Interactive artist Rajeev Basu has teamed up with a Denver-based musician called Alex Anderson (AKA ManCub) to create a video game soundtracked by Anderson's first single, "Friends Listen".

The video game, called Waiting in Line 3D, is a first-person punching game about a man waiting in a queue.


Because waiting in line is so dull, the player has to punch themselves in the face to stay awake. You have to be careful not to punch too often, or you'll kill yourself.

Stylistically, it pays homage to games from the early 90s such as Doom. Anderson's track fits perfectly. Not only does it have a retro chiptune sound to it, but it's thematically an anthem of encouragement. "If you want something in life, don't wait around," Anderson says.

Read next PS5 v Xbox Series X: which has the best features, games and price? PS5 v Xbox Series X: which has the best features, games and price?

Basu describes it as an "anti-game", by which he means "a game that deliberately undermines the very idea of what a game is meant to be". "So the game isn't interesting, exciting or fun," Basu told Wired.co.uk. "I think we succeeded."

The collaboration came about after Basu was introduced to Anderson through a friend. "It turned out we shared a similar kind of thinking," he told Wired.co.uk, adding that they both liked "creating things that are a bit 'off' and messing with people".


Basu was keen to make sure the mechanics of the game were incredibly simple, so that people could start playing (and listening to the track) without having to learn controls. "It seems like you need a degree to play most games these days," he said.

Despite being such a simple, boring game, "tens of thousands" of people have played Waiting in Line 3D in around 48 hours.

Most people last a couple of minutes but there have been some standout performances at 12 minutes and 27 minutes.

In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences.


For the artwork, Basu collaborated with Patrick Lo (who was responsible for viral hit "Jurassic Park Melodica"), while it was programmed by Chandler Prall.

Basu has previously created an interactive music video called "The Face Hawk", which Wired.co.uk wrote about in August. "I think for the very fact of doing something that isn't a music video it gets you noticed. The good thing with a game is that people will come back to it over and over, helping get ManCub's song heard even more. Most of all, I like it because it's fun. And hope you do too. Really, really, boring, but fun. Kind of," Basu said.

How long can you last? Head over to WaitingInLine3D.com to find out. If you want to listen to the entire 4.04 second track, you can find it on SoundCloud.