Moldy Ghosts and Yeasty Invasions: Glitches in Hybrid Bio-Digital Games

Hybrid bio-digital games integrate real, biological materials into computer systems. They offer a rich, playful space in which interactions between humans, computers, and non-human organisms can be explored. However, the concept of video game 'glitching' in hybrid bio-digital games, specifically those that result from interactions between the biological and the computer hardware and/or software, have not been explored in great detail. We report two incidences of glitches observed during Mold Rush - a hybrid bio-digital game based on growth patterns of living mold: The creation of an additional game character (Moldy Ghosts), and the gameplay freeze (a Yeasty Invasion). As we interpret our observations, we question the potential for glitches to become valuable tools in framing HCI investigations into designing a productive and meaningful biological-digital interactions. The goal of this paper is to propose three testable routes in which glitches could be implemented. 1) Glitch as a tool for learning 2) Glitch as a precursor for an experience-enhancing game component, and 3) Glitch as an instigator for discourse on ethical implications of bio-digital games.