About the TAPP Initiative
Note: this is a live document that is publicly visible at https://playfulpasts.com/about/.
Do not share any personal details in this document.
Current contributors:
Angus Mol, Sebastian Hageneuer, Tine Rassalle
Table of Contents
A very first meeting: 31 July 2020
Organizational Matters/Planning
Something, something, something Playful Pasts!
If you’re here then it is likely you are one of the many people that care about the past and play and perhaps also the intersection of the two. Some of you may study the past, professionally or because you just like it. Some of you may play games about the past. Some of you make games about the past. Why not get together as a group and advance this thing we all care about?
TAPP (or whatever it will be called) is in its early stages. Please use the contact form on the home page if you like to provide input for what TAPP could become.
This initiative was kickstarted by the VALUE foundation. It may end up going nowhere or it may result in an epic new and diverse community of people who are passionate about the power of the past to positively impact how we play and vice versa. Regardless, it should be a fun ride!
After the idea was first floated in an archaeogaming session at the Theoretical Archaeology Group 2019 meeting by Aris Politopoulos and Angus Mol, there was a very first meeting at ArGaCon 2020. The meeting was held in Discord and broadcast live via twitch.tv/archaeorpg
All present in the discussion and chatting along via twitch.tv/archaeorpg were clear that TAPP is something we would want to see happen and, more than that, would have a variety of interesting, productive, important, and just plain fun activities it could engage in.
First of all, we agreed that TAPP should be public-facing. Too many Ivory Tower clubs in which academics have fun with other other academics. Past-play is for and can be done by all and for the benefit of many.
TAPP should not only be public-facing but also should be on an open and active search to get a membership that is diverse in all ways that matter. For example, getting game developers and players globally involved.
There is also clearly a place for scholarship in TAPP, regarding for example grant collaborations or offering knowledge-driven resources for developers and players.
All of this should have an organizational structure and dynamic that is transparent, thought-through, and responsible in its means of communication and ethical standards.
Organizing as a group around TAPP is something that is wanted and needed now. We will be communicating first via email, but will plan another public and recorded meeting in the upcoming months. The meeting we had yesterday was recorded and will be archived by @ArchaeoRpg (twitter account)
Clearly, the TAPP initiative has its work cut out for it. More importantly, there is a group of forward-thinking and constructive people enthusiastic about working towards it. Please, if you are one of those join us.
(please add)
Tapp should be from the outset:
As per the suggestion of a first meeting on 31 July, we will first use a mailing list. Google groups has been selected for this:
Email: playfulpasts@googlegroups.com
Link: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/playfulpasts