The ludoligist Jesper Juul has helped to create a Game Jam in Copenhagen January 27-29, 2006. Nordic Game Jam‘s slogan is “Challenge Yourself: Create A Cooperative Multiplayer Game in A Weekend”. It all looks terribly exciting and fun!
I shouldn’t, but I’d really love to go! I can’t think of a better way to learn what the ‘real’ components of games are! And I think that there might be a few people here that would want to go as well. What do you guys say? Should we create a Bergen team?

The fabulous Henry Jenkins offers a rebuttal towards 8 video game myths circulating in the media. First one being “The availability of video games has led to an epidemic of youth violence” – which he blows out of the water with his usual intelligent and factual charisma! It’s a good read, straight to the point and should be a ‘must read’ for any parent!
I am, however, quite wary that crusaders fighting against the bad image of video games never confront the addiction argument. Could it be that it’s because we know it’s a problem?
Christmas is here, which means several family get-togethers! I love these, because I always have a chance to have some great discussions with the kids in my family on gaming! I remember last Christmas, I had a conversation with a 12 year old on video game violence and the impact it has on children his age. He was quite adamant that it had absolutely no impact on him whatsoever, but he understood that it might have a bad effect on other children. After some patient digging, with lots of “Why?” and “Who exactly?” we finally came to the conclusion that he only thought this, because he had been told by media that violent computer games are bad for children. I thought it was very interesting! Can’t wait to hastle them this year!

So here’s something new, at least to me! Sociolotron, that, from what I can gather is an S&M MMORPG. Just to enter their website you have to agree to a disclaimer, which I thought was quite interesting:

• 3) You are not offended by reading about a highly politically incorrect form of rolepley involving sexually explicit situation, roleplay of crimes, vamipirism, demonism and any other adult fantasy.
• 4) You will leave the site or quit playing the game if you encounter any topic that offends you.
• 6) You are not employed in law enforcement acting in any way in connection with your duties or what you see as your responsibilities as law enforcement

4 and 6 just blew my mind away! Firstly they tell you to leave a place you pay to be in if you’re offended – which seems kinda bizarre…but I’ll come back to that because they actually have a government! But nr. 6…is that possible? Can you actually just say “Hey! All ‘real’ government keep out!”?

Hmmm…makes me wish I had some internet game content lawbook implanted in my head! I’m gonna have to look this up and investigate further!! I really should have the answers to these questions by now!

TerraNova has a post (which gruesomly reminds me that I haven’t been by the State of Play III proceedings properly yet) about a Supreme Court ruling entailing child pornography laws in games. I’m really suprised that this seems to be the ‘main issue’ when discussing ‘real’ life laws, especially after the stuff that’s going on in Korea. I was also extremely numbed by the comment: “Considering that so often when people talk about the “magic circle” and the need to keep laws out of games…”! Really?!! This has just passed me by! I’m presuming they’re talking about Zimmerman and Salen’s ‘magic circle’ and I’ve completely dismissed this idea when it comes to MMORPGs! Probably extremely foolishly but I’ve really tried to put the gameplay of MMORPGs within a ‘magic circle’ and after a few frustrating tears and some good conversations with Klabbers, I’ve come to the conclusion that it can’t be done!!! Hmmm…wondering if I’m answering my own dreaded question here. Maybe that’s just it…MMORPGs are virtual worlds that include gameplay, but aren’t necessarily games? Which kinda brings me back to the MMORPGs are social playgrounds not games metaphor.

Huh…well…it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and my braincells might not be up to standard…wondering if I’ll feel the same tomorrow or if this is all more jibberish! And I’m feeling so unbelievably ashamed for not being up to date on this!! Ooohhh…but it’s so good to have a blog to talk to! ;)

I’ve only had a brief look at the documentary clips and it looks like it was every bit as productive and fantastic as I thought it would be! I’ll probably have more to say on this soon as I’ve been waiting impatiently for AGES!!

But just thought I’d introduce you to The Arden Institute! This is sooooo exciting!!

Well…at least I think it’s today(or in 2 hours at least (12 December)….sorry, I’m unconnected at home and can’t do this tomorrow morning)! And before you guys start correcting me on my leet speak, I’m fully aware that ‘del.icio.us’ is not a 1337 word, but it just fits i1277 so freakin’ well! And yeah…I’m not going to boast knowing what the hell I’m on about…it’s just not going to happen! Just found this translation site…and thought I’d try it out!

Wow! This looks like something that I would absolutely LOVE to attend!!!

SXSW

I mean…just look at it!!

• Craig Newmark – Craigslist giving a keynote about “how simple interface and an easy-going zen attitude have helped Craislist make life better for millions of users”.
• Umm…you know what? I don’t even know which ones to pick out THEY’RE ALL THERE!!

Jeez! And just look at the topics!!

• The Future of Education in a Digitally Convergent World
• Why Are Women Invisible on the Web: Whose Butts Should We be Kicking? (I didn’t even know we were invisible)
• Serious Games for Learning
• Secret Sex Lives of Video Games (with Tony Walsh and Peter Ludlow and Mark Wallace….sigh)
• There’s just so much darn interesting here it’s useless listing them all!!!

I always discover these things way too late, so there’s no chance of getting any funding (as if I could write a paper anyways)!!! But I wanna wanna wanna!!!!! This is just so filled with interesting stuff on blogging and games – I really should be there, shouldn’t I?

Sigh….cry…sigh! I wish I was a rich student!!!

My oh my…this truely is a smart way to go!! Heather Kelley has designed a game ‘patterned after the VARIETY of female sexual response’ for females! I love it!! It’s called Lapis and Kelly writes: “The hope is that the game would entertain females – without them ever needing to understand the sex metaphor. But at some point when they did start figuring out the connection to their own sexuality and pleasure, they would have learned some ideas and techniques behind sexual satisfaction”.
You’d think that this was a totally new and revolutionary way of thinking…but it’s not, as we all know, because we see such metaphors all the time in games only from a male perspective! I love it, and agree with Guardian Gamesblog that it’s a work of genious!
Haven’t given the demo a go yet, though (I’m at work and I’m still waiting for my new modem!), but I can’t wait to try!!!

Yet another great book for my Christmas wishlist (jeez…I hope someone who actually buys me presents reads this blog!). I’ve really enjoyed some of Jesper Juul’s papers and his blog. Smart man with several interesting insights and also a pure joy to read! But I can’t say that I always agree with him!
Definately looking forward to reading Half-Real. Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds.

GamePolitics slightly exaggerate this story, but the title was just too darn catchy to resist!! It’s basically the whole ‘adult games sold to children’ debate continued because of ‘video games report card’ from the US National Institute on Media and the Family, has just come out. And I suppose ‘cannibalism’ is thrown around because it is games that involve eating human brains a.s.o. that get the worst criticism, because this ‘can’t be good for kids’!
I suppose the whole problem lies with the perception that ‘games’ are for children. We’ve moved way passed that long ago and I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that games are much more popular with males between 20 and 35 than kids in general…but I’m unsure where I read that!

Well…I suppose it’s old news really, but Castronova reports that he received his first spam in WoW over at Terra Nova. The comments are flowing in on others’ experiences with advertising via spam in MMOs, it’s interesting. As a TSO’er I’ve encountered it several times before, but always for in-game sales or businesses, never for something from the ‘outside’ world. I wonder if this is going to catch on and if they’re going to have to design some form of filtering system for this. Or maybe spamming is a cause for expulsion…hmmm…will have to check EULAs!