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Vox Ludens

Garrison — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:01:41 +0000

So much to point to, so little time. I’m heading to Ludium 2 on Thursday: For the nonce, here’s a really interesting note from Wired on the illusion-shattering nature of Voice Chat. We’re reminded that the willing suspension of disbelief takes more effort than some would suppose.

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Superpower Power-Ups.

Garrison — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:12:31 +0000

If ever there were an interesting opportunity for political, historical, and rhetorical analysis of videogames, here it is. Wired has an photo-essay on “Lost Arcade Games of the Soviet Union.” See the accompanying article, too. A synchronic comparative analysis of Cold-War-era superpower videogames would be thoroughly original research that would make a very handsome thesis.

Will the XO play Halo?

Gabriel — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:56:54 +0000

Early on in the course, we covered learning within games, primarily as a function of gaining faculty within a semiotic domain. We have never, not once, discussed games as learning devices used to learn about a specific type of content, however, and we especially didn’t talk about “edutainment” games. In the name of such things, I thought I’d draw your attention to this article over at Reuters about how some educators think that video games could provide a viable way of learning about “real world” stuff, like, oh, math. We’ve had these games all along and some have even managed to stick around for a very, very long time. But, games-for-learning have changed. Here’s one that UNC’s Division for Continual Learning put together to teach microeconomics at a college level. I participated in a presentation with these guys back when I worked within textbook publishing and they’re pushing a real, new pedagogy.

But, the real questions is: Will the XO play Halo?

Betalicious

Gabriel — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:45:55 +0000

I second Garrison’s disappointment with Spore’s delay and am floored by its impact on EA’s stock price. Game releases have become high-stakes, just like the movie industry. In Hollywood, so much of a studio’s financial stature and continuing existence depends on its ability to put out hits or, better yet, blockbusters. The video game has that problem, too, but it also bears the responsibility for selling hardware. Spore hits EA hard, but just think how Microsoft would deal with a Halo 3 flop? Fortunately, it seems like they have invested the right time and resources to ensure that it will be as successful as they need.

Birds at Play

Micha — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:49:09 +0000

So, it seems to me that the scientists in this article may have read Sutton-Smith (or perhaps – and admittedly more likely – read the same evolutionary theorists he had) because their rational seems similar to his. The article is discussing the intelligent and playful nature of the common raven. The researchers are asking why ravens are so much more intelligent than other birds, and how does their playfulness tie into that.

It turns out that the reason they have come up with is that the ravens do not have an easy, routine life like other birds. They are always in changing situations, in close quarters with potential predators, and have to deal with that.

The variety of ways that they describe ravens playing is fascinating. Teasing predators, riding larger animals, and skiing behind animals on their backs. All these seem to be tactics to ensure that they have the flexibility of thinking needed to survive in their particular ecological niche.

Clever Ravens

Elsewhere, otherwise

Garrison — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:37:51 +0000

Updated!

Stephen E. Jones is a professor of English at Loyola in Chicago, where he’s just finishing up an undergrad seminar on “Video Games and Textual Studies.” It is an undergrad class, so the reading load is considerably lighter, but the syllabus still makes for interesting (comparative) reading. Be sure to check out the students’ blogs (which are curiously independent of one another): You’ll find links to them above the “Schedule” section.

Matt Kirschenbaum, the associate director for the Maryland Institute for Technology and the Humanities, at UMD, was recently interviewed by a couple of students from Jones’ class: The interview is available as an MP3. They kick things off by asking which academic department should have control of video game studies.

Apropos of this: If you want to talk about your papers, I’ll be around all week EXCEPT Thursday, May 3rd, when I’ll be at Kirschenbaum’s MITH/ELO Conference on “The Future of Electronic Literature.”

Update: Finally, an unspeakably gratuitous image+caption: Bring me solo and the wookie…

god mode

Katie — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:35:19 +0000

After looking at sexuality and video games, I got a little curious about what conservative religious groups are doing with video games. I imagine there’s some controversy over material appropriateness etc, but I also imagine that there are several conservative religious organizations creating their own material.

In God in the Console (2003), Tom Loftus argues that some mainstream videogames contain subtle religious messages. He also highlights games that have been created from mainstream games only retooled to have religious themes. Based on the Loftus article and Jeremy Lemer’s Religion goes digital in faith-based computer games (2005), it sounds like the messages can take the form of the dominant narrative or just be a subtle backdrop to more traditional video game action.

According to Chris Morris at CNN, video games and religion can’t really play together (2005). However, the best-selling Left Behind franchise (you know, that one about the rapture) apparently came out with its own video game last year– and just in time for Christmas! This one apparently creates contraversy on all side of the fence:

The game rewards children for how effectively they role play the killing of those who resist becoming a born again Christian. The game also offers players the opportunity to switch sides and fight for the army of the AntiChrist, releasing cloven-hoofed demons who feast on conservative Christians and their panicked proselytes (who taste a lot like Christian)…The dialogue includes people saying, “Praise the Lord,” as they blow infidels away.
– From The Purpose Driven Life Takers by Jonathan Hutson

And just like the other video games of the world, Left Behind: Eternal Forces comes complete with its own in-game advertising.

Now, I’m also assuming that there are probably peace related games and the like which may be backed by religious groups as well, both conservative and liberal. The more controversial ones just happened to be what came up the most on google and in the news. I’m sure we’re all surprised by that. ;)

More Links:
The Christian Game Developers Conference
The Christian Game Developers Foundation
Left Behind Games

Ethics and videogames (followup)

Garrison — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:46:52 +0000

I’ve not gotten Sicart’s paper yet, but I did have a copy of his dissertation (he’s a 2006-minted PhD, and still smells like New Car). I should point out before the link that I’ve not had time to read these, so I don’t know what to expect.

Here is Miguel Sicart’s dissertation on Video Games, Players, and Ethics as a 23MB PDF.

Here is the dissertation of his colleague, Jonas Heide Smith, on videogames’ shaping of player behavior.

If we find anything useful or interesting in these, let’s talk about them next week (it’s not obligatory reading).

Links, one on games, one on play…

Micha — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:47:27 +0000

So, some links which have caught my eye lately:

First a game, which I think is very interesting to look at in terms of all the readings we have had on Games, Narrative, and Rules. There are several games in the Eyemaze Grow series, this is a link to the basic one I find most interesting. Play it and see how things develop Grow Cube. To make things more interesting Narratively, check out Chronon which adds a time and story element to a similar basic game mechanic.

Second, on the subject of play, I’ve been drawn to the funny pictures at icanhascheezburger.com recently. Wonderful, stupid amusement, but it surprises me how well it fits into some of the classical ideas of play we’ve discussed. There are rules and requirements for the pictures submitted, there are common grammars and themes, and the website could itself be considered a ‘magic circle’ of sorts. But mainly I wanted to post up the site of funny pet pictures. I especially like the walrus ones. Find them under keyword “walrus” in the list on the right side of the page.