Razorhurst is a locative media game featuring images from the Historic Houses Trust collection. 

It is based on historical events in Darlinghurst during the 1920s and 30s when there were gang wars over illegal alcohol, known as "sly grog". Some of the most terrifying criminals in Australian history lurked here with cut-throat razors, earning the area the infamous title of Razorhurst.

Razorhurst is an interactive (real time) mobile device (hand held PC)game utilising GPS (global positioning system) satellite technologies.

The game interface combines video re-enactments with actors, archival photos, animation, maps, ambient sounds and voiceovers. The player's movements are tracked by satellite and dynamically updated in the virtual world of Razorhurst. The mobile devices are collected from the East Village Hotel (formerly the Tradesman's Arms) in Darlinghurst. From this central location players venture to destinations marked on their map to collect bottles for return the Tradesman's Arms. En route they encounter gangsters and other characters from the world of Razorhurst which are triggered by player's physical location. The interface also displays the player's position on the map, game statistics and time remaining. 

Whilst the game is seeped in local histories, it's primarily about fulfilling the mission of collecting bottles to return to the Trademans Arms Hotel. Players have to be quick on their feet to get away from virtual danger, and they have to wear comfortable shoes because the circuit covers a lot of ground in the real Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Surry Hills precinct.

Game time is about 1 hour, and winners return to the pub for a well-earned drink. Losers on the other hand, could be delayed at the original site of St Vincent’s Hospital recovering from a virtual "attack" acquired from the dark, gritty streets of Razorhurst.

The game runs

5-31 July 2009 

5-13 Sept 2009 (5:30-9:30pm)  

East Village Hotel, East Sydney

Bookings: dluxmobile@dlux.org.au

Richard Fox's Razorhurst website

d/Lux MediaArts website

Prototype map. This is not the actual map for the GPS game.