"Find the Future: The Game," devised by renowned game designer Jane McGonigal, is a series of "quests" delivered via an app on players' mobile devices that can be completed at the Library's 42nd Street location. A group of 500 players will be invited to play the game for the first time at 8 p.m. on May 20 to tackle a list of 100 overnight challenges.
The challenges are designed to encourage players to explore and reflect upon the objects from the library's collections. A player might be tasked, for instance, to scan a QR code located at the Declaration of Independence, and then respond to a creative essay prompt. Once enough quests have been completed, they will be "unlocked" for the public, who can begin playing the game online May 21.
“There is something to be said for being in the presence of rare, historic objects,” says Caro Llewellyn, producer of the Library’s Centennial celebration. “Wikipedia and Google are fantastic, but to see objects like these in the flesh has enormous power and can truly inspire creativity."
To sign up to become one of the first 500 participants, interested parties are asked to go to nypl.org/game to complete a "top secret" quest for entry. Judges will invite the authors of the 500 most "innovative and creative" entries to the event.