Jack Lowe
@jackalowe.bsky.social
A geographer who makes games and interactive stories.
Creator of Pin the Tale, a game about discovering and telling stories of places using what3words: https://pinthetale.co.uk/
jackalowe.co.uk
Creator of Pin the Tale, a game about discovering and telling stories of places using what3words: https://pinthetale.co.uk/
jackalowe.co.uk
Pinned
Jack Lowe
@jackalowe.bsky.social
· Mar 31
Pin the Tale - Trailer
YouTube video by Pin the Tale
www.youtube.com
I’m thrilled to announce the early-access launch of Pin the Tale, an online, map-based game about connecting with the world around you through stories.
Pin the Tale is completely free and can be played via web browser on mobile, tablet and PC/Mac at pinthetale.co.uk
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
Pin the Tale is completely free and can be played via web browser on mobile, tablet and PC/Mac at pinthetale.co.uk
#gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
New Pin the Tale newsletter out today, with details of an event this weekend about mapping unofficial stories of Bristol, and sharing some of the wonderful poetry written during our recent workshops hosted by Watershed: mailchi.mp/9adcda28d944...
Mapping unofficial stories
mailchi.mp
November 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM
New Pin the Tale newsletter out today, with details of an event this weekend about mapping unofficial stories of Bristol, and sharing some of the wonderful poetry written during our recent workshops hosted by Watershed: mailchi.mp/9adcda28d944...
Pin the Tale will be part of this wonderful event in Sparks on 15th Nov about mapping meaningful landmarks and unofficial place names in central Bristol. Will be old maps galore and plenty of fun, interesting and creative things to do. Drop in any time 11am-5pm and bring fellow Bristolians with you!
October 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Pin the Tale will be part of this wonderful event in Sparks on 15th Nov about mapping meaningful landmarks and unofficial place names in central Bristol. Will be old maps galore and plenty of fun, interesting and creative things to do. Drop in any time 11am-5pm and bring fellow Bristolians with you!
Last Thursday, Bridget Hart and I ran an online version of our Pin the Tale poetry workshop, hosted by @wshed.bsky.social. Deeply inspiring + moving to hear the site-specific poetry our participants wrote in a short space of time. Many of these poems have now been uploaded to the Pin the Tale map.
October 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Last Thursday, Bridget Hart and I ran an online version of our Pin the Tale poetry workshop, hosted by @wshed.bsky.social. Deeply inspiring + moving to hear the site-specific poetry our participants wrote in a short space of time. Many of these poems have now been uploaded to the Pin the Tale map.
Reposted by Jack Lowe
The DGRG Dissertation Prize 2025 Winner is Levina Purewal for “‘I can’t think without ChatGPT’: A Cognitive Sociotechnical Assemblage Analysis of Student-AI Entanglement at Durham University”. Reviewers praised the contribution, multi-method approach, analysis & ambition 1/2
@geogdurham.bsky.social
@geogdurham.bsky.social
a man in a tuxedo is holding a piece of paper and says `` and the winner is ... '' .
Alt: A gif of a a man with short hair in a tuxedo standing in front of a red curtain. He is holding an envelop which he opens and at the bottom of the gif white text states 'and the winner is ... ''
media.tenor.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
The DGRG Dissertation Prize 2025 Winner is Levina Purewal for “‘I can’t think without ChatGPT’: A Cognitive Sociotechnical Assemblage Analysis of Student-AI Entanglement at Durham University”. Reviewers praised the contribution, multi-method approach, analysis & ambition 1/2
@geogdurham.bsky.social
@geogdurham.bsky.social
Reposted by Jack Lowe
Are you a Bristol-based poet?
If so, we’re inviting you to creatively explore the city through Pin the Tale — a digital platform for mapping stories, poems and place.
Join us for FREE online Thu 16 Oct 18:30. https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13457/pin-the-tale-poetry-workshops
If so, we’re inviting you to creatively explore the city through Pin the Tale — a digital platform for mapping stories, poems and place.
Join us for FREE online Thu 16 Oct 18:30. https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13457/pin-the-tale-poetry-workshops
Pin the Tale: Poetry Workshops
We’re inviting Bristol’s poets to creatively explore the city through Pin the Tale — a digital platform for mapping stories, poems and place, created by Pervasive Media Studio resident Jack Lowe.
www.watershed.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Are you a Bristol-based poet?
If so, we’re inviting you to creatively explore the city through Pin the Tale — a digital platform for mapping stories, poems and place.
Join us for FREE online Thu 16 Oct 18:30. https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13457/pin-the-tale-poetry-workshops
If so, we’re inviting you to creatively explore the city through Pin the Tale — a digital platform for mapping stories, poems and place.
Join us for FREE online Thu 16 Oct 18:30. https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13457/pin-the-tale-poetry-workshops
Was an absolute joy hosting a Pin the Tale poetry workshop at @pmstudiouk.bsky.social last Thursday with Bridget Hart. Participants shared poems about places all across Bristol, written using what3words addresses, and we even wrote a collective poem about Bristol’s iconic Turbo Island!
October 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Was an absolute joy hosting a Pin the Tale poetry workshop at @pmstudiouk.bsky.social last Thursday with Bridget Hart. Participants shared poems about places all across Bristol, written using what3words addresses, and we even wrote a collective poem about Bristol’s iconic Turbo Island!
Reposted by Jack Lowe
Delighted to share the first research report from
@immersiveartsuk.bsky.social
It's a deep dive into the immersive arts exhibition and distribution ecosystem, bringing together interviews and recommendations from an incredible group of experts. immersivearts.uk/news/first-r...
@immersiveartsuk.bsky.social
It's a deep dive into the immersive arts exhibition and distribution ecosystem, bringing together interviews and recommendations from an incredible group of experts. immersivearts.uk/news/first-r...
First Report: Early days of the immersive exhibition network - Immersive Arts
Over the past 10–15 years, the appetite for immersive work both from artists and audiences has grown faster than the networks supporting it. This report brings together insights and recommendations fr...
immersivearts.uk
October 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Delighted to share the first research report from
@immersiveartsuk.bsky.social
It's a deep dive into the immersive arts exhibition and distribution ecosystem, bringing together interviews and recommendations from an incredible group of experts. immersivearts.uk/news/first-r...
@immersiveartsuk.bsky.social
It's a deep dive into the immersive arts exhibition and distribution ecosystem, bringing together interviews and recommendations from an incredible group of experts. immersivearts.uk/news/first-r...
After a couple of weeks away on leave, got a warm fuzzy feeling from writing our latest Pin the Tale newsletter. It shares news of our latest software update, successful and upcoming workshops, and our recent Container Magazine piece.
mailchi.mp/78b0b7ed3c28...
mailchi.mp/78b0b7ed3c28...
Our first software update!
mailchi.mp
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
After a couple of weeks away on leave, got a warm fuzzy feeling from writing our latest Pin the Tale newsletter. It shares news of our latest software update, successful and upcoming workshops, and our recent Container Magazine piece.
mailchi.mp/78b0b7ed3c28...
mailchi.mp/78b0b7ed3c28...
Are you at the RGS-IBG conference in Birmingham this week? And do you have a story to share about a place that is meaningful to you?
Look out for our Pin the Tale stand in the Teaching and Learning Building foyer, where you can browse our online map, read other people’s stories and add your own.
Look out for our Pin the Tale stand in the Teaching and Learning Building foyer, where you can browse our online map, read other people’s stories and add your own.
August 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Are you at the RGS-IBG conference in Birmingham this week? And do you have a story to share about a place that is meaningful to you?
Look out for our Pin the Tale stand in the Teaching and Learning Building foyer, where you can browse our online map, read other people’s stories and add your own.
Look out for our Pin the Tale stand in the Teaching and Learning Building foyer, where you can browse our online map, read other people’s stories and add your own.
Small update: Pin the Tale no longer needs GPS to be active to load the map! If you were ever met with an infinite loading screen, it’s because location was being blocked on your device. This won’t happen anymore! (1/2)
August 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Small update: Pin the Tale no longer needs GPS to be active to load the map! If you were ever met with an infinite loading screen, it’s because location was being blocked on your device. This won’t happen anymore! (1/2)
Reposted by Jack Lowe
I wrote a design diary about the intersections of macro & micro history and how they can be used for worldbuilding and writing.
It’s about our work on Amberspire, but I think it’ll be of interest to both game devs, writers, and historians interested in creative histories more generally 🌒
It’s about our work on Amberspire, but I think it’ll be of interest to both game devs, writers, and historians interested in creative histories more generally 🌒
Today's Amberspire design diary is written by @hollynielsen.bsky.social, going into different scales of 'history' and how those are used to construct a fictional world. It's very much worth a read:
lunardivision.net/micro-and-ma...
lunardivision.net/micro-and-ma...
Micro and Macro History
Hello! I’m Holly Nielsen, a historian, writer and narrative designer. I’m lucky enough to be working on Amberspire, and Nic has kindly offere...
lunardivision.net
August 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I wrote a design diary about the intersections of macro & micro history and how they can be used for worldbuilding and writing.
It’s about our work on Amberspire, but I think it’ll be of interest to both game devs, writers, and historians interested in creative histories more generally 🌒
It’s about our work on Amberspire, but I think it’ll be of interest to both game devs, writers, and historians interested in creative histories more generally 🌒
Our latest Pin the Tale newsletter was sent out earlier this week, telling of some exciting developments in the land of what3words storytelling: mailchi.mp/959fcc48aadd...
Expecting to send out another issue pretty soon; there's lots happening!
Expecting to send out another issue pretty soon; there's lots happening!
Pin the Tale is a featured what3words product!
mailchi.mp
August 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Our latest Pin the Tale newsletter was sent out earlier this week, telling of some exciting developments in the land of what3words storytelling: mailchi.mp/959fcc48aadd...
Expecting to send out another issue pretty soon; there's lots happening!
Expecting to send out another issue pretty soon; there's lots happening!
Just published! I wrote an article for Container Magazine on my what3words storytelling game Pin the Tale: what it is, how people have used it and what it means for how people engage with places: containermagazine.co.uk/pin-the-tale...
Pin the Tale: Engaging With Place Through Site-Specific Storytelling
Dr. Jack Lowe presents insights from creating Pin the Tale, an interactive map for people to tell and locate stories about places in the UK.
containermagazine.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Just published! I wrote an article for Container Magazine on my what3words storytelling game Pin the Tale: what it is, how people have used it and what it means for how people engage with places: containermagazine.co.uk/pin-the-tale...
Reposted by Jack Lowe
Goddamn. What a sobering and poignant piece of conceptual art. What an amazing artist.
August 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Goddamn. What a sobering and poignant piece of conceptual art. What an amazing artist.
Reposted by Jack Lowe
The immersive artists I informally call "the Children of Punchdrunk" have been experimenting with overt game mechanics in their work for a long time, so it's fascinating to see Punchdrunk finally debut this oft-teased video game/theatre hybrid!
Punchdrunk to premiere Lander 23, a video game/immersive theatre hybrid show
The bold new show runs at their Woolwich home
www.whatsonstage.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The immersive artists I informally call "the Children of Punchdrunk" have been experimenting with overt game mechanics in their work for a long time, so it's fascinating to see Punchdrunk finally debut this oft-teased video game/theatre hybrid!
Really excited to be part of this workshop on Place-Based Creativity in a Digitally-Mediated World at RGS-IBG this year. A fantastic line-up; should be of interest to all who engage with cultural and digital geographies.
Attending RGS-IBG AC25? Before the main conference kicks off, please join us for our pre-conference workshop on Tuesday 26th August, 12pm-5pm, in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences.
Register here: www.rgs.org/research/ann...
@rgsibg.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social
Register here: www.rgs.org/research/ann...
@rgsibg.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social
Pre-conference activities - RGS
Find out more about activities taking place in the run-up to the conference.
www.rgs.org
August 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Really excited to be part of this workshop on Place-Based Creativity in a Digitally-Mediated World at RGS-IBG this year. A fantastic line-up; should be of interest to all who engage with cultural and digital geographies.
Proud moment for Pin the Tale: what3words have listed us on the Products page of their website!
Thank you to the what3words team for their enthusiasm and support for what we’ve made.
#geography #geosky #map #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
Thank you to the what3words team for their enthusiasm and support for what we’ve made.
#geography #geosky #map #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
August 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Proud moment for Pin the Tale: what3words have listed us on the Products page of their website!
Thank you to the what3words team for their enthusiasm and support for what we’ve made.
#geography #geosky #map #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
Thank you to the what3words team for their enthusiasm and support for what we’ve made.
#geography #geosky #map #gamedev #indiedev #indiegame
This is me with the amazing Bridget Hart. We’re running TWO poetry workshops with my story-mapping platform Pin the Tale in October, one in Bristol (2nd) and one online (16th). Join us to explore writing poetry inspired by place and by what3words! www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/1345...
July 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This is me with the amazing Bridget Hart. We’re running TWO poetry workshops with my story-mapping platform Pin the Tale in October, one in Bristol (2nd) and one online (16th). Join us to explore writing poetry inspired by place and by what3words! www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/1345...
Reposted by Jack Lowe
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
July 23, 2025 at 6:46 AM
⏳Final week to sign up to the Green Party.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
🗳️ Vote for Bold Leadership on August 1st.
Reposted by Jack Lowe
"My father saw his migration as necessary; he has only ever seen mine as narcissism"
Kasim Ali on family, place and migration
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
Kasim Ali on family, place and migration
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
‘What did we do to make you want to leave?’ | The Observer
Writer Kasim Ali is one of the few members of the community he grew up with in Birmingham’s Alum Rock to have left – and his family can’t understand why....
observer.co.uk
July 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
"My father saw his migration as necessary; he has only ever seen mine as narcissism"
Kasim Ali on family, place and migration
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
Kasim Ali on family, place and migration
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
Reposted by Jack Lowe
I’m leaving poetry zines in random places to be found by strangers. They each contain instructions to the finder to take the zine with them and leave it somewhere else. In the linked post I start to map out where the zines have been so far.
Zine experiment - Week 4
Mapping where the zines have been.
open.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I’m leaving poetry zines in random places to be found by strangers. They each contain instructions to the finder to take the zine with them and leave it somewhere else. In the linked post I start to map out where the zines have been so far.
Reposted by Jack Lowe
I shared two publications discussing research methods for understanding app use on smartphones in a blogpost - both part of the TRAVIS research project led by the estimable @kattiid.bsky.social.
Learning from the mess in social media elicitation interviews – new paper alert!
Really happy to have been a small part of this new paper in Qualitative Inquiry, called 'Learning from the mess in social media elicitation interviews.' It's available open access here: and this is the abstract: The article examines what happened during 50 semi-structured interviews that were designed to focus on the visual content of interviewees’ social media feeds. During these encounters, interviewees were invited to talk about content that appeared on their social media apps while showing their phone screens to the interviewer.
visualmethodculture.wordpress.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I shared two publications discussing research methods for understanding app use on smartphones in a blogpost - both part of the TRAVIS research project led by the estimable @kattiid.bsky.social.
Have now run two creative writing workshops with Pin the Tale in Bristol and delighted to say that they were a success! We’re now planning to run more over the next few months. To hear about these when they’re announced, sign up to the mailing list here: mailchi.mp/ab35b137905d...
July 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Have now run two creative writing workshops with Pin the Tale in Bristol and delighted to say that they were a success! We’re now planning to run more over the next few months. To hear about these when they’re announced, sign up to the mailing list here: mailchi.mp/ab35b137905d...
This evening in Stokes Croft! Come along to Cafe Kino and have a go at doing some creative writing using what3words addresses. All welcome, no creative writing experience necessary: hdfst.uk/e132698
July 3, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This evening in Stokes Croft! Come along to Cafe Kino and have a go at doing some creative writing using what3words addresses. All welcome, no creative writing experience necessary: hdfst.uk/e132698
Was a real joy to meet and re-connect with so many kindred spirits at #MIX2025 in Bath yesterday, themed around 'Writing with Technologies'. A particular pleasure to present about Pin the Tale in the Navigating Place through Digital Narratives session. Huge thanks to the organisers for a lovely day.
July 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Was a real joy to meet and re-connect with so many kindred spirits at #MIX2025 in Bath yesterday, themed around 'Writing with Technologies'. A particular pleasure to present about Pin the Tale in the Navigating Place through Digital Narratives session. Huge thanks to the organisers for a lovely day.