“So much of what the game is now is composed of what other people have put there.”
They are the creator ofLibrary of Babble, one of the most extraordinary digital spaces I have ever explored.
It was a real pleasure to chat to Demi last year and learn about how the Library came together.
You know, early- to mid-20s.
And before that point, I was also always terrified of the prospect of programming.
It really kind of opened me up to that possibility.
And I took them up on the offer.
And that’s when I pitched them on the idea of the Library of Babble.
You’ve said before that it’s inspired by your early internet memories?
Demi Schanzel:Yeah.
I mean, I came to the internet quite late.
I’m quite young, I’m 27.
So my early memories are really like early 2000 internet memories.
Just kind of seeing what’s out there, I think.
And I’ve always really liked that idea.
Was it quite a challenge to pull that together?
Demi Schanzel:I think where it is now, it’s very different from where it started.
But I was always really taken by the idea of cartography in a way.
We lay out geography two dimensionally.
And you have this very beautiful height line.
So you have these sort of defined spaces on a map.
Wouldn’t it be a really lovely idea if you could get that depth and dimension?
So that part of the design came together really quickly.
Conceptually, at least - the technical aspects a little longer perhaps.
Did it take a long time to get the feel of it right?
I’m always struck by how beautiful it feels to move across Library of Babble.
It’s one of the most pleasing games to interact with.
That particular floaty scroll feeling must have taken a long time?
There’s a powerful sense of place to the game.
Is there a point in the design where you realise - oh, this has turned into an actualplace?
Demi Schanzel:You know, it’s funny.
It happened less during the act of making it, I think.
Because you’re so involved in the process, you know.
Every time I’ve gone back, though, I do kind of get that feeling.
Now that the memories of creation have faded now.
Demi Schanzel:Yeah, truly.
And it’s a really touching feeling.
It’s no longer from a completely internal perspective.
And that was really special.
How do you feel when you return to?
I think you’ve answered that to be honest.
Demi Schanzel:It’s something I’ve really been struggling to put into words.
And I think a large part of that is now there.
So much of what the game is now is composed of what other people have put there.
So it’s a really touching special feeling.
Are people still adding things to it?
But it’s nice.
What kind of place do you think it is for the people who write there?
Demi Schanzel:Yeah, I’m not too sure.
So I was really worried at the time that would it be just trolls and very non-committal messages?
I really did imagine it initially as a space to tell stories.
And now what I found is like, it’s an incredibly intimate and tender space.
And that’s a really special feeling.
It feels like a very vulnerable space.
So finally, what are you up to now?
Are you thinking about what’s next?
Demi Schanzel:A little bit.
You know, I really still adore the notion of space and conversation.
I think it really works most beautifully in its most abstract.
And that’s something I’m sort of experimenting with at the moment.
