Cello Fortress is a unique combination of a game and a live music performance.
A cellist defends a fortress by improvising on his cello.
Melodies control the guns, dissonant notes activate the flamethrowers.
Players from the audience use game controllers to steer their tanks and attack the fortress.
The cellist plays live music, while at the same time controlling the game to be a fun challenge for the players.
Cello Fortress is an innovative experiment that blends concert and game. Joost van Dongen is known for his previous game Proun, and as lead programmer and co-founder of Ronimo Games, the studio behind the hit indie games Awesomenauts, Swords & Soldiers and De Blob. Joost regularly writes about creating games on his development blog. |
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Currently no confirmed upcoming performances.
Contact me at joost@joostvandongen.com to book Cello Fortress for events.
28 February 2020 | Thalia Symposium 2020 “Gaming Technologies” at LUX Nijmegen |
Nijmegen (Netherlands) |
12:35-13:30 |
16 November 2019 | Pieces of Tomorrow Festival in Tivoli Vredenburg |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
20:30-21:00 21:30-22:00 22:30-23:00 |
12 September 2019 | Special Award in the Nicolaïkerk |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
Two performances Times to be determined |
10 February 2019 | Gluren Bij De Buren in De Partner |
Nieuwegein (Netherlands) |
13:30-14:00 15:00-15:30 16:30-17:00 |
16 October 2017 | Chi Play 2017 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
morning |
7 October 2017 | 404 - The Ultimate Tech Meetup | Dublin (Ireland) |
13:00-13:30 (in The Drawing Room) 17:00-17:30 (in The Chapel) |
6 September 2017 | Music & games course at Fontys Effenaar |
Eindhoven (Netherlands) |
10:00-11:00 |
16 August 2017 | Stukafest at the Utrechtse Introductiedagen Tivoli Vredenburg, Plein 6 |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
20:30-24:00 |
5 August 2017 | Museumnacht Antwerpen Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience |
Antwerp (Belgium) |
20:00-23:00 |
24 March 2017 | Open Circuit | Liverpool (UK) |
The cello will be played by Stephanie, the cellist from Solem Quartet |
25 February 2017 | Push the button | Deurne (Belgium) |
afternoon performances |
19 February 2017 | YayCon | Amersfoort (Netherlands) |
11:00-13:00 |
8 February 2017 | Stukafest Laan van Chartroise 4, Utrecht |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
performances at 20:30, 21:30 and 22:30 |
25 November 2016 | The Overkill Festival | Enschede (Netherlands) |
20:00-24:00 |
29 October 2016 | GameOn | Vilnius (Lithuania) |
15:15-16:00 |
26 September 2016 | Tussen Kunst & Glitch | Utrecht (Netherlands) |
20:30-22:00 (during the break in the middle) |
27 August 2016 | Jazz Festival Delft | Delft (Netherlands) |
17:30-18:15 |
17 June 2016 | Joy Of Coding | Rotterdam (Netherlands) |
opening and lunch |
11/12 June 2016 | Animecon | The Hague (Netherlands) |
11 June: 13:00-15:00 12 June: 12:00-14:00 |
28 May 2016 | Indigo @ Campus Party | Utrecht (Netherlands) |
10:00-13:00 |
16 April 2016 | LOS Festival at the Kunstenlab location |
Deventer (Netherlands) |
13:30-16:30 |
25 September 2015 | Groningen Researchers' Night | Groningen (Netherlands) |
evening |
19 September 2015 | Speelweide / Nachtweide dB's Utrecht |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
15:00-16:30 |
15 September 2015 | Hanzehogeschool (closed session for students) |
Groningen (Netherlands) |
around 15:30 |
5 September 2015 | Warp Zone: Video Game Art Show 2015 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
16:00-16:30 |
4 August 2015 | Respawn - Gathering of Game Developers | Cologne (Germany) |
ending party |
6 June 2015 | Nacht Van Kunst En Wetenschap Minerva Praediniussingel, 1st floor |
Groningen (Netherlands) |
20:00-1:00 |
13 June 2015 | Animecon | Den Haag (Netherlands) |
12:00-16:00 |
3 May 2015 | YaYCon | Amersfoort (Netherlands) |
throughout the day |
13 March 2015 | 't Collectief | Delft (Netherlands) |
22:30-23:00 |
7 March 2015 | ECG Beurs | Assen (Netherlands) |
several gigs during the day |
19 February 2015 | MRGS Craft Meetup at Café L'artère |
Montreal (Canada) |
evening, probably starts at 19:00 or 20:00 |
6 February 2015 | Screenshake Indie Games Festival | Antwerp (Belgium) |
time to be announced |
21 January 2015 | The Bakery Club #8 | Utrecht (Netherlands) |
20:30 |
27 November 2014 | Gametreff NRW at Filmwerkstatt Düsseldorf, Birkenstr. 47 |
Düsseldorf (Germany) |
20:45 - 22:00 |
15 November 2014 | Game Developers Session | Prague (Czech Republic) |
during the lunch break |
26 September 2014 | New Horizons Festival | Rotterdam (Netherlands) |
20:00 - 2:00 |
20 September 2014 | gameZfestival | Zürich (Switzerland) |
22:00 - 24:00 |
30 August 2014 | Abunai | Veldhoven (Netherlands) |
on the Saturday, times to be announced |
6 June 2014 | Elevator Sessions in Tuindorp and Ekko |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
17:00-19:00 (in Gele Flat, Tuindorp) 23:00-late (in Ekko) |
17 May 2014 | Bright Day Pakhuis De Zwijger |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
11:00-17:00 |
27 March 2014 | Nerds On Stage Rotterdamse Schouwburg |
Rotterdam (Netherlands) |
11:30 - 18:00 |
16 February 2014 | Kofferbak North Sea Jazz Club |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
16:00 (starting time of the entire event) |
8 January 2014 | Men Of Mega night in Hofman Janskerkhof 17a |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
Probably 21:30-22:00 (entire event is 21:00-24:00) |
9 November 2013 | The Overkill Festival Kloosterstraat 1, in the Music Room |
Enschede (Netherlands) |
18:00-21:30 |
16 October 2013 | De Mus in Torpedo Theater |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
20:00 |
28 September 2013 | Kunstnacht Den Bosch Spelfabriek Aan Het Water |
Den Bosch (Netherlands) |
20:00-23:00 |
3 September 2013 | Virgin Media Games Space | London (UK) |
gigs throughout the day |
24 August 2013 | Cellofestival Zutphen TIP Zutphen, Houtmarkt 75 |
Zutphen (Netherlands) |
11:00 - 17:00 |
3 August 2013 | Zomerparkfeest museum Van Bommel van Dam |
Venlo (Netherlands) |
18:00 - 19:00 |
13 July 2013 | Game Party at Free To Play | Antwerp (Belgium) |
19:30 - 20:15 |
19 June 2013 | Local Multiplayer Picnic at Dutch Game Garden Including a short talk about Cello Fortress before 20:00 |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
20:00 - 23:00 |
6 June 2013 | Night of the Nerds Klokgebouw at Strijp-S |
Eindhoven (Netherlands) |
18:00 - 22:30 |
2 June 2013 | Open Day at the Muzelinck Muzelinck, room 2 |
Oss (Netherlands) |
15:00 - 16:00 |
25 May 2013 | Club Natlab Theaterzaal at Plaza Futura After playing I will be on stage discussing the creation of Cello Fortress |
Eindhoven (Netherlands) |
19:00 - 19:30 |
10 May 2013 | Sounds Of The Underground At the SOTU open stage at De Peper |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
Short gigs between 21:00 and 24:00 |
10 May 2013 | Cellofestival Dordrecht Workshop: participating cellists get to play Cello Fortress and improvise! |
Dordrecht (Netherlands) |
Morning and afternoon sessions |
14 March 2013 | Game-City An Artistic Game Experience | Enschede (Netherlands) |
17:00 - 19:00 |
2 March 2013 | Indie Games Concert Muziekcentrum Van De Omroep |
Hilversum (Netherlands) |
20:00 - 20:30 before the regular concert |
2 March 2013 | Gamelab exposition at BG-22-24 | Almere (Netherlands) |
12:00 - 17:00 |
5 February 2013 | Playful Arts Festival @ Art at the Warehouse | Rotterdam (Netherlands) |
16:00 - 21:00 at the opening of the exhibition |
15 December 2012 | Playful Arts Festival | Den Bosch (Netherlands) |
20:00 - 24:00 |
20 October 2012 | Kaalstaart Festival for technical art and new crafts at Restaurant De Vereeniging |
Amersfoort (Netherlands) |
13:00 - 16:30 |
28-29 September 2012 | Indigo Yearly showcase of the best Dutch games at Stadhuis |
Utrecht (Netherlands) |
12:00 - 22:00 (Friday) 10:00 - 17:00 (Saturday) |
For more information and bookings, please e-mail joost@joostvandongen.com
Download the Press Kit (with photos, screenshots and logos)
© 2012-2021 Joost van Dongen
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