Cyberpunk Dystopia
In the game world, every aspect of an individual’s life becomes a commodity. One's body, mind, emotions, physical, mental, and spiritual needs. They can be bought, sold and endlessly modified.
It’s a larp about serious dilemmas: If I can change everything about myself, including who I am, what defines my essence? Who am I really? Am I authentic? And what makes me human?
Live a giger's life - always on the edge. Buy, sell, fix, hack, steal, disappear and don't let them catch you.
Navigate your character through the black market of experiences of everyday life in a megablock.
Dive deep into a high-tech/low-life multisensory environment, where silence and darkness are priceless.
Try out the zesty cocktail of pop culture cyberpunk and neo-noir references.
Direct the fate of your character using diverse functionalities of dedicated GiG3R app.
Check out the Gallery
Dystopian slice-of-life
It's a slice-of-life experience that showcases a dynamic snapshot of character lives over a span of two days. These characters reside in a residential-service complex called Sector5 of the Megablock1 located in the 3City Lagoon Special Economic Zone, submerged by the sea, administered by Takayama megacorporation.
GiG3R larp exaggerates the toxic trends of today and extrapolates them into the near future, adding some sci-fi elements like programming human biology, self-aware AI and androids, and the schemings of 3 mega-corporations, that run the world, grinding a myriad of products, services, brands and people within their cogs. Behind the flashy commercials and the slogans, there are murky deals, heartless decisions and disregarded human lives.
We want to invite you to a dark and twisted world that has nothing in common with the colorful and happy life seen in commercials on every screen. This larp is not about changing the world for the better, instead about getting by and staying on the surface of the overwhelming and oppressive environment. Don't expect a railroad of main events leading to the grand finale - experience as much of the daily grind as you want.
Megablock is like a big buzzing hive, full of opportunities for play. The game is designed to enhance the feeling of the busy life by building on different experiences depending on physical locations, characters’ lifestyles, groups, and professions. Visit a ripper doc, erase memories, buy an android, hack the security systems, become a celebrity or lose your own self. The experience of a gang member might be completely different than an influencer’s. A corporate executive will have totally different game pacing than a sex doll. But their paths still cross because of GiG3R…
GIG3R - gig economy
GiG3R is a mix of Facebook, Tinder and Revolut - on steroids
Seriously. GiG3R is an integral part of the life of every resident of Sector 5.
One of the most important elements of the game world and larp itself is the gig economy. Odd jobs, errands, services and even relationships can be posted or fulfilled using an application designed for the game. The titular GiG3R connects providers with contractors. Tasks vary greatly, ranging from simple and mostly legal, to complex and clearly shady ones. From strictly work related contracts to elaborate needs and connections. Despite its dark side, the app is very popular: everyone knows it, and everyone uses it, although some people never show their gig history.
Everything is for sale, you just need to name the price: sex, friends, memories, love, life. You just need to post your gig!
What's your Vibe?
The fundamental aspect of each character in the game is belonging to one of the three vibes. A vibe represents conforming to a specific pattern set by the influencers of that particular group. It involves adopting the identity, image, and behaviors that align with that pattern. Not belonging to any of the vibes is considered very strange and indicates someone being a social outcast. Not many people can afford such eccentricity.
Sex, Drugs & Synthwave
GiG3R touches the sensitive topics to let players explore the posthuman society, and feelings of alienation after encountering the cyberpunk culture of tomorrow. The creators use the design elements below to equip players with tools to make their characters’ stories more appealing and emotional.
The game introduces the idea of a world without sunlight. Space is designed as overwhelming and overstimulating. Sector5 will be filled with people, sounds, lights and screens.
- A quiet and cosy place will be provided for people wanting to have a brief rest from the noise and intensity of ingame area or to have a conversation with a player support person.
The game will touch on the topics of exploitation, economic violence and many close-to-home themes related to professional instability, precariat, and hustle culture.
- Every experience will be opt-out for players, however the topics central to the game are impossible to avoid entirely.
Sex and romance game mechanics are meant to enhance the feeling of unease and dehumanisation of the intimate sphere. Intimacy is shown as a commodity, a part of economic transaction more than a pure human need.
- Rules will be provided to ensure enthusiastic consent of every participating person.
Game mechanics relating to drugs give players the tools for steering their experience and are designed not to role-play the effects of drug use but rather to experience the game reality through a different lens.
- No real drugs or alcohol will be allowed during the game. At the afterparty alcohol will be allowed.
Dedicated techniques are meant to show android characters as fully objectified, deprived of free will, and completely dependent on their owners.
- Metatechniques will ensure that players embodying androids are not coerced to do things outside of their consent.
As the GiG3R will be an intense experience, a set of strict safety rules and mechanics as well as calibration techniques will be introduced. During the event, the player support team will be available when needed.
Casting
The larp has 100 pre-written unisex characters. For the game to take place we need 70, 85 or 100 players, with these thresholds we will be able to include additional plots/activities/experiences for players.
Once the sign-up is completed, the players will be asked to fill in the casting form. We will ask about your expectations and preferences regarding the game, as well as request you to select a few archetypes/lifestyles/professions from the list with short descriptions that you would like to play.
Within a month of completing the form, you will receive information about your assigned role. We will asign the roles based on that, to meet as many expectations as we can.
Inspirations
works of William Gibson
works of Peter Watts
Blade Runner & Blade Runner 2049
Ghost in the Shell (Stand Alone Complex)
Deus Ex (Human Revolution)
Cyberpunk 2020 & 2077
Westworld (third season)
Dredd
Altered Carbon
Mr. Robot
Black Mirror
What you can expect
About the larp
SETTING: a dystopian future world of Sector 5 of Megablock 1 in 3City Lagoon Zone
ESTHETICS: there's a space for the sharp elegance of the corporate world and the shabby neon street chic
GENRE: cyberpunk, neonoir
LOCATION: BNKR, Bunkier Club, Gdańsk, POLAND
PLAYERS' NUMBER: 100 (unisex characters)
PLAYERS' AGE: 18+ (considered legal adults in the light of Polish law)
LANGUAGE: English
DATES: International run, early 2027
PRICE:
International run - around 500 EUR
It can be paid in full or up to 5 installments.
The LARP takes place in a multilevel bunker constructed during World War II. The floors are connected by stairs, and the space is not adapted for people with mobility or visual impairments.
The ticket price includes
an elaborate character with a background story, motivations and character connections;
two days of intense play (excl. night break) full of plots and experiences, preceded by workshops;
access to GiG3R - a dedicated in-game application created from scratch to support the larp design;
scenography, props and special effects, access to basic FX make-up materials;
logistics and technical service, background characters enhancing your play portrayed by GiG3R crew;
photos from the larp taken by a professional photographer, and an in-game photo booth.
atmospheric meals during the larp and beverages available during the whole event.
Ticket for the international run also covers
- 3 nights in a shared or double room at an off-game location close to BNKR and off-game breakfasts.
The ticket price does not include accident insurance and transportation to the larp location. The larp takes place in the city centre of Gdańsk. Practical information will include details on how to get there by car and public transport from Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport (GDN).
GIG3R team
VISION & DIRECTION: Maciej Starzycki, Jakub Krassowski
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Hubert Kwatek
DESIGN & CHARACTER DESIGN: Ida Pawłowicz, Klaudia Toruń, Maciej Starzycki, Anna Kowalska, Karol Hinc
CHARACTER WRITING: Klaudia Toruń, Ida Pawłowicz, Maciej Starzycki, Anna Kowalska, Paweł Jasiński, Łucja Mańk, Kasia Karpińska, Kamil Bartczak
IT DEV: Borys Juśkiw, Jakub Zielnik, Karol Hinc, Grzegorz Kawka-Osik, Sylwia Bielawska, Szymon Osik
PRODUCTION: LarpVenture
Q&A: Janet Rybka, Joanna Janik
SPECIAL THANKS: Laura Jankowska
Originally created by:
Maciej Starzycki, Jakub Krassowski (Vision & Direction); Ida Pawłowicz, Paweł Jasiński, Laura Jankowska, Karol Hinc, Krzysztof Maj (design consulting); Anna Furmanek-Czekajło, Bartosz Naumowicz, Dominik Chomycki, Ewa Iwaniec-Stucka, Michał Cholewa (Scenario); Borys Juśkiw, Anna Kowalska, Kamil Czarniecki, Remigiusz Zarzycki, Grzegorz Kawka-Osik, Krzysztof Kleba (IT Dev); Marta Salamon (Art); Julia Syczewa, Magdalena Kosmoski (Scenography); Meg Pomorska, Marcin Słowikowski, Łucja Mańk, Aleksandra Tomicka (Comms); Zofia Skowrońska (Special Thanks).