LA Game Space was a nonprofit organization focused on experimental game design, research and education. The crowdfunded project planned to open an exhibition space in Los Angeles, along with a research wing, a space for workshops and support for artists in residence.[2][3] The organization exceeded its crowdfunding target in 2012, but closed down in 2018 having failed to open a physical venue.[4]
The project originated in November 2009, founded by Adam Robezzoli and Daniel Rehn. The organisation claimed that it spent three years planning and organizing collaborators and events.[1] However, Eric Nakamura of Giant Robot indicated that he had only a single meeting with the group in 2011, after which his name was applied to promotional materials for the project. He was listed as an "advisory board" member without any further involvement.[5]
The organisation launched a Kickstarter in 2012. In an interview with Forbes, Rehn described the organisation: "We're a public nonprofit with more than half of our space dedicated to exhibitions. While our day-to-day existence does have a rotating artist residency at its core, we'll also be having regular exhibitions where anyone can come and play/experience new game experiences."[6] The Kickstarter asked for $250,000 and ultimately received $335,657 of funding. Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward released a short animation to spread awareness of the project.[7][8]
Backers received access to Experimental Game Pack 01, a collection of titles that for the most part had been developed for the purpose of promoting the project. 30 games were earmarked for the pack originally, but ultimately only 23 were released. The pack included works by Canabalt creator Adam Saltsman, Katamari creator Keita Takahashi and Kentucky Route Zero developer Tamas Kemenczy. To My Favourite Sinner had originally been released in 2009 but was re-relesased for the pack by Molleindustria.[9] Experimental Game Pack 01 was released on September 7, 2013, with several of the 23 games being added shortly after the main launch.[10] The collection was the only pack of games ever released by the organization.[11][12]
LA Game Space obtained 501(c)(3) status after the conclusion of the Kickstarter campaign. LA Game Space organized events at external venues during this time, such as the Ace Hotel Los Angeles, which were intended as a taster of the kind of events the organisation would ultimately host once the venue was complete.[13][14][4] A warehouse was leased and renovated[1] but never opened for the intended purpose. $150,000 was spent on lease and renovation of the site, around half the total. However, updates to backers ceased in 2014, and external event bookings ceased in 2016.[15] The organization ceased operation entirely in 2018, with Nakamura blaming financial mismanagement and approximately a third of the money being taken as salary by the founders.[16]
The original Kickstarter campaign listed a series of "advisors", though Nakamura has alleged that his name and face were used to promote the Kickstarter as a board member after only a single meeting.[17] The listed individuals were:
All of these were published as part of Experimental Game Pack 01. The pack was originally released on September 7, 2013, though some games were added to the set shortly after that date.[18] While the pack was advertised as containing 30 games, 23 were ultimately released, 21 of which were available for Windows, 19 for Mac and 14 for Linux. Since 2018 the Windows versions[19] have been freely available via the Internet Archive, with the Mac versions joining in 2019.[20] Some of the titles have since seen re-releases.[21]
A further 9 games were in development and earmarked for the game pack but not released.[24]