Power Up

The Play Research Group, UWE, Bristol
studying the technologies and cultures of games and play

Report on Children and Games

A recent report Byron Reviw - Children and New Technology discusses the risks of children's computer game play. The report seems to assume that adults (who are the concerned parent in the report) do not play games or know games. However, a study by BBC from 2005 showed that more than half of adults between 25 and 50 in the UK play video games. In my opinion, a common hobby in which children are the masters is one of the greatest things digital games have to offer to our society. Unfortunately this is not discussed in Byron's report.

The report includes many troubling issues, but it may be worth reading.

There is also a BBC Radio 4 documentary "Am I normal" by Ms. Byron that discusses addiction and games (available for 4 more days only). According to World of Warcraft fan forums, the idea of comparing games to heroin is not very popular among gamers. What can I add: Do not play Wii, it is a gateway to more dangerous games and soon you find yourself playing WoW!

posted by: urbnomad at 11:01 | link | comments (1) |

Good intentions anyone?

I wrote here about the Miss Bimbo game some time ago. It is a game designed to criticize beauty expectations. Similarly, a game by the University of the West of Scotland, ThinknDrinkn? aims to teach children about the dangers of drinking alcohol. In ThinksDrinkn?, writes Compute Scotland, "the players have to find and help a friend who has been drinking and whose condition is constantly deteriorating. Game players will have to provide fluids and food to a drunk friend and either take them home or to hospital, avoiding obstacles including youth gangs along the way. They will also have to answer various questions related to alcohol misuse and can use links to useful websites to find relevant information".

Both games have good intentions behind them, but have been judged as irresponsible (see Daily Record). There is a threat that the games may be played 'wrong' or not fully understood as intended. After playing ThinknDrinkn? for a while, I cannot say how the game could possibly be taken as something supporting heavy alcohol abuse. What do you think? 

BBC article about the game here.

Oh, and yes, there is a recent announcement on the Miss Bimbo website:  "As a result of this rather surprising media attention we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take". So, let's all pretend again there are no diet pills in the World and thus there is absolutely no reason to discuss about them. ;)

posted by: urbnomad at 11:35 | link | comments |

CfP, Women in Games 2008

Organiser: University of Warwick, UK
Date: 10th-12th September 2008
Information online: here
Full papers deadline:  31st May 2008
Themes: Women in games design and development

posted by: urbnomad at 06:39 | link | comments |
cfp

CfP, MedienPädagogik

Journal: The online journal MedienPädagogik (www.medienpaed.com) vol. 14 (2008), “Computer and Video Games in Formal and Informal Educational Contexts”, edited by Prof. Johannes Fromme and Prof. Dominik Petko
Information online: here
Full papers deadline:  15th July 2008

Themes:

• Survey articles (example topics):
  • Theoretical, historical, and empirical approaches to the subject of digital games in
  education (i.e., socialization theory and research, learning theory and research,
  educational theory and research)
  • Methodological questions, approaches, and criteria for the pedagogical and/or
  didactic analysis and evaluation of digital games
  • Current and historical developments in edutainment and educational software
  • Aspects of the design and development of networked gaming and learning
  environments
  • Identity formation and personal development through interaction with digital games
  • Age- and group-specific approaches to digital games
  • Serious games and game-based learning: international experiences and concepts
  • Methods, approaches, and concepts for the evaluation of game-based learning
• In-depth articles (example topics):
  • Communities (clans, guilds, etc.) as a context for (informal) learning, educational, and
  socialization processes
  • The mod scene as a social learning environment
  • Do massive multiplayer online games constitute a new learning and educational
  space?
  • Concepts for and experiences with the use of digital games in schools, the
  classroom, and for career training
  • Computer games for the acquisition of knowledge and skills?
  • The use of game-based leaning in the field of health care
  • Possibilities for cooperation between developers and players
  • Are serious games a new growth industry?

posted by: urbnomad at 07:52 | link | comments |
cfp

CfP, ICEC 2008

Organiser: The Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: 24th-26th September 2008
Information online: here
Full papers deadline:  11th April 2008

Themes:

• Interactive Design for Entertainment
• Aesthetics, Ontology and Social Reflection
• Art, Design and Novel Media
• Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
• Computer Games and Game Based Interfaces
• Education, Training, and Edutainment Technologies
• Entertainment and Healthcare
• Novel and Evolutionary Platforms / Hardware Devices
• Social and Human Factors of Entertainment
• Interactive Digital Storytelling, and Interactive Tele-Vision
• Mobile Entertainment via e.g. Mobile Phones, PDAs etc
• Narrative Environments and Intelligent Medias
• New Genres, New Standards
• Pervasive Entertainment and Game-Playing
• Robots and Cyber Pets
• Self Reflecting Entertainment
• Simulation Applications of Games, and Military Training
• Sound, Music, Creative Environments

posted by: urbnomad at 06:53 | link | comments |
cfp

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