Duplicate & Mutate: Pen & Paper (2021)

Duplicate & Mutate: Pen & Paper is a game where the player is challenged with recreating the game they are currently playing. All the instructions for creating the game are embedded within the game itself.

Pen and paper was chosen for this project as they are relatively accessible tools. As a tool it has been used to create many interesting games .

I have created a similar game in this series using Twine: https://dr-d-king.itch.io/duplicate-mutate-twine-2021

I have created a similar game in this series using Bitsy: https://dr-d-king.itch.io/duplicate-mutate-bitsy-2021

The work was inspired by a collection of different things that have been lingering in my mind, including but not limited to.

• Douglas Hofstadter's work on self-referential sentences.
• My previous work in genetic algorithms.
• Memetics.
• Meta-games
• Lee Sallow's Self Documenting Sentence (below) [from, Hofstadter, D.R., 1983. Metamagical Themas. Virus-like sentences and self-replicating structures.]

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Transcript of Rules:

1 player, 20 mins

Duplicate & Mutate: Pen & Paper

This is a game where you make a game. The game that you make will be this game. I guess it's a commentary on something.

 

COMPONENTS:

The things you’ll need to play this game:

·      Pens or pencils

·      Paper

·      Rules

 

SET UP:

I will help you make this game, first:

·      Find a comfortable place to write and draw.

·      Write ‘Duplicate & Mutate: Pen & Paper’ on the top of the page.

 

PLAY:

During play, you can do alternate between the following two options:

Duplicate: Copy the rest of these rules exactly onto your paper.

Mutate: whilst keeping the core of the game the same make small changes e.g. colour of pen, add drawings, change words.

 

END OF THE GAME: 

 Once you’re happy with the rules, share them wherever you want.