Kate Hartman, Emma Westecott, Izzie Colpitts-Campbell, Jennie Robinson Faber, Yiyi Shao, Chris Luginbuhl, Olivia Prior, Manisha Laroia

Textile Game Controllers Workshops is a research project that explores the intersection of two making practices: alternative game controllers and electronic textile (e-textile) sensors. Just as alternative game controllers focus on the creation of DIY and bespoke game controllers, e-textile sensors take an analogous approach to sensor-making, resulting in interfaces that are pliable, flexible and customizable. This project explored this intersection through of a series of free public workshops and a game jam as part of a partnership between Social Body Lab, game:play Lab, and Dames Making Games. It brought together academic researchers, community organizers, and attendees in a workshop format to learn from each other on site. Project partners brought complementary areas of expertise and a shared interest in DIY, game, and art-making practices, bringing these groups together to explore, experiment with, and elucidate methods, approaches, and themes. Workshops utilized a research creation approach to explore physical affordances, identify (through making) current challenges, survey community interest, and develop materials and resource kits for a culminatory game jam. Workshops included: Intro to Textile Game Controllers, November 14, 2018; Body-Centric Game Controllers, March 27, 2019; Wearable Game Controllers, October 30, 2019; Stitch and Stuff, November 26, 2019; Fun with Felting, January 15, 2020. The final game jam was delivered in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic - taking place online and in the homes of participants - May 30 - June 11, 2020. Resulting game controllers were creating using digital, analog, and capacitive sensing techniques; out of materials such as conductive and resistive yarns, fabrics, and fibres; and crafted using methods such basic hand sewing, embroidery, and felting.