Puzzling Poetry
Studio Louter & Lucas Hirsch, Amsterdam (NL), 2016
This addictive game helps players to understand poetry by solving puzzles. Playing with words leads to a new, more focused way of reading.
Don’t forget that all is poetry these days
That all poetry these days is forgotten
(Translated from: ‘Ontsla me van alles wat ik liefheb’, Lucas Hirsch)
Word puzzles
For the poet and the reader, a poem is a kind of word puzzle. In the ‘Puzzling Poetry’ game, verses by a range of Dutch and Flemish poets make up the playing field. Players have to find the locations of words, the connections between them, and their rhythm. As they do, in a way, they rewrite the poems.
Literary game
We developed the app with the poet Lucas Hirsch in response to an open call for literary games issued by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, the Creative Industries Fund NL and Gamefonds. “Playing with words unexpectedly leads to a new, focused way of reading,” the selection committee said.
Frankfurt Book Fair
The game was exhibited at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair, where Flanders and the Netherlands were guests of honour. Versions are now available in several languages, and we’ve developed a special edition for children, ‘Puzzling Poetry Treasure Chest’.
Download ‘Puzzling Poetry’ here:
iOS
Film: Alina Braun, the Journalistic Academy JONA
“Cool app, great idea. I had loads of fun unravelling all the poems.”
Noor, Google Play — 26 April 2018
Credits
Content Design
Studio Louter & Lucas HirschInteractive Media Production
Studio LouterWith the support of
Nederlands Letterenfonds, Stimuleringsfonds voor de Creatieve Industrie, Gamefonds, Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, De Arbeiderspers, De Bezige Bij, Polis
Poems
Lucas Hirsch
Miriam Van hee
Ruth Lasters
Remco Campert