Forget vinyl or streaming links. The latest electronic music release from The Hague comes on a plastic grey cartridge.
Line Up: The Hague is an interactive project that transforms the city’s underground scene into a playable 8-bit world. Created by BÄRK (Berk Duygun) and the Royal Surfclub, this release treats nightlife as a form of navigation.
Instead of just listening to tracks, you have to find them.
What is Line Up: The Hague?
This project is a hybrid of a music album and a retro video game. It maps The Hague’s underground culture using the strict constraints of the original Game Boy hardware.
The concept is simple but immersive:
- Explore the City: Navigate a pixelated version of The Hague, including Den Haag Centraal.
- Visit Real Venues: Enter digital versions of iconic clubs like Grey Space, PIP, and Laak.
- Unlock Music: Short in-game actions activate the tracks.
- Progressive Sound: As you clear levels, you unlock new 8-bit music loops.
The game creates a permanent digital archive of the scene, independent of app updates or fleeting social media stories.
The Artist: Who is BÄRK
The mind behind the cartridge is BÄRK (Berk Duygun), an Istanbul-born artist based in The Hague. He is a fixture in the local scene and the founder of Royal Surfclub.
His résumé includes:
- Event Organization: Hosting events at PIP, Laak, Weelde, and Grey Space in the Middle.
- Radio Residencies: Shows on Operator Radio and Kiosk Radio.
- Major Gigs: Playing the closing DJ set for the Dekmantel Club Tour 2025 at Laak Club.
With Line Up, BÄRK aligns the late-1980s techno sound with the era of the Game Boy, creating a conceptually consistent aesthetic.
Part One of a City Cycle
The Hague is just the beginning. This release serves as “Part I” of a planned trilogy. The developers plan to map the nightlife of three major Dutch cities:
- The Hague (Released)
- Rotterdam
- Amsterdam
How to Play
You don’t need a vintage console to experience the tracklist, though purists can grab a physical copy.
- Browser Demo: Anyone can try the game online via the official browser demo. https://berkduygun.net/line-up-the-hague/
- Physical Cartridge: A limited edition homebrew cartridge runs on original Game Boy hardware.
- Extras: The physical release includes posters and silver relics.
* generate randomized username
- COMMENT_FIRST
- #1 Lord_Nikon [12]
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- #5 Void_Strike [8]
- #6 Phantom_Phreak [7]
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- #8 Zero_Cool [7]
