZAGMAX 3000
David Fono & Matthew Phillips / Toronto, ON / 2018

Straight from hyper-computer super-wizards working on the cutting edge of the future, it’s a giant ol’ box covered with glowy blinky lights! Run around it in circles while zagging and zigging in this 4 player arcade game.

!!! MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC !!!

Catherine Debard has roots in Montreal’s experimental music scene, a community in which she has been actively involved for several years. Under the moniker YlangYlang, a solo project she has developed since 2012 (also featured in Paloma Dawkins’ Gardenarium), Debard translates experiences, memories, emotions and senses into electronic sounds through a delicate balance of improvisation and composition. She has released records internationally on labels such as Crash Symbols (USA), Phinery (DK), Fluere Tapes (SE) and ΠΑΝΘΕΟΝ (RU).

On her quest for the communal exuberance of the dance floor, New Chance sometimes slips into the solitary contemplation of the garden. Whilst indulging in the excitement and anxiety of the city she sometimes stumbles upon the deep textural realms of nature.

!!! 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 with a cool drink in hand! We’re looking for Safe Spaces Officers, game attendants, set-up and tear-down crew, and even Drama Kids with some acting/storytelling chops. Check out which roles need help filling out with this spreadsheet right here. Once you have an idea of how you’d like to help us out, 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 !!!

More games, music, and details on our new Silent Auction and special Mystery Game coming up next…

Masque of the Blue Organ

…And one by one danced the revellers in the LED-bedecked halls of their revel, and button-mashed each in the delighting posture of their play. And N++ and Cuphead and Line Wobbler held illimitable dominion over all.

So ends one account of a legendary gathering known as the Hand Eye Society Ball, an annual celebration of contemporary videogames and playful media from Toronto and beyond. Acting as both fancy videogame party and fundraiser to support a local gaming arts organization, this particular enchanted evening holds some fresh mysteries in store: Four artifacts brought together by four strangers, all meeting on the fourth of a series of strange nights indeed. Diamonds and spades, hearts and clubs: What could be the meaning of these elusive allusions?

Documentation of the last three such occurrences — at the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2014, the Masonic Temple in 2015, and again in 2016 — are quick to mention that all of these events have sold out before the day of reckoning, so don’t delay in purchasing tickets! If you want to stay updated or share this event with others, subscribe to our e-mail newsletter, Facebook group, and Twitter. They say good things come to those who use the hashtag #HESBall18 to spread the word…

Ticket Info

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 Regular ticket price: $25 

 Hand Eye Society members get 25% off! 

A special promo code will be e-mailed to all currently active Monthly, Annual, and Volunteer Members with valid credit cards. Not a Member? Become one today!

 BONUS: Free ticket to all NEW ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS! 

Sign up for Annual here any time between now and Sept 21, and we will e-mail you to confirm your membership and free HES Ball ticket. Note: This offer applies only to new Annual memberships, not Monthly. This offer does not apply to student memberships.

All proceeds from the Hand Eye Society Ball fundraiser will go directly towards our year-round activities, including WordPlay, a festival celebrating writing and words in contemporary games; Camp Make-a-Game, for kids in underserved neighbourhoods around Toronto and the GTA; and our new 2019 programming theme, Play With Your Food, which will feature exhibits and workshops about playful media and the things we eat. The vast majority of our events are free and open to the public, and all contributions directly support our mission of exploring videogames as an art form and means of creative expression.

Event Details

THE HAND EYE SOCIETY BALL
A Fancy Videogame Party

Saturday, Sept 22 2018
8pm-1am
918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education
North of Bathurst Station

Facebook RSVP
*** This is a 19+ event. Please bring ID! ***

We regret to inform the community that this venue is not wheelchair-accessible due to many stairs. We have spoken with the venue director and they are planning to address this as soon as possible, so we hope that hosting the event there will contribute financially to the future accessibility of the space. If you are unable to participate in the Ball due to this barrier and wish to give feedback, please contact info@handeyesociety.com.

Photo credit: Gabby DaRienzo of Laundry Bear Games

Calling All Volunteers!

On-site volunteers get in free! 

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Before signing up, please also check the Public Volunteer Schedule to see which positions have been placed so that you all don’t sign up to be Line Wranglers or Ticket Takers at once. Your hours will go towards the 10 hours needed to earn a Volunteer Membership, which comes with the same perks as a paid membership. Most roles will be divided into shifts so you can enjoy the party!

Thanks to Our Sponsors!

Community Partners

Cool Office Friends (anonymous)
Lindy Wilkins

Many more contributors and full credits coming soon!

About the Poster Artist

Victor Martins is a trans illustrator who’s originally from Brazil and is now living in friggin Oakville, ON, of all places. He likes dogs and is mistrustful of birds. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @cosmonautvico or get in touch at: vicomart3@gmail.com

About the Venue

A former Buddhist temple, 918 Bathurst is now a Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education in the Annex Neighbourhood as well as home to The Music Gallery. Artistic Director Daniela Nardi sees 918 Bathurst as an incubator for new and experimental projects in the city. It is equipped with a 200-seat theatre and visual arts gallery, but for one night, it will be the setting for a sumptuous night out of videogames, live music, and dancing. Dress up fancy, enjoy a curated selection of delightful and surprising games amidst music and mingling, and support your videogame arts not-for-profit at the same time!

Questions? Concerns? Comments? Contact the Hand Eye Society Ball Operations Team at ball@handeyesociety.com (Brendan Lehman, Amanda Wong, Alenn Predko, Sagan Yee, Ken Cho).