Avo, Stadia, Arcade, and the New Grammar of Television (and Games) — Part 2: The Golden Age of Television Platforms

Part two of a four-part series in which a new game about an avocado and a young inventor sketches out new ideas for both television and videogames.

Part one looks at mobile interactions and lean-in, lean-out. This is part two, unpicking the broader context of platforms and formats. Part three explores the new grammar of television and games. Part four summarises an optimistic narrative for tech and format invention.

Ed. A few years after I wrote this, Apple hired Playdeo’s Jack Schulze and Timo Arnall (conflict alert: they’re good mates) to work on various projects, including their own augmented reality ambitions. That put an end to the Avo game discussed here, but continues their creatives lines of enquiry. I’ll fix up the links later.

The Golden Age of Television (is platforms)

We are in another Golden Age of Television, or so we are repeatedly told. Indeed, perhaps TV can now legitimately seen as the primary creative force in mainstream visual entertainment, more so than film. From Breaking Bad to Killing Eve, The Wire to The Crown, critical acclaim…