As slow as possible

Pippin Barr, creator of many excellent things (including much loved Pongs) has a characteristically excellent new thing.

As Slow as Possible takes three arcade games that you know and forces them to be played at unusually slow speeds.

As Slow As Possible

As Slow As Possible

To glance at the idea on paper, you might be forgiven for thinking that with the 'action' stripped from the arcade, you're left with something ponderous. Speed is an essential element, right?
Weirdly, the opposite is true. Twitch-response controller skills give way to something else. It's absurd, it's sometimes frustrating but it's surprisingly very dramatic. (It brings to mind 24-hour Psycho, in its demand that you submit to its pace, and when you do, the real pleasure starts.)

Pippin has included his process notes on the site, which take some unexpected diversions as they think through what's being created. Erotica wasn't what I was expecting to be thinking about, but it makes sense.

The role of anticipation feels like it will be increased, and the balancing against/with boredom is something I’ll be thinking about as well (as well as the eternal question: why would anyone actually play this and what is it reasonable to demand?) It could be that I’m subconsciously even making some arguments about how games “waste” our time with repetitive actions?

There are three games for you to experience, for this player Missile Command is the most beguiling.

Take some time to enjoy this beautiful project.