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

Story

Every 400 years, the Hand Eye Society’s four ancient Houses compete for a chance to curry favour with the mysterious powers of an eldritch artifact: The Instrument. Said to be able to grant wishes and wealth beyond reckoning, the spirit that dwells within is capable of great feats, but at a price… “Feed me, and you shall be rewarded.”

During the Night of Four Houses, players acquire points in the form of playing cards, while the House Champions engage in hourly duels for the rapt attention of the audience. Known to its initiates only as The Game, this arcane system has been the arbiter of power for millennia, as the inner factions of the Hand Eye Society vie for control over the secret levers of the world.

This weekend, The Instrument beckons you to discover its secrets. Play games, cheer on your Champion, and bring glory to your House. Will the song you hear be one of triumph or defeat?

Rules

Know Thy House

• Receive your colour-coded bow tie at the door.
• The bow tie indicates your House and card suit.

Know Thy Score

• Convert playing cards matching your House suit to points at The Instrument.
• The number on the card equals the number of points.

Know Thy Quest

• Gain cards by playing games at the Ball, bargaining and trading with other players, or by completing Quests.
• Quests are given out randomly by Agents wearing white bow ties and shadowy hoods.

Champion’s Duel

• Improv performances and dramatic intrigue by the House Champions will take place on the hour in the Sun Room.
• Points may also be won or lost here, so audience participation — although optional — is highly encouraged!

☞◉❖

Remember: It’s All Made Up and the Points Don’t Matter!
Feel free to make up your own gameplay rules
as long as they don’t violate our Safer Spaces Policy
or interfere with the enjoyment of other guests.
You can opt out by removing your bow tie.

Characters

House Champions

Queen Amiga

Queen Amiga represents the longstanding House of Amiga, who believe above all in maintaining a deep understanding of tradition and history. Members of the House of Amiga know that those who do not learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them in the future. The House of Amiga are praised for their meticulous historical knowledge, but criticized for clinging to outdated, nostalgic traditions.

Card and Colour: Red Diamond 

Lord Tudifore

The champion of the House of Tudifore, a fantastical group of knights, rogues, witches and wizards. The House of Tudifore are a group of valiant heroes who have battled countless foes to preserve the peace and sanctity of the Hand Eye Society. Brave as they are, the House of Tudifore has been known to act quite recklessly, often throwing caution to the wind in the pursuit of their goals.

Card and Colour: Yellow Spade

Lady Moonblossom

A Magical Girl whose charisma has allowed her a huge following in the House of Moonblossom. This House believes that friendship is a force that can move mountains, and the Hand Eye Society would be lost without their sense of loyalty and community. The House of Moonblossom sometimes struggles in helping everyone they meet, but that doesn’t mean they’ll ever stop trying.

Card and Colour: Blue Heart 

King Vivicus

Some say King Vivicus and his House are the most powerful in the Hand Eye Society, because their capacity for interdimensional travel grants them vast knowledge on all realms real and virtual. As capable as the House of Vivicus might be, their numbers are spread thin through the multiverse, and their arrogant attitudes sometimes make it difficult for them to work together.

Card and Colour: Green Club 

NPCs

The Agents

The Agents are neutral entities who help oversee the event, provide advice or assistance to Players, and add a colour commentary explaining the goings on of the Ball. You will know them by their colourless bow tie and mysterious demeanour.

Xen: Cardinal Fates

Appearing every 400 years as The Instrument does, Xen is the mediator of all disputes. There is a ritual called Cardinal Fates which he oversees, said to foretell the evening’s winner.

Credits

Project Lead

Alenn Predko

Tech

Lindy Wilkins

Nadine Lessio

Kit Burnham

Jane Hacker

Design and Narrative

Jesse Gazic

Jillian Wakarchuk

Jord Farrell

Sagan Yee

Our Sponsors

☞◉❖   [button size=’large’ style=” text=’Buy Tickets!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-2018-a-fancy-videogame-party-tickets-toronto-XPHBZK’ 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 with #HESBall18!
Remember: All HES membership tiers get a 25% discount, and new Annual memberships (does not apply to student memberships), sponsors, and volunteers get in free.

!!! GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES !!!

Toast Boast
Michael Arcadi and Jesse Baker / Toronto, ON

A competitive 2 player beverage toasting simulator where you and a friend fight to be the first one to toast the other so hard that their glass shatters, thus wishing them good health. You can’t toast on an empty glass, so grab some drink from the tap!

Red Hot Ricochet
Wyatt Yeong / New York, NY

It’s high noon in this wasteland, and only one of you is making it out alive. Sure, you could shoot them right between the eyes – but what fun is that? Red Hot Ricochet is an intense game of ricochet duels. Wise shooting, lucky bounces, and a bit of trigger-nometry required.

Our Evil Tower
Dustin Freeman / Toronto, ON

A multiplayer game for 1 player in a VR headset, and up to 4 players using game controllers. The player in VR becomes a Dark Lord atop an Evil Tower. The players using game controllers are Heroes, who must bring down the Dark Lord before darkness spreads everywhere.

Closer
Marie Claire LeBlanc Flanagan / Montréal, QC

A full-body cooperative game for couples: To start, you must stand together, and to succeed, you must work together. The controller for Closer is the physical space between two people. Find a friend and navigate your ball of light through the spikes and upwards for as long as you can synchronize your movements!

RotoRing
Gregory Kogos / Leipzig, Germany

A dodgy alternative controller game using two concentric LED rings . Players control movement of the single brightest light with a rotating knob, and switch between the circles with the button. The goal in every level is to get to the empty (unlit) spot by avoiding red lights. Thanks to TIFF DigiPlayspace for the lend!

!!! MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC !!!

Leucrocuta is an electronic music producer and performer living in Toronto. Her music plays in the spaces between synth-pop, post-industrial, ambient, and experimental. Leucrocuta’s soundscapes are sci-fi inspired, and explore gender and technology. In 2017 she released an EP, “when all the animals are dead.” It is “a fascinating artifact from [a] distant, dark, and strange place.” (Silent Shout). It “sounds uncanny in the sense that it feels familiar yet mysterious and arcane.” (SBVRSV)

Bile Sister is the genre-bending abrasively exciting music project by Julie Reich. She will be joined by a number of collaborators and is currently performing live with Heloise Simone George. Prepare to question rhythm and song structures. Synths, samplers, drum pads, strong vocals, melodica, Erhu and sometimes you’ll get drums, bass, guitar, gongs, horns and more! Avant pop meets post punk meets… ? You’ll want to dance regardless.

!!! 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=’HESBall18 Volunteer Form’ 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 !!!

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!

☞◉❖   [button size=’large’ style=” text=’Buy Tickets!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-2018-a-fancy-videogame-party-tickets-toronto-XPHBZK’ 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 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

[button size=’large’ style=” text=’Buy Tickets Here!’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://www.universe.com/events/hand-eye-society-ball-2018-a-fancy-videogame-party-tickets-toronto-XPHBZK’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]

 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).

Stars align. The moon eclipses. A goat (on a pole?) is born with two heads. It’s happening again… The fourth annual Hand Eye Society Ball returns on Saturday, September 22th!

After a year-long hiatus, Toronto’s fanciest video game party is back. A one-night celebration of the best in contemporary games and playful media, the Ball has been held at venues like the AGO and the Masonic Temple to sold-out crowds and fond memories: Solving cat puzzles with strangers, dancing to the Pokemon theme song in your most grown-up attire, or casting your vote in the mysterious Red Room to determine the fate of the world. This year, we take the fun to 918 Bathurst, a former Buddhist temple turned arts and culture sanctuary in Toronto’s Annex Neighbourhood.

Check out our recaps of the 2015 and 2016 events with photos and video for a glimpse of past parties. Ticket sales and other details will be announced first on our blog and monthly newsletter, so subscribe, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and stay tuned! In the meantime, here are all the ways you can get involved…

Sponsor the Party

Do you run or work for a company that would like to increase its profile or give back to the community? We have a lot of exciting new ideas planned for 2019, and are raising funds with the future in mind! Your sponsorship will help enormously by making the HES Ball the best it can be, while also contributing towards our operations and community-building activities long after the party is over.

There are many ways to help out, from Studio Sponsorships to larger contributions that will help us cover things like venue and equipment rentals, food and drink, artist fees, and potentially even commissioned site-specific games. Shoot us an e-mail at ball@handeyesociety.com to start a conversation! We’re also keen to chat about in-kind sponsorships — donated/discounted alcohol/food or other services you may have to offer.

Sponsoring this event does not prohibit you from submitting your game for possible inclusion (see below), but it does not merit special consideration.

Submit Games

Each year for the Ball, we curate a new selection of local and international games designed to astound and delight. If you know of a game that you think would be suitable to the event — easy to pick up, short rounds, and games that are as much fun to watch as to play — please submit using the form below!

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Your submission can be a game you made, a game you love, or a game you’ve heard of but isn’t out yet (such as the crowd-favourite Cuphead in 2016). You might also choose to submit a custom build of your game that’s more suited to the party atmosphere of the event (adding an occult touch to the tabletop in Douglas Gregory’s Last One Standing), design an experimental way of playing an old favourite (Donut County‘s custom hole-based controller by Australian game designer Louis Roots), or a site-specific interactive piece (Annual General Mischief, pictured up top).

All selected games will receive a minimum $80 CAD artist’s fee.

What are we looking for?

For an idea of what we’ve selected in the past, check out announcements from previous Balls: 2015 A / 2015 B /  2016 A / 2016 B. As you can see, there’s a wide variety including cooperative and competitive multiplayer, surreal one-player experiences, VR, AR, physical movement-based games, and even interactive performances with a digital component — so please don’t hesitate to suggest anything!

Get Involved

Putting on a show like the Ball is quite the operation and involves a lot of moving parts, so we depend on the generous hard work of our volunteers to help things run smoothly. Some of the positions we’ll be looking to fill include:

• marketing and social media
• poster and flyer distribution
• tech assistant
• audio/visual documentation
• people with theatre/performance experience
• bartenders
• general volunteering (coat check, ticket and game attendants, line managers, etc.)
• acting experience — you never know!!

All positions include a free ticket to the event, and more involved roles include membership to the Hand Eye Society. If any of these appeal to you, please email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@handeyesociety.com with specifics or fill out this handy form and check off “Hand Eye Society Ball” under the initiatives section. We’ll be in touch!

Thanks to Dean Tomlinson and Paul Hillier for the HES Ball 2016 photography, and to Little Dada, Alanna Predko and Anthony Swan for the Red Room interactive performance as seen in the top image!