Some recent trends in cultural computer game research

1. Some recent trends in cultural computer game research Center for Computer Games Research Gonzalo Frascafrasca@itu.dk University of TokyoSeptember 27th, 2004 IT University of CopenhagenRued Langgaards Vej 7DK-2300 Copenhagen SDenmarktel: +45 72 18 50 38fax: +45 72 18 50 01 http://game.itu.dk

2. Overview • Center for Computer Game Research • Ludology • Multiplayer Studies • Serious Games Examples of Political Games Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

3. The Center for Computer Games Research • Located at theIT University, inCopenhagen. • Offers MA and PhD in Game Research Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

4. The Center for Computer Games Research • IT, Business, Aesthetics • 7 professors, 10 PhD students • Ludology, sociology,education Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

5. Recent milestones • GameStudies.org • Digra Conference (Level Up 2003, Vancouver 2005) Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

6. Some recent trends • Ludology • Multiplayer studies • Serious Games Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

7. Ludology • Why study games? • Game studies deservesown academic field • What are games? • Games/narrative, Games/Communication • Rules of Play (Salen & Zimmerman) • Jesperjuul.dk/ludologist/ , Grandtextauto.gatech.edu , Ludology.org Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

8. Multiplayer studies • Terra Nova (terranova.blogs.com) • Other Players Conference (December 6-8, 2004 www.itu.dk/op/) Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

9. Serious Games • Serious Games Summit (GDC 2004 / Washington DC, October 18-19 2004) • Games for Health, Advergaming, Edutainment, Political Games • WaterCoolerGames.org Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

10. Political Games • Games with an agenda • All games are political • Games for propaganda, political campaigns, activism Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

11. AGAINST FUN Gamers are masochists • Fun in games is overrated • Games are as much about fun as they are about real pain and suffering • Good games are measured by screams of pain • Great games have really boring sessions Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

12. CODE IS MESSAGE • Message through what is onthe screen and what is not. • Message troughthe games’ rules:what is allowed and whatis not. Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

13. CODE IS MESSAGE • Intel discovers women: games in serious enviroments generate serious expectations. Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

14. HOWARD DEAN GAME www.DeanForAmericaGame.com • Commissioned by the Dean campaign for the US Presidential Campaign • Went live on December, 2003 • Designed by Gonzalo Frasca & Ian Bogost Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

15. US Campaign Games Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

16. NEWSGAMING.COM September 12th - The War on Terror Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

17. What can we learn from Political Games? • People care about people • Great (& free!) IPs • Short-lived but great viral potential • Help the medium to mature • Help us to understand the medium • Beyond entertainment: games as communication Gonzalo FrascaCENTER FOR COMPUTER GAMES RESEARCHTHE IT UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

18. THANKS!Gonzalo Frasca - frasca@itu.dkCenter for Computer Games Research - game.itu.dk