> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Digital Distractions: 'Twin Peaks' Dance-Off, Skull Glitches, and an 18th-Century Opera Puzzle - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/digital-distractions-twin-peaks-dance-off-skull-glitches-and-an-18th-century-opera-puzzle/ - Published: 2015-10-08T01:47:27.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:37:01.000Z - Description: Walk through a glitchy realm of skulls and flowers, have a Twin Peaks dance battle in the Black Lodge, alter an alternative reality, and experience an 18th-century opera as a puzzle. - Author: Allison Meier - Tags: Art, David Lynch, Digital Art, games, Interactive, Review, Twin Peaks, Video Games, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:13 (2014, 2015, part 3) !['Strawberry Cubes' by Loren Schmidt (GIF courtesy the game designer)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/strawberrycubes01.gif) ‘Strawberry Cubes’ by Loren Schmidt (GIF courtesy the game designer) In a monthly [series](http://hyperallergic.com/tag/digital-distractions/), we’re highlighting a few games, apps, and interactive digital experiences recommended for the art crowd. For October, walk through a glitchy realm of skulls and flowers, have a *Twin Peaks* dance battle in the Black Lodge, alter an alternative reality, and experience an 18th-century opera as a puzzle. ## Strawberry Cubes !['Strawberry Cubes' by Loren Schmidt (GIF courtesy the game designer)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/strawberrycubes02.gif) ‘Strawberry Cubes’ by Loren Schmidt (GIF courtesy the game designer) **For: PC and Mac** **From: Loren Schmidt** It doesn’t take long for the gameplay of [*Strawberry Cubes*](http://lorenschmidt.itch.io/strawberrycubes?ref=hyperallergic.com) to get weird. I quickly found myself tolling a bell on top of a ladder while an endless horde of frogs leaped across the black, white, and red screen, all after climbing a heap of glitchy bones. Created by artist [Loren Schmidt](http://lorenschmidt.itch.io/?ref=hyperallergic.com) (half of the duo behind [the @mothgenerator bot](https://hyperallergic.com/a-twitter-bot-that-generates-beautiful-imaginary-moths/)), the pay-what-you-wish game is a beautifully made, unpredictable environment of climbable flowers, skulls, and surreal text. ## Fire Dance With Me ![Agent Cooper and Audrey Horner having a dance off next to a wailing Leland in 'Fire Dance With Me' (GIF by the author via itch.io)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/firedancewithme.gif) Agent Cooper and Audrey Horne having a dance-off next to a wailing Leland Palmer in ‘Fire Dance With Me’ (GIF by the author via itch.io) **For: Online** **From: Robert Gaither and Anja Luzega** A swaying Audrey Horne, the red-suited Man from Another Place, the Log Lady’s log ([RIP](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20151004%5FCatherine%5FE%5F%5FCoulson%5F%5F%5FLynchian%5F%5FLog%5FLady%5F%5F%5F71.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)), and Agent Cooper with a damn fine cup of coffee are all ready for the most demented 30-second dance-off in [*Fire Dance With Me*](http://calavera.itch.io/fire-dance-with-me?ref=hyperallergic.com)*.* The characters all jive on the zig-zag floor of the Black Lodge as poor Leland Palmer cries, “[Please somebody dance with me!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y%5FJutJRMSrc&ref=hyperallergic.com)” Like in Dance Dance Revolution, your goal in the two-player tribute game — created by [Robert Gaither](https://twitter.com/obj%5Fcalavera?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [Anja Luzega](https://twitter.com/AnjaLuzega?ref=hyperallergic.com) for Fantastic Arcade’s [Duplicade](http://itch.io/jam/duplicade?ref=hyperallergic.com) — is to match your dance moves to a pattern on the screen, all to the accompaniment of an 8-bit play on the show’s theme music. While we might be hitting *Twin Peaks* exhaustion with all the hype over its [return](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4093826/?ref=hyperallergic.com), anything that can make me cackle with joy in 30 seconds is a small treasure. ## Panoramical ![Panoramical (GIF by the author via YouTube)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/panoramical01.gif) Panoramical (GIF by the author via YouTube) **For: Mac and PC** **From: Finji** [*Panoramical*](http://panoramic.al/?ref=hyperallergic.com#intro) offers 18 levels of audio and visual digital landscape to alter with your movements and interactions — although calling them levels is a bit inaccurate, as it’s more a digital art experience than a game. The 3D exploration platform was created by David Kanaga (behind other audiovisual games like [*Proteus*](http://www.visitproteus.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [*Dyad*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyad%5F%28video%5Fgame%29?ref=hyperallergic.com)) and Fernando Ramallo with [Finji](http://finji.co/?ref=hyperallergic.com). The creators invite users to “immerse yourself in synaesthetic alien vistas and control them like an ambient disco-god,” and [according to Engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/18/panoramical-finji-polytron-indie-fund/?ref=hyperallergic.com), a pro version is being marketed to DJs for trippy visual sets. But even for lay users, it’s addictive to play with the ethereal noise and watch and listen as your controls transform the landscape at once. ## Magic Flute ![A snake attack in 'Magic Flute' (GIF by the author via YouTube)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/10/magicflute.gif) A snake attack in ‘Magic Flute’ (GIF by the author via YouTube) **For: iOS** **From: LabLike** Mozart’s 1791 opera *The Magic Flute* is an epic fantasy of sorcery, illusion, and arias, and the [*Magic Flute*](http://lablike.net/magic-flute?ref=hyperallergic.com)game from [LabLike](http://lablike.net/?ref=hyperallergic.com) lets you experience it in a different way. The puzzle game is no substitute for seeing the stage production — its industrial, modernist visuals are based on a recent staging by Amon Miyamoto in Tokyo — and its gameplay isn’t exactly groundbreaking: you basically move around blocks, albeit while avoiding snakes and navigating the kingdom of the Queen of the Night. However, its 32 levels for Act 1 (Act 2 is still forthcoming) are an enjoyable introduction to the opera’s world, or an interactive experience with it for lovers of the 18th-century work.