http://www.jrox.com/content/article/46/bring-life-to-your-character-animation-with-dynamic-eye-movement
http://iclone.helpmax.net/crazytalk/04_talking_message/applying_eye_movements.htm
http://www.freemayavideotutorials.com/maya-modeling/creating-sensible-eye-movement.html
http://animationguides.com/character-emotion-in-animation/
http://luke3dcharacteranimation.blogspot.com/2011/03/researching-eye-animations.html
http://www.twcil.com/techworlddemos/3DSMaxAnimatingExperience.pdf
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
CODA - presented by National Institute of Circus Arts
http://www.nica.com.au/
2011
CODA, 22 June - 1 July
Ensemble performance by 2nd year students directed by Megan Jones.
2011
CODA, 22 June - 1 July
Ensemble performance by 2nd year students directed by Megan Jones.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Cool art installation - Fake Pool
Original Article Here: Fake Pool - Art installation
It is true that weird installations has been represented earlier on Awesomenator, such as the very confusing freestanding house in Austria, but this surreal and unique piece is all Argentinian artistLeonardo Erlich’s work. This pool has been making quite a few trips, all the way from Japan to Argentina, but currently it is situated in Australia. You would’ve never guessed that the pool was empty inside if there weren’t any people in it, because it looks like a normal pool, and the aqua color, the lights and the ladder is just making it more convincing.
When you enter the pool through a door from inside it looks like the water is floating over your head, almost like you’re just waiting for it to fall down. Known for his illusion installations, Erlich enjoyed making this pool, and at some exhibitions he even installed a wood deck that gave it a spa or sauna-like appearance.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Week 8: Second generation computer games. The handheld device
Activities
Activity 1
Explore wikipedia's History of computer and video games here. What were your favourites? What were a complete waste of time and money, not to mention an insult to your finer sense of gaming?
~~~~~~
Favourites
Pacman
Dungeons & Dragons
Super Mario
Sonic the Hedgehog
Phantasy Star Online
World of Warcraft
Final Fantasy
Waste of time?
Myst - Holy hell this game was so ridiculously hard! There's no way you could play that shit without a walkthrough.
Activity 2
Let's talk about convergence and portability (or mobility) in the discussion forum, and try to discern whether all the additional functions on our mobile phone (as just one example) is what we really want, or whether we are being duped by the 'bells and whistles' marketers.
Post your comments to the forums and if possible, add links to some of the great material you have researched.
Chat with you online.
~~~~~
It feels like many devices and products are trying to be too many things at once. I feel that it's relevant for some and not so much for others.
For example, I don't use much of the features on my mobile phone. I feel they are irrelevant. I don't want to do anything on it that's going to flatten the battery quicker because I want it to be ready for it's primary importance, making/recieving phone calls and SMS. If I want to play a game, I'll play something designed for gaming. I usually carry around my DS or PSP when I know I'll need something to kill time while I'm out and about!
Low tech examples of convergence? Hmmm...I suppose that many print publications have website counterparts to further engage their readers. Many of the competitions from magazines require the reader to head to the website to enter for example. Many products require you to go onto the internet for further information about them, regardless of whether it is an electronic device or not.
I definitely feel that most, if not all electronic devices are heading towards internet connectivity & general PC connectivity for transferring of data.
Perhaps one day even furniture and other products that need assembly at home will require the purchaser to visit a website for an online guide.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
gaming generations, control systems, communication
History of Interactive Entertainment - Week 7 Discussion
I think the generations of games are defined by the hardware capabilities. So my belief is that there are more than 3 generations of video games. We are currently in the 7th generation according to Wikipedia.
As an 80's kid, I grew up with video games and have never known a life without a game console in the house. My earliest memories are of the Mattel Intellivision (a 2nd generation console) where games like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Tron, Dungeons & Dragons and other famous franchises have their roots. This era of graphics was very simple but I strongly believe that it's the quality and enjoyability of the actual game play that makes or breaks it. There are current generation games that are visually stunning but boring to play. The controllers on the Mattel Intellivision were rectangle in shape, it had a keypad at the top and a disc at the bottom. It really wasn't a great design. There were also different plastic inserts for the keypad that would outline the buttons for each game, these were easily lost or damaged. The controllers themselves weren't that durable either as the electronics inside became worn and needed replacing.
The next generation was the 8bit systems such as the Sega Master System and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), despite my incessant nagging I did not own any consoles from that era as a kid. Followed by the 16 bit generation of Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in other countries) and Super Nintendo (Super Famicon in other countries). I had a Sega Megadrive that was imported from Asia. Sega and Nintendo were really heavy competitors in the 80's and 90's and I find it rather amusing that with Sega's retraction from the console market in the present time means that their mascot Sonic the Hedgehog now appears in titles alongside Nintendo's mascot Mario. Such a game was only pipe dream back then. More ergonomic controller designs began to come out with the 16 bit generation. The rectangle shapes were done away with and rounded edges became the norm.
Cartridges were phased out in the next generation of 64 bit with the release of the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn that used CD ROMs. However Nintendo still stood by the game cartridge system and released the Nintendo 64. They switched to GD ROMs ( a type of mini CD ) with the introduction of the Gamecube.
The current generation of games is the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 which are geared towards HD TV. Even though Nintendo released the Wii in this era, it's hardware is not designed for display in HD and more geared like the previous generation of Gamecube, Dreamcast, Xbox and Playstation 2.
The Wii's use of motion controllers that made it so popular had already been around on the Sega Dreamcast with special controllers such as a Fishing Rod for Sega Bass Fishing and Maraccas for Samba Di Amigo. Games like Guitar Hero were not the first to have giant plastic instruments for controllers. Sega have always had great innovative ideas for games and ways to play them, but never seemed to gain the mainstream attention outside of Japan. (Can you tell I'm a Sega fangirl yet?). Sega was also the first to have a console with internet connectivity, you could play games online with friends and even browse the web without a computer as the Dreamcast had an inbuilt dial up modem. Phantasy Star Online (for Dreamcast) had innovative ways to communicate with people that spoke other languages with the use of Symbol Chat (emoticons), Word Select (it would translate a phrase into the viewers chose language) and it also had the support of a keyboard. The Gamecube version of Phantasy Star Online saw the release of a regular controller and keyboard combined in one, it was only sold in Japan but I do have one in my possession. It meant that you only needed the one controller to play and chat, which was quite convenient.
Alongside these generations, the hand held systems have usually had the tech of a previous generation of consoles and never quite as powerful as their console counterparts of the time. Nintendo still sticks with the use of cartridges for handhelds such as the Gameboy Advance and DS. While the Sony PSP has a UMD (a sort of mini CD) and the PSP Go relies entirely on downloading games to internal memory. Mobile phone games also rely on downloading and internal memory for the most part. The newest versions of the Nintendo DS; the DSi and DSi XL also have internal memory to support download games from Nintendos online store. The DS was also the first to introduce touch screen technology into the mainstream for video games, allowing you to use the bottom screen with the included stylus or your fingers to play. Touchscreen technology is becoming more standard on mobile phones after the popularity of the Apple iPhone.
Touchscreens, motion controllers and instrument controllers seem to be the gimmick that is converting people who previously didn't play games, into gamers. While this is good for the industry overall and creating a more positive attitude towards gaming....those of us that fall into the hardcore gamer category are being forgotten in the frenzy. The new ways to play games are fun but when it comes to a game you are going to sink 100 hours into, I want to curl up on the couch in a blanket and use a 'normal' controller, I don't want to jump all around the lounge room flailing madly to beat a monster.
I think the generations of games are defined by the hardware capabilities. So my belief is that there are more than 3 generations of video games. We are currently in the 7th generation according to Wikipedia.
As an 80's kid, I grew up with video games and have never known a life without a game console in the house. My earliest memories are of the Mattel Intellivision (a 2nd generation console) where games like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Tron, Dungeons & Dragons and other famous franchises have their roots. This era of graphics was very simple but I strongly believe that it's the quality and enjoyability of the actual game play that makes or breaks it. There are current generation games that are visually stunning but boring to play. The controllers on the Mattel Intellivision were rectangle in shape, it had a keypad at the top and a disc at the bottom. It really wasn't a great design. There were also different plastic inserts for the keypad that would outline the buttons for each game, these were easily lost or damaged. The controllers themselves weren't that durable either as the electronics inside became worn and needed replacing.
The next generation was the 8bit systems such as the Sega Master System and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), despite my incessant nagging I did not own any consoles from that era as a kid. Followed by the 16 bit generation of Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in other countries) and Super Nintendo (Super Famicon in other countries). I had a Sega Megadrive that was imported from Asia. Sega and Nintendo were really heavy competitors in the 80's and 90's and I find it rather amusing that with Sega's retraction from the console market in the present time means that their mascot Sonic the Hedgehog now appears in titles alongside Nintendo's mascot Mario. Such a game was only pipe dream back then. More ergonomic controller designs began to come out with the 16 bit generation. The rectangle shapes were done away with and rounded edges became the norm.
Cartridges were phased out in the next generation of 64 bit with the release of the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn that used CD ROMs. However Nintendo still stood by the game cartridge system and released the Nintendo 64. They switched to GD ROMs ( a type of mini CD ) with the introduction of the Gamecube.
The current generation of games is the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 which are geared towards HD TV. Even though Nintendo released the Wii in this era, it's hardware is not designed for display in HD and more geared like the previous generation of Gamecube, Dreamcast, Xbox and Playstation 2.
The Wii's use of motion controllers that made it so popular had already been around on the Sega Dreamcast with special controllers such as a Fishing Rod for Sega Bass Fishing and Maraccas for Samba Di Amigo. Games like Guitar Hero were not the first to have giant plastic instruments for controllers. Sega have always had great innovative ideas for games and ways to play them, but never seemed to gain the mainstream attention outside of Japan. (Can you tell I'm a Sega fangirl yet?). Sega was also the first to have a console with internet connectivity, you could play games online with friends and even browse the web without a computer as the Dreamcast had an inbuilt dial up modem. Phantasy Star Online (for Dreamcast) had innovative ways to communicate with people that spoke other languages with the use of Symbol Chat (emoticons), Word Select (it would translate a phrase into the viewers chose language) and it also had the support of a keyboard. The Gamecube version of Phantasy Star Online saw the release of a regular controller and keyboard combined in one, it was only sold in Japan but I do have one in my possession. It meant that you only needed the one controller to play and chat, which was quite convenient.
Alongside these generations, the hand held systems have usually had the tech of a previous generation of consoles and never quite as powerful as their console counterparts of the time. Nintendo still sticks with the use of cartridges for handhelds such as the Gameboy Advance and DS. While the Sony PSP has a UMD (a sort of mini CD) and the PSP Go relies entirely on downloading games to internal memory. Mobile phone games also rely on downloading and internal memory for the most part. The newest versions of the Nintendo DS; the DSi and DSi XL also have internal memory to support download games from Nintendos online store. The DS was also the first to introduce touch screen technology into the mainstream for video games, allowing you to use the bottom screen with the included stylus or your fingers to play. Touchscreen technology is becoming more standard on mobile phones after the popularity of the Apple iPhone.
Touchscreens, motion controllers and instrument controllers seem to be the gimmick that is converting people who previously didn't play games, into gamers. While this is good for the industry overall and creating a more positive attitude towards gaming....those of us that fall into the hardcore gamer category are being forgotten in the frenzy. The new ways to play games are fun but when it comes to a game you are going to sink 100 hours into, I want to curl up on the couch in a blanket and use a 'normal' controller, I don't want to jump all around the lounge room flailing madly to beat a monster.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
ACN108 History of Interactive Entertainment - Assignment 1
WIKI
Wiki sites have become a great resource for researching topics online. They have a few pro's and con's but overall I find my experience with them to be a positive one.
There are many topics found on wiki sites that are just not covered in published books. Unlike a printed book, a wiki article is much more dynamic in it's ability to be updated quickly when the information changes. A set of Encyclopedia books is very expensive yet websites like Wikipedia are completely free and far more up to date. While libraries have closing times, the internet is available 24/7/365 and accessible from the comfort and convenience of your home. There is no need for an expansive bookshelf to hold a large collection of research books when the information can all be stored compactly at data on a computer.
The downside of Wiki's is that with multiple contributors from all walks of life, the information could be less reliable. Wiki sites are also prone to attacks of cyber vandalism, as just about anyone is allowed to register with a website and gain the ability to edit wiki entries. Moderators need to keep a watch on changes made to the site in order to maintain it as a reputable source of information. A lot of Wiki websites resource their information from Wikipedia, however if the information on Wikipedia is incorrect, then false information is being duplicated throughout the internet. There’s a saying that goes “Just because you read it on the internet, doesn’t mean it’s true”.
Personally I use websites like wowwiki.com and wowhead.com for sourcing information for World of Warcraft. There is no way you want to flip through a book to find information about a digital item when you can search quickly with keywords on a website. I also love to browse Wikipedia for information on various video games, anime, manga and bands that simply do not have any printed material available on them. In these genres, I trust the opinions of my internet peers rather than the producers of newspapers and tv shows. News writiers are forever getting their facts wrong when reporting anything to do with geek culture.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Social networking began with the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies. The basic idea is that rather than create all the website content yourself, you create applications where others can register with the site and create their own content that they can share with others. Online communities sprung up in many different ways. Blogging, social networking, online gaming and art websites are probably the most prominent models for Web 2.0 communities. Many sites have become a hybrid of all these things in an effort to offer something for everyone and keep users feeling like they don’t need to leave the site to use a different service.
Examples of various Web 2.0 community websites:
Blogging sites: Livejournal, Wordpress, Blogger
Microblogging: Twitter, Tumblr
Social Profiles: Myspace, Facebook, Hi5
Art: Deviantart, Flickr
Games: Gaia, Neopets
While I absolutely adore blogging and update my Livejournal frequently, it saddens me to see that many people have jumped ship for websites like Facebook and Twitter. Neither of which have the same sort of insightfulness that users post in their Livejournal. Twitter is full of throwaway comments and meaningless updates as the posts are limited to only 140 characters. Facebook is much the same on an even greater level. Because Facebook encourages users to use their real name and connect with every single person they know in life, what one announces publicly to the world becomes much more of a considered matter. While announcing silly statements under the guise of an internet alias is something I think nothing of on most websites, when it comes to Facebook I feel a strangling on my freedom of speech. Knowing that relatives and work colleagues can read what you post on Facebook makes you think twice about what you are going to write, and so posts become the monotonous sea of “Oh the weather is nice today and I just ate toast”. In comparison, a personal blog locked to friends only may contain far more interesting posts such as detailed stories about a persons inner feelings, their daily frustrations at work or their great experience at a special event such as a live band.
Many sites are now trying to do and be everything in order to be the one stop shop that people visit on the internet. Facebook in particular is guilty of this and as a result the site is bloated and confusing. I’m really tech savvy and work as webdesigner and I still find Facebook very poorly organised. I’m flooded with updates from other users applications I don’t care about, so that I’ve given up on trying to keep up with the information updates from Facebook. However I feel like there is this pressure to stay updated and available in todays “online” society. If you turn off the chat features, don’t answer private messages & invites in a timely manner, some people get upset with you. I feel stressed by these expectations as I’m not a largely social person and find my energy to face the world in my own solitude. When something like using the internet becomes another extension of social time it becomes quite draining on my sanity.
Recently Blizzard Entertainment added a feature called "Real ID" which lets you keep friends list across World of Warcraft and other Battle.net games like Starcraft 2. It uses your real name and tells people what character/server/game you are playing. Especially in the case of WoW it's handy for keeping track of friends that have a lot of characters they play. However it can be a bit of a joykill for people that play on the Roleplay servers and really want to immerse themselves in fantasy. At this point in time there is no invisible mode for Real ID. So friends you've approved will always see what you're doing and be able to message you. Although I personally I find it annoying, this sort of thing is accepted by a lot of internet users as many already use chat programs like Steam to stay connected with their friends while in-game and use Facebook to interact with personal friends and family with their real name in a similar manner. However, Blizzard were going to force the implementation of Real ID into the forums for World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2, meaning users would only be able to post using their real name in an extremely public arena.. Privacy was a large concern for users, as once you have someones real name it is actually quite easy to track their phone number or where they live. Taking into consideration that people in online games can become quite aggressive or upset when another player kills them, you wouldn’t really want an online enemy knowing where you live. Reports of violence over video games are not unheard of. While the games themselves are not to blame, if a person with emotional or mental problems is aggravated while playing them, the results can lead to violence. Due to the large outcry from the Battle.net community, Blizzard withdrew their plans to force users to use their real names on the forums. The RealID online friends list still remains and while I feel it is a good feature it does need to be developed to ensure that users privacy is not compromised.
GAME-PLAY
Long before the internet and consoles, games have been interactive. In fact it’s probably video games that made single player games more prominent. In comparison board games moreso required you to have other people to play with in order to enjoy them. Playing with another person means you have to adhere to the rules in order to “play fair” but playing by yourself it’s pretty easy to cheat and win the game. I’ve cheated plenty of times while playing single card games like Solitaire, however playing Solitaires computerised counterpart keeps you honest as the program does not allow you to break the rules. It’s much more satisfying to win the game when you know you played it properly by the rules. A game should be fun but also a little challenging, so if you are cheating I suppose you aren’t really “playing the game” as such. If you are only wishing to pass the time and be entertained, it’s probably more likely someone will sit in front of the television rather than go to the effort of moving pieces around a board game. Perhaps entertainment and game-play can be separated on these grounds. Bringing us the essential core of “interactive entertainment” being some essence of game-play as it requires an effort on our part rather than just sitting back passively.
Online games are becoming more widespread as internet connectivity for game consoles is becoming a standard feature. As well as many social networking sites such as Facebook are incorporating games into their foray of applications. This expansion of gaming platforms as well as it’s ability to connect a user to all their friends/family is helping to shift the demographics of those who play video games. However it is strange that while there are many forms of games from such as gambling, board games and sports that are enjoyed by all ages, that still video games are viewed as something that only young people play.
With the proposals of the types of game-play by Roger Caillois, one could argue that we encounter games in our daily lives on a subconscious level. Games are not simply for children because we are always interacting with the world around us, facing challenges, taking chances, playing a part or losing ourselves in the thrill of something.
As I mentioned earlier, sites like Facebook make me feel very restricted, is perhaps that I am experiencing “Mimesis” and forcing myself to role play a well behaved version of myself? Or am I role playing someone I want to be when I post anonymously on sites like 4chan? Which is the real me? The one I present when attached to my real name or the one I present when behind an alias or complete anonymity. Either way, people interact with these different versions of myself and each will have different perceptions even if they encountered the same personality.
Is one experiencing “Agon” when they go for a job as they try to the beat the other applicants? Many people are competitive by nature and will find satisfaction in the smallest of triumphs over others. Something as simple as beating others over the crosswalk when crossing the road might be the motivator for some. Some even live vicariously through the victories of their sporting team over a friends. I feel that without Agon that some people would be stripped of a reason for living. It is impossible to live in our society without interacting and competing with others.
REFERENCES
Game Politics, BREAKING: Judge Rejects Video Game Murder Defense for Halo 3 Teen, Retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/01/12/breaking-judge-rejects-video-game-murder-defense-halo-3-teen
NineMSN, Police investigate 'World of Warcraft' murder, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/975707/police-investigate-world-of-warcraft-murder
Youtube, Art & Technology 9.1 Caillois & Video Games, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWzxpbr8_-A
Turney, Drew, ‘Got Game?’, Desktop, no. 236, 2008, pp. 50-52.
The Economist, Serious Fun, retrieved 16 August 2009, http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tq/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13174355
Neoseeker, Blizzard responds to Real ID backlash, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.neoseeker.com/news/14312-blizzard-responds-to-real-id-backlash/
Wiki sites have become a great resource for researching topics online. They have a few pro's and con's but overall I find my experience with them to be a positive one.
There are many topics found on wiki sites that are just not covered in published books. Unlike a printed book, a wiki article is much more dynamic in it's ability to be updated quickly when the information changes. A set of Encyclopedia books is very expensive yet websites like Wikipedia are completely free and far more up to date. While libraries have closing times, the internet is available 24/7/365 and accessible from the comfort and convenience of your home. There is no need for an expansive bookshelf to hold a large collection of research books when the information can all be stored compactly at data on a computer.
The downside of Wiki's is that with multiple contributors from all walks of life, the information could be less reliable. Wiki sites are also prone to attacks of cyber vandalism, as just about anyone is allowed to register with a website and gain the ability to edit wiki entries. Moderators need to keep a watch on changes made to the site in order to maintain it as a reputable source of information. A lot of Wiki websites resource their information from Wikipedia, however if the information on Wikipedia is incorrect, then false information is being duplicated throughout the internet. There’s a saying that goes “Just because you read it on the internet, doesn’t mean it’s true”.
Personally I use websites like wowwiki.com and wowhead.com for sourcing information for World of Warcraft. There is no way you want to flip through a book to find information about a digital item when you can search quickly with keywords on a website. I also love to browse Wikipedia for information on various video games, anime, manga and bands that simply do not have any printed material available on them. In these genres, I trust the opinions of my internet peers rather than the producers of newspapers and tv shows. News writiers are forever getting their facts wrong when reporting anything to do with geek culture.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Social networking began with the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies. The basic idea is that rather than create all the website content yourself, you create applications where others can register with the site and create their own content that they can share with others. Online communities sprung up in many different ways. Blogging, social networking, online gaming and art websites are probably the most prominent models for Web 2.0 communities. Many sites have become a hybrid of all these things in an effort to offer something for everyone and keep users feeling like they don’t need to leave the site to use a different service.
Examples of various Web 2.0 community websites:
Blogging sites: Livejournal, Wordpress, Blogger
Microblogging: Twitter, Tumblr
Social Profiles: Myspace, Facebook, Hi5
Art: Deviantart, Flickr
Games: Gaia, Neopets
While I absolutely adore blogging and update my Livejournal frequently, it saddens me to see that many people have jumped ship for websites like Facebook and Twitter. Neither of which have the same sort of insightfulness that users post in their Livejournal. Twitter is full of throwaway comments and meaningless updates as the posts are limited to only 140 characters. Facebook is much the same on an even greater level. Because Facebook encourages users to use their real name and connect with every single person they know in life, what one announces publicly to the world becomes much more of a considered matter. While announcing silly statements under the guise of an internet alias is something I think nothing of on most websites, when it comes to Facebook I feel a strangling on my freedom of speech. Knowing that relatives and work colleagues can read what you post on Facebook makes you think twice about what you are going to write, and so posts become the monotonous sea of “Oh the weather is nice today and I just ate toast”. In comparison, a personal blog locked to friends only may contain far more interesting posts such as detailed stories about a persons inner feelings, their daily frustrations at work or their great experience at a special event such as a live band.
Many sites are now trying to do and be everything in order to be the one stop shop that people visit on the internet. Facebook in particular is guilty of this and as a result the site is bloated and confusing. I’m really tech savvy and work as webdesigner and I still find Facebook very poorly organised. I’m flooded with updates from other users applications I don’t care about, so that I’ve given up on trying to keep up with the information updates from Facebook. However I feel like there is this pressure to stay updated and available in todays “online” society. If you turn off the chat features, don’t answer private messages & invites in a timely manner, some people get upset with you. I feel stressed by these expectations as I’m not a largely social person and find my energy to face the world in my own solitude. When something like using the internet becomes another extension of social time it becomes quite draining on my sanity.
Recently Blizzard Entertainment added a feature called "Real ID" which lets you keep friends list across World of Warcraft and other Battle.net games like Starcraft 2. It uses your real name and tells people what character/server/game you are playing. Especially in the case of WoW it's handy for keeping track of friends that have a lot of characters they play. However it can be a bit of a joykill for people that play on the Roleplay servers and really want to immerse themselves in fantasy. At this point in time there is no invisible mode for Real ID. So friends you've approved will always see what you're doing and be able to message you. Although I personally I find it annoying, this sort of thing is accepted by a lot of internet users as many already use chat programs like Steam to stay connected with their friends while in-game and use Facebook to interact with personal friends and family with their real name in a similar manner. However, Blizzard were going to force the implementation of Real ID into the forums for World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2, meaning users would only be able to post using their real name in an extremely public arena.. Privacy was a large concern for users, as once you have someones real name it is actually quite easy to track their phone number or where they live. Taking into consideration that people in online games can become quite aggressive or upset when another player kills them, you wouldn’t really want an online enemy knowing where you live. Reports of violence over video games are not unheard of. While the games themselves are not to blame, if a person with emotional or mental problems is aggravated while playing them, the results can lead to violence. Due to the large outcry from the Battle.net community, Blizzard withdrew their plans to force users to use their real names on the forums. The RealID online friends list still remains and while I feel it is a good feature it does need to be developed to ensure that users privacy is not compromised.
GAME-PLAY
Long before the internet and consoles, games have been interactive. In fact it’s probably video games that made single player games more prominent. In comparison board games moreso required you to have other people to play with in order to enjoy them. Playing with another person means you have to adhere to the rules in order to “play fair” but playing by yourself it’s pretty easy to cheat and win the game. I’ve cheated plenty of times while playing single card games like Solitaire, however playing Solitaires computerised counterpart keeps you honest as the program does not allow you to break the rules. It’s much more satisfying to win the game when you know you played it properly by the rules. A game should be fun but also a little challenging, so if you are cheating I suppose you aren’t really “playing the game” as such. If you are only wishing to pass the time and be entertained, it’s probably more likely someone will sit in front of the television rather than go to the effort of moving pieces around a board game. Perhaps entertainment and game-play can be separated on these grounds. Bringing us the essential core of “interactive entertainment” being some essence of game-play as it requires an effort on our part rather than just sitting back passively.
Online games are becoming more widespread as internet connectivity for game consoles is becoming a standard feature. As well as many social networking sites such as Facebook are incorporating games into their foray of applications. This expansion of gaming platforms as well as it’s ability to connect a user to all their friends/family is helping to shift the demographics of those who play video games. However it is strange that while there are many forms of games from such as gambling, board games and sports that are enjoyed by all ages, that still video games are viewed as something that only young people play.
With the proposals of the types of game-play by Roger Caillois, one could argue that we encounter games in our daily lives on a subconscious level. Games are not simply for children because we are always interacting with the world around us, facing challenges, taking chances, playing a part or losing ourselves in the thrill of something.
As I mentioned earlier, sites like Facebook make me feel very restricted, is perhaps that I am experiencing “Mimesis” and forcing myself to role play a well behaved version of myself? Or am I role playing someone I want to be when I post anonymously on sites like 4chan? Which is the real me? The one I present when attached to my real name or the one I present when behind an alias or complete anonymity. Either way, people interact with these different versions of myself and each will have different perceptions even if they encountered the same personality.
Is one experiencing “Agon” when they go for a job as they try to the beat the other applicants? Many people are competitive by nature and will find satisfaction in the smallest of triumphs over others. Something as simple as beating others over the crosswalk when crossing the road might be the motivator for some. Some even live vicariously through the victories of their sporting team over a friends. I feel that without Agon that some people would be stripped of a reason for living. It is impossible to live in our society without interacting and competing with others.
REFERENCES
Game Politics, BREAKING: Judge Rejects Video Game Murder Defense for Halo 3 Teen, Retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/01/12/breaking-judge-rejects-video-game-murder-defense-halo-3-teen
NineMSN, Police investigate 'World of Warcraft' murder, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/975707/police-investigate-world-of-warcraft-murder
Youtube, Art & Technology 9.1 Caillois & Video Games, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWzxpbr8_-A
Turney, Drew, ‘Got Game?’, Desktop, no. 236, 2008, pp. 50-52.
The Economist, Serious Fun, retrieved 16 August 2009, http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tq/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13174355
Neoseeker, Blizzard responds to Real ID backlash, retrieved 9th August 2010,
http://www.neoseeker.com/news/14312-blizzard-responds-to-real-id-backlash/
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Why do people play games?
"By now you've all read Csikszentmihalyi's essay on 'flow, pleasure and enjoyment' (Home Page > Survival Kit > Initial Tasks...). We know people like to have fun and enjoy themselves. We can assume that there's a certain therapeutic element in the distraction of games, especially with demanding work, study, family, social and other busy schedules. We know that children learn valuable social skills through game play, and that adults like to relax in a number of structured ways through games.
In the very first (conjecturable) contexts in which games first emerged - think back to the earliest forms of human social organisation and communication, of simple village life, hunter-gatherers - daily life would have been just as demanding a mix of 'work-family balance', and possibly more stressful than we have to deal with today (think large carnivors and no chain link fencing).
Yet games emerged despite these circumstances. How? What for? With what implications into the future of civilisation and the human psyche?
This is your opportunity to relate your own game-play preferences to the bigger question of "why do we play?"
A nice easy discussion topic to start us off...."
For me personally, it's an escape. It is for a lot of people. I don't always want to be me, sometimes I want to be someone else.
Recently Blizzard Entertainment added a feature called "Real ID" which lets you keep friends list across World of Warcraft and other Battle.net games like Starcraft 2. It uses your real name and tells people what character/server/game you are playing. Especially in the case of WoW it's handy for keeping track of friends that have a lot of characters they play. However it can be a bit of a joykill for people that play on the Roleplay servers and really want to immerse themselves in fantasy. At this point in time there is no invisible mode for Real ID. So friends you've approved will always see what you're doing and be able to message you.
The same immersion joykill problem is occuring in a lot of games. Xbox Live, Playstation Network and Steam all connect you with friends and enable you to chat even when you're playing a single player game. With mobile phones and the internet, there's this pressure to always be available these days. I'm made to feel guilty for wanting to spend a whole day playing a game in peace and quiet. If you don't reply to messages via your computer, console or phone within a certain amount of time they get annoyed with you. Sometimes I just don't want to talk to anyone.
I think the "escape" is kind of being killed by social networking these days.
But in general, playing a game is something that keeps you occupied and can be exciting as you chase the thrill of winning. While you may take the game seriously it's still a "safe" way to challenge yourself or your mind.. if you "die" in game it's not going to cause you any real physical harm.
In the very first (conjecturable) contexts in which games first emerged - think back to the earliest forms of human social organisation and communication, of simple village life, hunter-gatherers - daily life would have been just as demanding a mix of 'work-family balance', and possibly more stressful than we have to deal with today (think large carnivors and no chain link fencing).
Yet games emerged despite these circumstances. How? What for? With what implications into the future of civilisation and the human psyche?
This is your opportunity to relate your own game-play preferences to the bigger question of "why do we play?"
A nice easy discussion topic to start us off...."
For me personally, it's an escape. It is for a lot of people. I don't always want to be me, sometimes I want to be someone else.
Recently Blizzard Entertainment added a feature called "Real ID" which lets you keep friends list across World of Warcraft and other Battle.net games like Starcraft 2. It uses your real name and tells people what character/server/game you are playing. Especially in the case of WoW it's handy for keeping track of friends that have a lot of characters they play. However it can be a bit of a joykill for people that play on the Roleplay servers and really want to immerse themselves in fantasy. At this point in time there is no invisible mode for Real ID. So friends you've approved will always see what you're doing and be able to message you.
The same immersion joykill problem is occuring in a lot of games. Xbox Live, Playstation Network and Steam all connect you with friends and enable you to chat even when you're playing a single player game. With mobile phones and the internet, there's this pressure to always be available these days. I'm made to feel guilty for wanting to spend a whole day playing a game in peace and quiet. If you don't reply to messages via your computer, console or phone within a certain amount of time they get annoyed with you. Sometimes I just don't want to talk to anyone.
I think the "escape" is kind of being killed by social networking these days.
But in general, playing a game is something that keeps you occupied and can be exciting as you chase the thrill of winning. While you may take the game seriously it's still a "safe" way to challenge yourself or your mind.. if you "die" in game it's not going to cause you any real physical harm.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Fictional games?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_games
Decide which genre/artform interests you most from the examples above, and compile a list to add to a relevant discussion thread. Do these artists represent the games in ways that are familiar, or totally unfamiliar? Is a particular fictional game unfamiliar because of the rules, the strategies used, the purpose, the design, the artifact, or what? Have any of these fictional games produced actual versions that you can now buy, and are these still in the same form (a board game) or have they been translated into digital format?
Post your findings to the discussions forum in your journals or in the weekly discussion forum where relevant.
Fictional games? (Brainstorm list)
"Jumanji" from Jumanji (book/movie)
"The World" in Hack//Sign (anime)
"Liar Game" in Liar Game (Japanese drama series)
"Blitzball" in Final Fantasy 10 (video game)
Area that interests me?
"The World"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack//Sign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack//fragment
Role playing games interest me the most, since I enjoy those sorts of video games. I particularly liked "The World" in .Hack//sign because it was familiar to me. The design of it reminded me a lot of my favourite game, Phantasy Star Online. There have been .hack games created but they aren't really like the game within the manga/anime. "The World" is presented as an MMORPG and the games based on the .hack franchise were far from this model of game. The games moreso simulated the idea of an MMORPG and the player journed through the story of the .hack series. One game for online play was created for the Playstation 2 but was only released in Japan and lasted for one year before the servers were closed.
"Hanufuda"
http://hanafubuki.org/
I saw it in an anime called "Summer Wars"
Decide which genre/artform interests you most from the examples above, and compile a list to add to a relevant discussion thread. Do these artists represent the games in ways that are familiar, or totally unfamiliar? Is a particular fictional game unfamiliar because of the rules, the strategies used, the purpose, the design, the artifact, or what? Have any of these fictional games produced actual versions that you can now buy, and are these still in the same form (a board game) or have they been translated into digital format?
Post your findings to the discussions forum in your journals or in the weekly discussion forum where relevant.
Fictional games? (Brainstorm list)
"Jumanji" from Jumanji (book/movie)
"The World" in Hack//Sign (anime)
"Liar Game" in Liar Game (Japanese drama series)
"Blitzball" in Final Fantasy 10 (video game)
Area that interests me?
"The World"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack//Sign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack//fragment
Role playing games interest me the most, since I enjoy those sorts of video games. I particularly liked "The World" in .Hack//sign because it was familiar to me. The design of it reminded me a lot of my favourite game, Phantasy Star Online. There have been .hack games created but they aren't really like the game within the manga/anime. "The World" is presented as an MMORPG and the games based on the .hack franchise were far from this model of game. The games moreso simulated the idea of an MMORPG and the player journed through the story of the .hack series. One game for online play was created for the Playstation 2 but was only released in Japan and lasted for one year before the servers were closed.
"Hanufuda"
http://hanafubuki.org/
I saw it in an anime called "Summer Wars"
Pleasure Vs Enjoyment.
http://www.austega.com/education/articles/flow.htm
Please read the article "Flow" & Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a review of a public lecture presented by Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in Sydney on 17 March 1999, organised by the School of Leisure & Tourism Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. Post something about it in your online Journal. In particular note the difference between pleasure and enjoyment. This article will serve as a starting point for you to approach this unit with a novel and innovative attitude.
Pleasure seems to be something that you can simply sit back and relax with and doesn't require a whole lot of effort on our part, but it does not offer us a sense of achievement. Wheras enjoyment is perhaps something you need to be more actively involved in, such as playing sports or a video game. You can win at a game but you can't win at a massage. I feel like pleasure is something you are made to feel guilty for spending your time/money on.
It's interesting to note that some people have no sense of self worth or happiness when they are not involved in doing something or have some sort of status like from a job. On some level I rather enjoy sitting around doing nothing and staring into nothing. Although I'm sure I'd become bored of it if that was all I was "doing" all day long. I think it's appealing to me because life is so busy and I like time to stop and have days on end where I have no commitments.
The observation of people sitting around watching television because it's something to do with no effort in initiation is true for me in the case of the internet. I don't watch television because the things I like aren't really shown very frequently. However I am addicted to the internet, where there are endless websites to browse on subjects I am interested in. I do become frustrated with myself for this addiction because when I waste hours on the internet I feel like I should have been playing a video game. Games give me more of a sense of an achievement but they also give me a sense of guilt because I like them so much and they seem to be associated more with "goofing off".
Please read the article "Flow" & Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a review of a public lecture presented by Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in Sydney on 17 March 1999, organised by the School of Leisure & Tourism Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. Post something about it in your online Journal. In particular note the difference between pleasure and enjoyment. This article will serve as a starting point for you to approach this unit with a novel and innovative attitude.
Pleasure seems to be something that you can simply sit back and relax with and doesn't require a whole lot of effort on our part, but it does not offer us a sense of achievement. Wheras enjoyment is perhaps something you need to be more actively involved in, such as playing sports or a video game. You can win at a game but you can't win at a massage. I feel like pleasure is something you are made to feel guilty for spending your time/money on.
It's interesting to note that some people have no sense of self worth or happiness when they are not involved in doing something or have some sort of status like from a job. On some level I rather enjoy sitting around doing nothing and staring into nothing. Although I'm sure I'd become bored of it if that was all I was "doing" all day long. I think it's appealing to me because life is so busy and I like time to stop and have days on end where I have no commitments.
The observation of people sitting around watching television because it's something to do with no effort in initiation is true for me in the case of the internet. I don't watch television because the things I like aren't really shown very frequently. However I am addicted to the internet, where there are endless websites to browse on subjects I am interested in. I do become frustrated with myself for this addiction because when I waste hours on the internet I feel like I should have been playing a video game. Games give me more of a sense of an achievement but they also give me a sense of guilt because I like them so much and they seem to be associated more with "goofing off".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)