Truth is stranger than fiction theory: Ikea is selling a new bench called Jesper, apparently dedicated to video game playing. I am not so convinced about the ergonomics, but here you go:
(Thanks to Ian Bogost for spotting this!)
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My name is Jesper Juul, and I am a Ludologist [researcher of the design, meaning, culture, and politics of games]. This is my blog on game research and other important things.
No offense to you, but that bench looks really uncomfortable! :)
My aim in life is to make theory that makes people feel uncomfortable!
(OK, so that isn’t really my aim in life.)
Looks like an overgrown Z-block to me. And I’m pretty sure it’d be more useful in playing Tetris than using it as furniture.
It all connects!
Pity, I’ve already finished my thesis. This bench somehow makes me think I’d have finished it a lot sooner if I had a ‘Jesper’ bench with some ‘Deleuze’ cushions and a ‘Bogost’ backrest.
Ikea could sell the whole combination as ‘games + theory aid’ (GTA). By the way, Jesper, your theories are not at all uncomfortable but this bench certainly does look dubious on the comfort scale. It looks like an ironing board bent out of shape or a ‘Tetris’ block as someone has already said. You sure it all connects?
If there is anything I need from the furniture I use while gaming, it’s back support: and this contraption looks to be the total opposite of that.
Souvik, it’s not a bad idea, though the market is probably smaller than for (say) Hannah Montanna-branded furniture.
Great design, waiting for the right application.