The Game Grid

Marc ten Bosch's upcoming platform puzzler, Miegakure, will require the player to operate in four dimensions. In this post, he explains the difference between attempting to rotate a 3D object vs. a 4D object. Examples of code included.

The lovely folks at the National Endowment of the Arts, the US government body that awards grants to arts institutions and individual artists, have just expanded the categories of art it considers to include "media platforms such as... digital games", along with other Internet-driven mediums. As one of the country's most prominent arts organizations (taxpayer-funded, no less), this represents a huge milestone in the mainstream acknowledgement of games and other interactive media as art. It's part of the Arts in Media awards, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, with an application deadline of September 1. (Go here for all the details.)

"You've probably heard the word gamification by now; I noticed several sessions on the topic at CCCCs. It's also more or less the subject of Jane McGonigal's book Reality is Broken, which I just managed to finish reading a few days ago. I intend to review the book in an upcoming podcast segment for Armchair Arcade Radio, but suffice it to say this book is a must-read if you're interested in "big picture" stuff concerning videogames. For now though, I want to think about how gamification and some of McGonigal's observations could improve wikis."

Thanks to Jher for passing this along...

The facilities are following scholar­ship. Games are now used in English classes studying interactive narratives, media-studies classes looking at the cultural impact of violent games, as well as courses in game design offered at about 300 colleges. "The argument is really pretty simple," says David S. Carter, an engineering librarian at Michigan. "We have faculty who are doing stuff involved in video games, so the library needs to be doing something to support that teaching and that research."

"Ian Bogost, an associate professor in Georgia Tech's School of Literature, Communication and Culture who studies video games, puts it simply: "If you want to study things, you have to have them."

Mark Sample writes: "The Jewel of the Valleys, a Civil War-based alternate reality game that will launch in May. Hosted by the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, The Jewel of the Valleys seeks to link history and technology." He's got some good questions at the end of the post. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I'm quickly building up systemic resistance to the word 'gamification'. Nonetheless, this is a quick and interesting postmortem from Danc, who helped turn learning MS Office into a game.

"This acknowledges that film, TV and games can stand side by side and be independently recognized," said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music, Electronic Arts. "Hopefully, this will create an even playing field when people vote next year. I expect there to be a tidal wave of submissions from the game industry."

Article on upcoming exhibit at Smithsonian

"Gaming guru and Reality is Broken author Jane McGonigal is organizing a game to commemorate the New York Public Library's centennial celebration. On May 20th, 500 gamers will spend the night in the main branch of the library on 42nd Street to complete 100 "quests" designed by a McGonigal-directed team." David Zax for Fast Company (http://www.fastcompany.com/1744095/jane-mcgonigal-fixes-reality-at-the-new-york-public-library)

Clip of Rushdie talking about the future of storytelling vis a vis gaming worlds...the ARIS site this is posted to is home to a project in 'augmented reality'/situated documentaries at the UW Madison

Thanks to Sean Sharp for passing this along to me (and the group)...A discussion of how to utilize WordPress & various plug-ins to "gameify" course work & grading...

Great article! Would be great to participate in a gamified classroom!

Great PBS show on the effects of digital technology. Significant examination of gaming in virtual worlds.

Check out the last page of this portfolio. UO Journalism student who lists his World of Warcraft as part of his work experience. Gutsy and inventive.