Go Peter!!
In case anyone missed it:
http://interactive.usc.edu/members/ppreuss/2008/05/engaged.html
In case anyone missed it:
http://interactive.usc.edu/members/ppreuss/2008/05/engaged.html
Usual disclaimer: This is what I'm feeling at the moment, and will likely change depending on mood swings, formative experiences in the near future, or a lack of inspiration regarding the topics described.
I AM CHALLENGING modern social games' requirement that all players sit and face a screen, rather than each other…
BECAUSE social/party games should be about person-to-person interaction, not person-to-screen interaction…
IN ORDER TO develop a technology-aided social gaming experience that is more reminiscent of board and card games than of single-player video game experiences.
AS A SUB-INQUIRY, I AM INVESTIGATING the role of the producer in video game development...
BECAUSE the responsibilities of such individuals vary widely across the video games industry, with every studio having a different take on what the job description of a producer is…
IN ORDER TO develop a metric for what makes a good producer, so that the necessary skills can be taught in a relevant/useful way in a classroom setting, just as programming and art production are in most programs.
1. An area of interest you've identified.
Creating unexpected intersections. Engaging people at the personal level.
2. A couple of questions (stated in the form of a question) and opportunities suggested by your area of interest. What do you (or a potential viewer) want or need to know about this area?
-What types of content make for interesting intersections/combinations?
-What methods are there for creating inside jokes between the designer/game and the player?
-How does one create an environment where players are creating their own stories without quickly spiraling out of control?
3. Identify a method or process that can be used to explore your question.
Lots and lots of prior art research, especially in games.
4. One to three actual topics or subjects that address your interests/questions. (Not ‘a game’ or ‘experience’ or ‘interactive film,’ find a subject/setting/character/narrative.
-History
-Chemistry
-Multiplayer gaming (video games, but also board, card, and party games)
5. Pair your topics with a genre and an audience: Not just "a game" but the type of game and the type of player you envision. (Expert? General? Student? Adult? Child? Casual? Obsessed? Fan? Animal, Mineral, Vegetable?)
Social player, preferably already part of a group who would want to play together.
6. Commit to a term (participant, viewer, player, reader, user, audience) that you will use throughout the project. (If you feel this is restrictive, or want more than one term, this is the place to state your view, the important part is to begin to define, and address, your reader.)
Player, though there could at some point be viewers as well (depending on if the game evolves into something which tends to attract an audience)
There's been a lot of discussion lately about the IMD thesis paper. As the second years start thinking about our theses, and the third years begin actually writing said paper, we start to ask: what should the format of the paper be? what should the paper be about? do we even need to write one? It seems as though the faculty are asking themselves the same types of questions, not just about the paper, but about the thesis project as well. I've been around the thesis process a couple of times now, and I'm starting my own thesis this semester, so I thought I'd weigh in on the paper and see what people think. I'm probably not right, but I'm hoping we can at least argue about it for awhile and see what we can figure out.
Part 1: Pick 3 objects
a) Something significant from your childhood, something important to you - a toy, a talisman a momento.
I chose a poison ring that belonged to my grandfather, Ben.
b) An inspiration - a quote, a song, a book, a lyric, a piece of art, an experience, a philosopher, a scientist, just ONE.
For this, I chose Firefly, a science fiction television series that enjoyed a short run a few years back on Fox.
c) Something you've done or pursued on your own initiative (scholarly or otherwise) that is deeply interesting/satisfying to you.
I chose Multimedia YumYum Takeout, an utterly ridiculous compositing project I worked on my senior year in undergrad. The piece consisted of short skits that were edited into a larger reel of work from my undergrad program, and was exhibited and distributed as part of the program's marketing and recruitment efforts.
I don't usually do this here, but I figured I'd put the word out. I just bought a ticket to Chicago for the first half of spring break, to coincide with the big St. Patrick's Day celebration that happens there. You are formally (also informally, if you prefer) invited to join me. I haven't made specific plans yet, in terms of where to stay or anything, but if you want in, let me know in the next week or so as I start to book hotel rooms. If you've never been to the Chicago St. Pat's Day, it's the one where they dye the river green, have a big parade, and a lot of the city basically becomes a big outdoor pub. There's info for the official festivities here: http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/
At any rate, if you don't have plans for spring break and drinking beer next to a green river sounds like a good time, drop me a line and buy yourself a plane ticket. Hooray for beer and green rivers!
Okay, I'm done.
MAN, this atlas of mine is taking forever. It seems like every time I sit down to "finish" it, I think of half a dozen things I forgot to write about. Then I write a bunch of new stuff and don't have time to put in stuff that's already written, and...well like I said, it's taking awhile. I figured I'd go ahead and post what exists so far, in the hopes that this will pressure me to stop going off on tangents and finish the damn thing between now and Wednesday. If anyone is so inclined, feel free to read and comment. Otherwise, check back on Wednesday for the full atlas.
Realized I haven't posted about Altepehua in awhile. I'm pretty solid on the plot at this point, so that seems as good as anything to post. I'll save the ins and outs of how the Altepehuan Aztec nation is put together for my presentation on Thursday, as well as (of course) the final atlas. The story you'll find after the jump is the main plot of a chapter in a history textbook (the format for my atlas). For now, I've kept the names we're familiar with (Aztec, Mexico, Sioux), though I intend to use the names these people used for themselves (hooray for find/replace!). In addition to this main body of text (which will require revision for length and tone), the chapter will include maps, insets with little nuggets about Aztec culture/technology, sidebars about the flower wars, a "meanwhile, in Europe" segment, etc. Basically, all those extras that make high school history textbooks so informative, and yet so very ADD.