microrepublic of whaaat!?
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 2026
ATLAS Institute, Boulder, CO
Figure 1: The FLAG of the Glorious
Revolutionary Microrepublic of Whaaat!?*a sovereign micro-republic created almost entirely for marketing purposes
In affirmation of PLAY as the purest expression of human freedom...
In embrace of GAMES that are weird, whimsical, confounding, and experimental...
In passionate DEFIANCE of mundanity, exploitation, and despair...
We the citizens of the Glorious Revolutionary Microrepublic of WHAAAT!? hereby
INVITE THE WORLD to our 9th annual festival for experimental games and playful interactions!
The Ministry of Play invites you to...
- Enjoy a peaceful train ride showcasing the beautiful valleys and vistas of the nation
- Explore the physics of sausage flipping, the official sport of the Whaaat!?
- Indulge yourself in our favorite genre of music, drums
- Help us deal with the growing sinkhole issue
...and so much more!
Introducing the Secretary of Keynotes
Figure 2: Look at this heroic figure who is sure to wow and impress you!
Jamin Warren
Secretary of Keynotes
Jamin Warren is the founder of Kill Screen, the magazine and studio that spent years insisting, correctly, that video games are art and culture worth taking seriously. He created and hosted PBS Digital Studios' Game/Show, and before that covered arts and culture as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
The day is jam packed with celebrations!
-
9:00–9:45
Check In and Cereal Bar
ATLAS Lobby
We've imported a selection of exotic cereals and coffee to make you feel welcome, along with some of our local favorites. See how your pathetic Captain Crunch stands up to our beloved Commodore Chunk!
-
9:45–10:00
Opening Remarks
ATLAS 100
We officially open the Glorious Revolutionary Microrepublic of Whaaat!? with a flag raising and a performance of our national anthem. (subtitles provided)
-
10:00–10:45
CAT
ATLAS 104
Prove the power of your sensory capabilities in the standardized Cereal Aptitude Test, where you'll use all your senses to determine if you have what it takes to be a government bureaucrat.
-
11:00–12:00
BRAAAINSHOW
ATLAS 100
Do you like it? We like it! Join us for a live taping of Whaaat's most popular (and only) television game show, featuring the desperate antics of aspiring local celebrities!
-
12:30–1:30
Glunch
ATLAS Lobby
We serve your nation's favorite lunch food – cylindrical tube sandwiches!! With a veritable ocean of condiments! And then combine lunch with games, hence Glunch.
-
1:00–1:30
Giant Kuzu's Maze
ATLAS BBX
From our allies at Stellar Factory, the co-competitive tile game made 12x larger, and 7x as dangerous. We aren't saying that you'll get eaten by a Kuzu monster, but we aren't saying you won't either.
-
2:00–3:00
Keynote
ATLAS 100
Jamin Warren is the co-founder of Kill Screen and Gameplayarts, meaning he's ideally suited to help you sound cultured when you tell your parents you've been online playing something called "How to Fish" for the last 14 hours.
-
3:15–4:00
Group Games
ATLAS 100
You know what's better than games? Group games. Exponential fun multiplier.
-
4:00–4:30
Closing Ceremony & Raffle
ATLAS 100
It's been great having you, but it's time you win some fabulous prizes and go home. You ate all the hot dogs, anyway.
The Arcades
Our nation's greatest export, open all day from 10:00–5:00.
Revolutionary Exhibition Hall
ATLAS BBX
Join us in the Revolutionary Exhibition Hall for a rotating selection of the best and weirdest games we could find, projected as large as our revolutionary spirit (and the ceiling of the room) allow.
Ministry of Sport
ATLAS SL1
It's said the foundations of every healthy nation are its sports. Or in this case, surrealist videogame versions of "sports". So yeah, the nation is healthy, basically.
Ministry of Tedious but Important Tasks
ATLAS 104
Even glorious revolutionary micronations have tedious tasks that mid-level bureaucrats have to complete to keep the lights on. Help us keep our lights on? The tasks are pretty fun, actually.
TKIYRNB (That Kid In Your Revolutionary Neighborhood's Basement)
ATLAS SL3
How did that kid from the Media Archaeology Lab get all these vintage video game consoles into the country? Call border security! After we play them all day, of course.
Entrance Passes
This year, we have several options for festival goers looking to visit our glorious nation.*Early Birds get 20% off
$40
Citizen Pass
Full festival access with priority entry, cereal breakfast, lunch, one raffle ticket, a Whaaat!? passport, and sticker pack, featuring 10 different Whaaat!? Stickers.
$21
Tourist Pass
Full Festival Access, cereal breakfast, and this year's Whaaat!? sticker.
$?
Travel Waiver
Pay What You Can, and just show up!
For truly dedicated Whaaat!? Patriots
$250
Hero of the Microrepublic Pass
A full citizens pass, PLUS:
- A commemorative 3D bust of your head
- A Whaaat!? national flag
- A Whaaatlandian gift basket full of local goodies
- 1 hour with a personal herald who will loudly announce your presence in each room you enter
- Lunch and other heroic surprises
Figure 3: A button that will take you
to the ticketing website
microrepublic of whaaat!?