#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The idea for the game came from Elena Muzhailova, who was the electronic media department head at that time, back in September of last year. It took less than six months to invite partners, gather interesting facts about the city and its institutions, collect photo materials, and publish the game.
The first players were representatives from Norilsk cultural and sports institutions, who played an active role in bringing Assemble the Poster to life.
The game united 16 partners, including the Norilsk drama theater, the city culture center, the Norilsk Museum, the art gallery, the Norilsk College of Arts, the Rodina cinema complex, the centralized library system, the Norilsk Development Agency, the public and cultural center Tower, the Our Norilsk foundation, the youth center, the Aika sports hall, the Arctica sports palace, the Vladimir Vysotsky cultural center, and the Yubileyny cultural center. All of these organizations are our partners on the Severny Gorod Poster sub-site and in the Telegram channel that highlights the most exciting events in the Big Norilsk. Representatives from these institutions provided fascinating facts about various iconic locations in the city, allowing players to explore different spots on the city map while learning new things about Norilsk, which might seem familiar.
The game goal is to assemble a mosaic representing a specific institution, such as the city culture center or Rodina. Players collect mosaic pieces from cards of different colors that feature intriguing facts, making them easy to remember throughout the game. There are also special cards like Complete, Grab, and Exchange to keep the game engaging and unpredictable.
“One day, our company realized that there wasn’t a single resource in Norilsk that collected all the events happening in the city. We decided to take on this challenge ourselves, which led to the creation of our Telegram channel Severny Gorod Poster. Today, I want to thank everyone who shares their events with us: together, we are building a resource that benefits all residents. Everyone can find something to do here – whether they enjoy cultural events, sports, or family-friendly activities. This game also offers a fun way to spend time while providing a closer look at the cultural landmarks of Norilsk”, said Anastasia Yunusova, the electronic media department head.
Interestingly, even though the guests at the presentation represented the city’s cultural institutions, some facts about their ‘neighbors’ surprised them. Did you know that two sites were considered for the construction of the Arctica sports palace? One was on 50 Years of October street, opposite the institute, and the other was on the shores of lake Dolgoye. The first location was ruled out due to its proximity to the heating plant, which operated on coal at the time. So, they decided to build it behind the swimming pool. Another interesting fact: did you know that the Norilsk College of Arts’ building is a source of pride for Norilsk culture and architecture? It was designed by former prisoners Yakov Trushinsh and Lev Frantsman. In addition to the educational building, the city gained a concert hall with excellent acoustics, rivaling the best venues in the country.
And there are dozens of such facts in the game!
“I really enjoyed the game; I had been looking forward to it because I knew it was on the way. My expectations matched reality. It was exciting to play: there were four of us in the team, and we felt the thrill of the game, with unexpected twists along the way. Overall, it was an emotionally engaging Poster. I especially want to highlight the quality of the texts in the game – the facts and the language used were well-chosen, with humor and conciseness. Moreover, I love maps, and the game board, designed as a map of Norilsk, is something you can explore even without the tokens. You could even come up with a new game”, shared Marina Horoshevskaya, residents’ curator at the public and cultural center Tower.
Ksenia Pirogova, a specialist in the FabLab department of the centralized library system, added:
“The quality and content of the game are excellent! The rules are simple. We greeted the cards about the FabLab and libraries with childlike joy. Overall, we ‘wandered’ through familiar places with excitement. In fact, this is a wandering game featuring well-known cultural and sports institutions. While playing, you feel as if you’re on a sightseeing tour of the city. Take this tour with your kids, choose places that interest you, and then visit them in real life. And when and where to go, you can easily find on the Severny Gorod Poster portal. From the very beginning of this project, we have been collaborating with its team, and you can always find information about FabLab events and city libraries on the Poster. Thank everyone involved in creating the Poster portal and the unique board game Assemble the Poster!”
It’s worth noting that the game has been released in a limited edition of 130 copies. Soon, every school in the city will receive its own copy so that students can familiarize themselves with Norilsk landmarks first. Other residents can also become owners of the game: to do this, they need to subscribe to the Telegram channels of Severny Gorod and Severny Gorod Poster, where giveaways will be held.
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Text: Maria Sokolova, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
