Becker Video Game Design

"gender, narrative and praxis" (July 2011, Ashgate)

"disruptive and resistant practices that exploit, explore, dissect, and above all, linger on the "old games" that videogame advertisers and marketers would perhaps rather see resigned to the bargain bucket or the back of the cupboard."

games manipulating game code "modding"

Abstract Berry (1994) and some later papers provide a way to estimate dierentiated product models. When the product of interest is a durable good, consumers do not pay the entire retail price due to the existence of the second hand market. This paper employs data from the US video game market and proposes a new angel to investigate the demand side of a durable good. The results of the empirical investigation suggests that the inclusion of the future resale price makes the model estimation more sensible and reasonable.

"effect of game reviews on player experience and perceptions of quality. We show that negative reviews cause a significant effect on how players perceive their in-game experience, and that this effect is a post-play cognitive rationalization of the play experience with the previously-read review text. To address this effect we designed and deployed a new heuristic evaluation technique that specifically uses game reviews to create a fine-grained prioritized list of usability problems based on the frequency, impact, and persistence of each problem. By using our technique we are able to address the most common usability problems identified by game reviews, thus reducing the overall level of negativity found within the review text. Our approach helps to control and eliminate the snowballing effect that can be produced by players reading reviews and subsequently posting their own reviews, and thus improve the commercial success of a game."

Abstract: "Abstract-In computer games and simulations, content is often rather static and rigid. As a result, its prescripted nature can lead to predictable and impersonal gameplay, while alienating unconventional players. Adaptivity in games has therefore been recently proposed to overcome these shortcomings and make games more challenging and appealing. In this paper, we survey present research on game adaptivity, identifying, and discussing the main challenges, and pointing out some of the most promising directions ahead.We first survey the purposes of adaptivity, as the principles that could steer an adaptation and generation engine. From this perspective, we proceed to thoroughly discuss adaptivity's targets and methods. Current advances and successes in this emerging field point to many yet unexplored research opportunities. Among them, we discuss the use of gameplay expectations, learning preferences, and assessment data in the integrated adaptation of game worlds, scenarios, and quests. We conclude that, among other methods, procedural content generation and semantic modeling can powerfully combine to create offline customized content and online adjustments to game worlds, scenarios, and quests. These and other promising methods, deserving ample research efforts, can therefore, be expected to significantly contribute towards making games and simulations even more unpredictable, effective, and fun."

"using a Participatory Design of a Location Based Game (LBG) developed as part of a project to connect young people (11-19 years old) in Lancaster and Manchester by exploring issues surrounding place and their sense of belonging within their community. Both these communities were chosen, as they are representative of particular socio-economic conditions that have led them to be considered digitally excluded. The results highlight issues researchers face when working with such a group and the importance of building trust and being sensitive to the lives of the participants."

"a casual game that addresses childhood cancer: Besides mere entertainment, a health game that focuses on cancer may serve as a clinical tool in order to teach children about the particularities of the disease and initiate discussion among cancer patients, their parents and medical staff. In this context, the results of an empirical study revealed a generally high acceptance of the health game among young patients, while parents and medical staff highlighted the educational potential of health games addressing cancer. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of evaluating digital games in a hospital setting which were revealed during the evaluation phase."

2nd entry mentions Massachusetts Digital Games Institute's funding for game development college students to attend PAX East (Penny Arcade Expo)

Boy, 12, builds app for charity Logan Pazol, 12, has developed an app called "Donut Fighter." Proceeds will go to help kids fight cancer. (T&G Staff) By Susan Spencer TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF UPTON — Twelve-year-old Logan J. Pazol, like most kids his age, likes video games.

"Beacon Hill Chat is a program with interesting people talking about the interesting things going on in Central Massachusetts. Senator Chandler's guest is Timothy Loew, the Executive Director of Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (Mass DiGi)on the Becker College campus."

In the next twelve months more schools will be setting homework assignments for their students to play computer games. This will be because schools, expecting more of their students, will be looking for ways to support them to develop a deep level of understanding in, say, science, maths, or in being effective creators and consumers of the digital world (how to code, mash-up websites, design apps and so on).

Exposing young children to retro games and equipment and observing the results

How do you look back on a year of gaming and try to find a common thread? I tried to look for something that connected the stories that are presented here as being some of the best-or most interesting-investigations into different aspects of gaming and the surrounding culture.

"Doctors in a domed laboratory in Montreal are designing a virtual world where they hope to one day treat traumatized children with colourful avatars using toylike medical gadgets. Sensory stimulation could be used to make a burn victim feel she is encased in a block of ice."

Looking for sponsorship to save high school digital media awards in Canada, DIGIS

"The gaming industry in Ireland is on the move thanks to new technology and a visionary action plan, writes Niall Kitson Mobile gaming is where the opportunities lie."

Towards a methodology for serious game analysis

Exploration of meaning and sense creation through video game worlds, anthropological perspectives

One of 31 ways, videogames touted because research shows they "quicken reactions, improve multitasking, and reduce hostile feelings after a stressful task." Three suggested titles.