Press Room

play pong There have been a couple of reports on Blinkenlights in the press so far. Here you find a list of what is known to us. If you come across a report on Blinkenlights that is not included in this list it would be nice if you give us some notice. Thanks.

Our own view of things is shown in the documentation videos on Blinkenlights, Arcade and Stereoscope — plus the talk from Chaos Communication Camp 2023 that tells the whole story of the project.

Your contact address for questions about Blinkenlights: contact@blinkenlights.de

  • media.ccc.de (Chaos Communication Camp 2023) · Aug 19, 2023 · Tim Pritlove en

    Project Blinkenlights

    Video Own publications

    The complete story of Project Blinkenlights in one talk: achievements, failures, technology and cultural impact, from 2001 to the first outing in color.

  • media.ccc.de (25C3) · Dec 28, 2008 · Tim Pritlove en

    Blinkenlights Stereoscope — Behind the scenes of the new light installation

    Video Stereoscope (Toronto) Own publications

    Recording of the 25C3 talk on Stereoscope: how the installation came about, the technology behind it and what happened in Toronto.

  • Chaos Computer Club · Oct 4, 2008 en

    Blinkenlights Stereoscope

    Online Stereoscope (Toronto) Own publications

    The CCC's own announcement of the Toronto installation at Nuit Blanche: 960 windows, 16 brightness levels, wireless light control.

  • Chaos Computer Club · Oct 13, 2005 de

    Blinkenlights ist wieder da

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin) Own publications

    The CCC’s own announcement of the relaunch at the Haus des Lehrers during the Festival of Lights: top eight floors, 144 pixels, Pong by phone, films to submit.

  • netzpolitik.org · Oct 11, 2005 de

    Es blinkt wieder: Blinkenlights in Berlin

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin)

    As part of the Festival of Lights, Blinkenlights returns to the Haus des Lehrers — Pong by mobile phone included.

  • Berliner Zeitung · Dec 22, 2003 de

    Das Haus des Lehrers blinkt wieder

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin)

    The computer art was actually supposed to be over — but the CCC is making use of a pause in construction.

  • Golem.de · Dec 18, 2003 de

    CCC: Berliner Blinkenlights kommen wieder

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin)

    From 22 December 2003 to 4 January 2004 the light installation returns to the Haus des Lehrers.

  • Slashdot · Dec 17, 2003 en

    Blinkenlights Reloaded - The Matrix Returns

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin)

    Short news item from a reader on the 20C3: Blinkenlights returns to the Haus des Lehrers with the capabilities from Paris — plus a long reader discussion.

  • heise online · Dec 15, 2003 de

    Blinkenlights reloaded

    Online Blinkenlights Reloaded (Berlin)

    This year there is once again a Blinkenlights installation — back in Berlin after the detour to Paris.

  • Arte · Oct 26, 2002 fr

    Arte

    Video Arcade (Paris)

    French version of the Arte report on Arcade: preparations in Berlin, set-up at the BnF, architect Dominique Perrault and the opening at Nuit Blanche.

  • Arte · Oct 26, 2002 de

    Arte

    Video Arcade (Paris)

    In-depth report on Arcade: from converting the construction floodlights in Berlin and power problems during set-up on the BnF tower to the opening — with architect Dominique Perrault and a look back at Blinkenlights.

  • TF1 · Oct 5, 2002 fr

    Ma bibliothèque est un écran

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Portrait of the CCC as a humanist hacker group — with Arcade at the BnF as an example of participatory art: Tetris and messages by mobile phone, animations to submit.

  • Off The Hook · Oct 2, 2002 · Emmanuel Goldstein en

    Interview mit Tim Pritlove über Arcade

    Audio Arcade (Paris)

    Off The Hook is Emmanuel Goldstein’s weekly hacker radio show on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York, dealing with the social consequences of information technology and the laws around it. In this episode Goldstein talks with Tim Pritlove about Arcade in Paris; excerpts of the conversation can also be heard in the Arcade documentary video.

  • IDG News Service · Oct 1, 2002 · Peter Sayer en

    Tetris tops Parisian night on the tiles

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    A 3,370-square-metre game of Tetris on a glass tower of the national library.

  • Ordo · 10/2002 fr

    Nuit blanche sur la BnF – Le plus grand écran d'ordinateur du monde

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    In-depth retrospective with its own photos: set-up on tower T2 of the BnF, animations to submit, games by phone and the closing night of Nuit Blanche.

  • Bibliothèque nationale de France · Sep 30, 2002 fr

    La BnF partenaire de Nuit blanche

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    BnF press release on the first Nuit Blanche: the Tour des Lois as a canvas.

  • BBC News · Sep 29, 2002 en

    BBC News

    Video Arcade (Paris)

    Brief report from Paris: the CCC turns the façade of the national library into a 520-pixel screen, five kilometres of cable, Tetris by mobile phone for passers-by.

  • n-tv.de · Sep 28, 2002 de

    Fassaden zu Bildschirmen

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    The Mona Lisa in the city of love — an installation by the Chaos Computer Club.

  • heise online · Sep 27, 2002 de

    Tetris mit dem Hochhaus

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    In Paris, the CCC puts the interactive light installation Arcade into operation.

  • Computerwoche · Sep 27, 2002 de

    Die Lights blinken wieder – in Paris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Project Blinkenlights has moved on to Paris: 26×20 pixels on tower T2, animations via ArcadePaint.

  • Netzeitung · Sep 27, 2002 de

    Deutsche Hacker lassen Paris leuchten

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Report: after Berlin, now Paris — Arcade on tower T2 of the national library with 20×26 windows and greyscale, the Mona Lisa, Tetris by mobile phone and ArcadePaint.

  • LinuxDevices.com · Sep 27, 2002 en

    „World's largest display“ lights Paris skies (and runs Linux)

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    For Nuit Blanche, Project Blinkenlights turned tower T2 of the national library into what is supposedly the world’s largest display.

  • CHIP Online · Sep 27, 2002 de

    Weltweit größter Bildschirm in Paris installiert

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Short news item (ddp): the 520 windows of the national library become a 3,370-square-metre screen; web surfers can contribute their own animations.

  • FAZ.NET · Sep 26, 2002 · Andrea Klingsieck de

    Der größte Monitor der Welt

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Performance: Tetris on a façade of the Paris national library.

  • n-tv.de · Sep 23, 2002 de

    Fassaden als Mega-Displays

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Short news item: from Wednesday, the façade of the Paris national library becomes a screen for eleven nights, with Tetris via the internet or mobile phone — plus a look back at Berlin.

  • Slashdot · Aug 30, 2002 en

    ARCADE: Blinkenlights with Tetris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Tetris on a 26×20 display at the Bibliothèque nationale de France — for eleven nights.

  • heise online · Aug 30, 2002 de

    Voilà: Blinkenlights in Paris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    From 25 September to 6 October the CCC turns tower T2 of the Bibliothèque nationale de France into a display.

  • PC Praxis · Aug 30, 2002 · Peter Gross de

    Chaos Computerclub installiert weltweit größten Bildschirm in Paris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Short news item: at the end of September the façade of the Bibliothèque nationale de France becomes a screen; animations to submit and Tetris by mobile phone.

  • symlink.ch · Aug 28, 2002 de

    Blinkenlights in Paris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Short news item: from 25 September 2002 Arcade lights up 520 windows of the BnF for eleven nights; take part via ArcadePaint, GIF animation or BML file.

  • Wup.it · Aug 28, 2002 it

    Blinkenlights goes Paris

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Short news item: Arcade turns tower T2 of the Bibliothèque nationale de France into a 20×26-pixel screen — new features are brightness levels and Tetris by mobile phone.

  • Medienturm Graz · Aug 15, 2002 de

    Blinkenlights Arcade

    Online Arcade (Paris)

    Announcement of Arcade for Nuit Blanche in Paris: 20×26 windows on tower T2 of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

  • Freibeuter TV · Aug 1, 2002 de

    Freibeuter TV

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short interview with Tim Pritlove: looking back at Blinkenlights — almost five and a half months, around 2,000 submitted films, 300 of them love letters — and the role of the CCC.

  • GUM TV · Mar 18, 2002 es

    GUM TV

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Spanish-language magazine programme about young art in Berlin — Blinkenlights is one stop in it: the CCC’s present for its 20th birthday, animations via the internet, activation by phone.

  • Hessischer Rundfunk · Feb 24, 2002 de

    Hessischer Rundfunk

    Audio Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Farewell report on the day of the switch-off: how the idea came about, technology, love letters and Pong — and the party at the end.

  • Sat.1 · Feb 16, 2002 de

    Sat.1

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Report shortly before the switch-off: Blinkenlights in music videos by Kylie Minogue, Sven Väth and Die Toten Hosen, DIY-store technology behind the façade and voices from the audience.

  • Telepolis · Feb 8, 2002 · Stefan Krempl de

    Public Spaces Invaders

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Transmediale shows how public space can be hacked.

  • heise online · Feb 8, 2002 de

    Public Space Invaders oder Das Hacken der neuen öffentlichen Räume

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    How the public spaces of the digital age can be shaped and occupied — a report from transmediale.

  • MTV · Feb 1, 2002 de

    MTV

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Portrait featuring Tim Pritlove: the idea for the CCC’s 20th birthday, Blinkenlights in the music videos of Kylie Minogue, Die Toten Hosen and Sven Väth, plus technology and love letters.

  • 20 Minuten · Jan 4, 2002 de

    Der grösste Bildschirm der Welt steht in Berlin

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Report: for its 20th birthday the CCC gives itself the world’s largest computer display — 144 floodlights, animations to submit, Pong by mobile phone.

  • TheFeature · Jan 3, 2002 · Jeff Goldman en

    The Art of the Mobile Phone

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The mobile phone as an artistic tool — with Blinkenlights as an example.

  • SHIFT · 01/2002 · Andrew Sinn en

    Blinkenlights

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The Japanese magazine SHIFT on Blinkenlights (English version).

  • SHIFT · 01/2002 · Andrew Sinn ja

    Blinkenlights

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The Japanese magazine SHIFT on Blinkenlights (Japanese version).

  • ZDNet · Dec 31, 2001 · Dietmar Mueller de

    Chaos Computer Club zählt Berlin an

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The light installation makes possible the “biggest New Year’s Eve countdown of all time”.

  • Focus Online · Dec 31, 2001 de

    Riesige Lichtinstallation in Berlin

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

  • LockerGNOME · Dec 29, 2001 en

    GnomeFAVORITES

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Link tip in the newsletter (GnomeFAVORITES section): floodlights in an empty Berlin building, your own animations and Pong by mobile phone.

  • ABC News · Dec 27, 2001 en

    King 'Pong' strikes

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short report (TechTV): for its 20th anniversary the CCC turns eight floors into a 144-pixel screen — your own animations with BlinkenPaint, Pong by phone, a webcam for everyone outside Berlin.

  • Branchez-vous! · Dec 26, 2001 fr

    Jeu Pong géant en façade d'un édifice

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short news item: Pong on the 8×18-pixel façade of the Haus des Lehrers, set up by the CCC for its 20th birthday.

  • Geek.com · Dec 26, 2001 en

    Building-size games and movies

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    An eight-storey, 144-pixel display for animations, text messages and Pong — built in just four weeks.

  • BBC News · Dec 25, 2001 en

    King Pong reaches Berlin

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    King Pong reaches Berlin — the BBC on the game on the façade.

  • La Repubblica · Dec 21, 2001 it

    Hacker illuminano Alexanderplatz con un gioco di luci

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Hackers light up Alexanderplatz with a play of light — compared with Martin Creed’s prize-winning room.

  • Neural · Dec 21, 2001 it

    Blinkenlights, ascii art coi palazzi

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short news item: Blinkenlights as a large-scale counterpart to Martin Creed’s Turner Prize work — 144 lamps, your own films via the website, Pong by mobile phone.

  • Wired News · Dec 20, 2001 · Steve Kettmann en

    Hackers Show Light In A New Art

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Berlin’s hackers outdo the Turner Prize: an entire façade as light art.

  • The Harrow Technology Report · Dec 17, 2001 · Jeffrey R. Harrow en

    The Harrow Technology Report

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Section in the technology newsletter: Blinkenlights as a Christmas present to Berlin — 144 lamps, 18×8 pixels, love letters and Pong by mobile phone.

  • alienated.net · Dec 10, 2001 en

    Der Blinkenlights

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Post on the alienated.net weblog.

  • Slashdot · Dec 10, 2001 en

    Big Berlin Blinkenlichten

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short news item from a reader: for its 20th birthday the CCC turns eight floors of 18 windows each into a display — plus a long reader discussion.

  • DeutschlandRadio · Dec 8, 2001 de

    DeutschlandRadio

    Audio Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Report: Pong by mobile phone on Alexanderplatz, a visit to the control centre with relays and old DOS computers, submitted films and the love letters.

  • Polylux · Dec 3, 2001 de

    Country Ping Pong

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Magazine segment on the return of table tennis to Berlin nightlife — Pong at the Haus des Lehrers is a brief stop in it.

  • Radio Fritz · Dec 1, 2001 de

    Radio Fritz

    Audio Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Radio piece on how to take part: a love letter is made with BlinkenPaint, sent to the CCC by e-mail and activated on Alexanderplatz by mobile phone — with Tim Pritlove and passers-by.

  • ARD Nachtmagazin · Nov 26, 2001 de

    "Loveletters" am Alexanderplatz

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Nachtmagazin segment on the “Loveletters” on Alexanderplatz.

  • ARD Nachtmagazin · Nov 26, 2001 de

    "Loveletters" am Alexanderplatz

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Marriage proposals and love letters will soon be able to flicker across the façade via a 0190 number.

  • NTW · Nov 23, 2001 ru

    NTW

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Report from NTW’s Berlin bureau (in Russian): how the idea came about, 144 windows and five kilometres of cable, Pong by mobile phone, your own animations and the announced love letters.

  • TV Berlin · Nov 8, 2001 de

    TV Berlin

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Report from the Haus des Lehrers: 144 floodlights, 5,000 metres of cable and the control computer on the eighth floor, plus BlinkenPaint for your own films and Pong by phone.

  • n-tv · Nov 3, 2001 de

    n-tv

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Brief report on Pong by mobile phone on Alexanderplatz — with a look at the premium-rate 0190 number, the cost of the installation and first enquiries from companies.

  • Freshmilk · Oct 24, 2001 de

    Freshmilk

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Light-hearted interview with Tim Pritlove at the Haus des Lehrers: where the name comes from, hacking as a creative approach to technology, open interfaces and Pong by mobile phone.

  • Tages-Anzeiger · Oct 23, 2001 · Roger Zedi de

    Pixelbotschaften aus Berlin

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    For 20 years the CCC has been showing us security holes — for its anniversary there is pixel art on a Berlin façade.

  • Telepolis · Oct 21, 2001 · Ralf Bendrath de

    Interaktiv im Öffentlichen Raum

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The CCC lets people play “Pong” on a high-rise façade and beams out an oversized peace sign.

  • Spiegel Online · Oct 21, 2001 de

    Hochhaus-Monitor: Bei Anruf – Pong!

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Teaser with photo on the Spiegel Online front page, pointing to the article of 19 October.

  • Pro7 · Oct 19, 2001 de

    Pro7

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Short news item: for its 20th birthday the CCC turns a Berlin high-rise into a monitor — 144 construction floodlights, little films via the internet and Pong by mobile phone.

  • Spiegel Online · Oct 19, 2001 · Daniel Meuren de

    Bei Anruf: Pong

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    The peaceful hackers have turned a high-rise in Berlin into an 8×18-pixel monitor; passers-by can join in the game by mobile phone.

  • CHIP Online · Oct 15, 2001 de

    Hochhaus als Display für Arcade-Spiel

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Visitors to Alexanderplatz can play on the high-rise façade with their mobile phones.

  • Telepolis · Oct 8, 2001 · David Hudson en

    Left Out

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Weekly review of German politics — with a detour to the CCC’s “brilliant blinkenlights”.

  • Polylux · Sep 17, 2001 de

    Polylux

    Video Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Magazine segment on the CCC’s 20th birthday shortly after 11 September: surveillance and the history of the hacker scene, with Tim Pritlove interviewed — the installation itself is not covered.

  • Telepolis · Sep 12, 2001 · Thorsten Kleinz de

    Pong am Alex

    Online Blinkenlights (Berlin)

    Preview of the CCC’s 20th birthday: WaveLAN, talks and the biggest game of Pong of all time on Alexanderplatz.

●