And so I attended my first Minecraft party.
Hosted on Club Matryoshka, the event was Berlin’s CTM Festival, held last August 15. What in tarnation is Club Matryoshka? Brush up here.
Here’s what I came away with:
1. It was the first time in awhile I got that, “What is this world?” feeling. For the duration of quarantine, I have missed being in a new environment that makes my inner Jack Skellington sing, “What’s this? What’s this?”
I live for that feeling.
It was amazing to immerse in the world they created. I love approaching something with a beginner’s mindset.
“How do I swim and not drown?”
“Oh, so this is Spleef.”
“Whoa, this room has purple rain!”
“Who is this chewing on my cheek?” (A zombie)
The first setting made me feel as small as an ant, in the most humbling way. Video game visuals don’t usually appeal to me, but there’s something about what Club Mat did with Minecraft: a self-awareness that they’re replicating reality, yet completely maximizing the un-reality.
Even if you’re not into video games like me, if you’re into design, there’s something to be appreciated. I could really see the time and thought behind everything. Jorge Wieneke, one of the club’s founders, explained to me how their team includes similar roles you’d need in other creative teams: people doing concept, builders, coders, and interior designers. There’s even a coffee table book on Minecraft designs.
2. They’re more approachable than you think. Any club that requires scrutiny to enter can feel intimidating, but for me, the bigger concern was, “What if I piss off this Minecraft community by doing some unspoken rule?” Kind of like how surfers lose it when you unknowingly ride their wave.
Not being really familiar with how to navigate, @BoBuhDwight had to teach me how to grab a drink from the bar. Once, after exploring a room alone, I couldn’t open the door to get out. I was surprised at feeling claustrophobic, even if it was just virtual, and then a kind stranger saw me, and just opened the door.
3. It is what you make of it. I never joined the voice chat on Discord. I just wasn’t feeling it. I just wanted to take in the experience at my own pace first. Walking around random stages, learning how to descend steep stairs, discovering what would make me die… I spent majority of the event alone. It’s amazing to join a server with up to 500 people yet be able to claim your own space.
When they shared the set list, I set it aside. It was nice to just let the music be musical scoring to whatever I was doing.
I love that it takes off that “audience pressure.” In my twenties, I used to love going to music festivals and would stay until the end; compelled to get my money’s worth. But now that I’m in my thirties, I’m more confident to show up for what I want to show up for.
If I feel it’s time to go, I’m going home.
I think I stayed from 11PM - 2AM PHT. I would have wanted to stay longer, but I was dizzy! The whole night in front of my laptop was like being in the backseat of someone learning how to drive.
4. It pushed me to expand. I’ve been trying to get a pulse of how industries are changing now… publishing, fashion, retail, food, etc. And I have to say that learning about Minecraft has been one of the most enlightening things for me lately. When I interviewed Jorge, I spent so much time reading up about Minecraft and virtual parties because there’s just so much to learn.
It’s frightening to think how my job, like many others, are threatened today. I read about how now, there’s AI with improved writing abilities. I should be scared by that, but also—it’s exciting, it’s inevitable. I don’t think we’ll never not need human writers. We’re not being threatened to be extinct, but to adapt.
Club Mat gave me that light bulb moment of “You gotta catch up, you gotta expand your social circles.” I don’t see myself being a regular on Minecraft, but just the fact that it got someone like me (who isn’t into video games) interested is something.
Christoph Niemann, an illustrator said, “The great thing about our job is, you can do new things all the time. The curse is, you have to do new things all the time.”
To Club Mat: Thank you for a night of new. ♡