Chicago’s indie video-game scene will be on display Saturday at Bit Bash, an alternative-games festival taking place at Threadless, 1260 W. Madison St.
The festival highlights unique and diverse games outside of “Halo,” “Call of Duty” and other high-profile action games in the $22.4 billion industry, said Brice Puls, a co-founder of event producer Indie City Collective, a nonprofit group that promotes game development and encourages at-risk youth to explore technology and art.
The Indie City Collective in 2013 created the Indie City Co-op, a coworking space for independent developers.
Bit Bash will run from 2 to 11 p.m. and include music and theatrical acts, DJs, food trucks and an area for card and board games.
“We try to focus it more toward a Chicago community and getting as many people as possible who might not play a game,” Puls said. “It addresses topics that aren’t usually addressed in games. It highlights cool things Chicago people are doing as well.”
About 42 percent of Americans play video games at least three hours a week, according to an April report by the Entertainment Software Association. That includes social games, action games and puzzle-card games, the report said.
Half of the 50 games at Bit Bash will be from Chicago developers, and about 75 percent are video games, organizers said.
Offerings include multiplayer and collaborative games, including one in which a team of players work together to diffuse a bulb. Another game, a music and rhythm program designed to be played alone in a dark room, will be set up in a sensory-deprivation trailer.
Admission is $20 online/$25 at the door for adults and free for kids 13 and under.
Organizers point out that some games are meant for adult players. Volunteers will be stationed to suggest games based on age and interests.
Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer.
