Playing Poetry

A platformer adventure inspired by poetry by Tinderbox Collective, designed for Push the Boat Out Festival 2025

Playing Poetry is a one-player digital game created by Tinderbox Games Club young game designers, inspired by the poetry of Edwin Morgan as well as visual, digital & playful poetry by other artists. 

In the game you play as King Bubblio, a little lost poet exploring an old typewriter, searching for their lost poem - meeting other poets along the way who may or may not help you on your journey!

The game was made in a game-making tool called Construct 3, and is also played with a custom controller made of embroidered words designed by the group themselves, that uses conductive thread and a Makey Makey to control the player character.

All the art, audio, and games design you see, hear and experience was created by the young people at Tinderbox Games Club as a collaborative group.

How to Play: 

• In installation mode - press the embroidered word buttons to move, jump, and interact (click)
• Use the arrows or WASD to move, space to interact/talk/open doors/use switches, and Q to quit
• Use a mouse to move and interact
• Use touch screen controls 

Goal:

• Explore the typewriter and look out for characters who can give you pieces of the lost poem - you’re looking for 5 total!
• When you find 4 of the poem pieces, look out for the God of Poems who will challenge you to a final battle, where you can find the final fifth poetry piece - hint, the God isn't a fan of loud noises… 
  (Switch all 5 switches off then speak to the God to finish the game!)

About Tinderbox Collective & Games Club:

Tinderbox aims to ignite a spark in young people – one which fills them with confidence, imagination and a sense of possibility, and which enables people to achieve things they never thought possible. We run a range of contemporary youth orchestras, arts productions, workshops & trainee schemes, bringing together young people of different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, countries & cultures. We help break down barriers between people & communities, providing exciting opportunities to those who need them most, and supporting young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects.  

The Games Club is a youth games design studio for children & young people aged 10-18, where we:

• Get together to play, talk about and make games collaboratively
• Design our own artwork, audio & code needed for them along the way 
• Explore digital tools and learn about creative technology and developing digital skills in a fun and supportive environment
• Learn about other types of creative technology such as audiovisual production, electronics & circuit-building, 3D printing, machine learning, and robotics