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  • Subject: Stalin the 31st, PhD in videogames.
Subject: Stalin the 31st, PhD in videogames.
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Recently a column in Edge brought up an interesting point for me. Academic studies into video games. Now from what I have read or heard there is a little interest in the analysis of video games. I am not talking about the ones that discuss the ISSUES about videogames, such as violence, effects on children, moral decline in society, I am talking about ones that analyse why they are such a popular form of entertainment. Also, I am not talking about a course where you study videogames, there are lots of those around. My idea would be a forum where the latest studies into videogames (it could be in general, it could focus on a single title) are posted and then discussed by the members. This would interest me, and I wondered if anyone else thought this would be a good idea. A forum dedicated to the study of videogames, and their effect on society, as well as media debates, and application of theory to videogames, such as Propp, Todorov, Bathes, Levi-Strauss narrative theory, editing in videogames, Case Studies on certain games, etc. Obviously it would have to be gamers that wrote these things- One woman (a non-gamer) who was studying games referred to The X Files Game as a first person game.
Tell me what you think of my idea.

  • 08.11.2004 4:14 AM PDT

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You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. I love your idea. But I guess I WOULD...

  • 08.11.2004 7:32 AM PDT
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That is a great idea... sadly this site would be a hard place to have a civilized discussion without well you know... some little kid comming in and -blam!-ing (for lack of a better word) it up.

  • 08.11.2004 7:48 AM PDT
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That's probably a good job to have in either Korea or Japan. They're crazy about games over there, Korea even plays video game tournaments on TV. If you want a job analyzing trends from games, that's the place to go.

  • 08.11.2004 9:14 AM PDT
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Not a bad idea

  • 08.11.2004 9:32 AM PDT
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Good to see i have some interest... Failing the ability to actually GET HOLD of any kind of these studies (that is what I expect any way) I thought of some essays that I may get started on.... I have a lot of free time. Steal my ideas, and you are, ahem, '-blam!-'.

Halo- Niche in the mainstream (A look at how a mainstream game gets a small hardcore following)

Violence in video games- The adult gamers perspective (Discussion of video game violence, as well as violent video games I have played)

1st or 3rd person- Which is more immersive? (Pretty self explanatory)

Film tie ins- Commercial success, critical failure (A look at film tie ins, as well as synergy and how the market in this area has changed in the past 2 decades)

I can think of others, but those will remain secret for the time being.When the 7th column returns, ---CLASSIFIED--- Shall be born! (Yeah, the name isn't actually going to be ---CLASSIFIED---, nor is it ACTUALLY classified, I have yet to think of a name.)


[Edited on 8/11/2004 10:12:30 AM]

  • 08.11.2004 10:09 AM PDT
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I really don't care much about videogames beyond playing them.

  • 08.11.2004 10:53 AM PDT
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That is nice ajenteks. Thank you. I will note that down. Its a shame because you were one of the people I was going to force at gunpoint to join my forum.

  • 08.11.2004 10:57 AM PDT
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One thing i've noticed: Lots of violence and controversy = high selling.

Having a lot of gore or controversial topics in a game (ahem, GTA and manhunt) causes the media to notice it. Since people think it's bad, they want to see it for themselves. This seems to have been the case in the past at least.

Rockstar has caught onto this trend, and has made god knows how much off it.

[Edited on 8/11/2004 11:32:40 AM]

  • 08.11.2004 11:31 AM PDT
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Posted by: Stalin the 31st
That is nice ajenteks. Thank you. I will note that down. Its a shame because you were one of the people I was going to force at gunpoint to join my forum.


Link me anyways. I'm sure there will be some interesting discussion.

  • 08.11.2004 12:26 PM PDT