To explore the benefits and inherent dangers of beginning a lucrative, or believed to be, project on Kickstarter and whether it is ultimately viable in the face of the goliaths of gaming today, Sony and Microsoft. Where Sony retaliated a year or so afterwards, its project the Morpheus is said to rival the quality of the Oculus, followed quickly with PS4 support and PS4 exclusive games such as 'Kitchen.' Microsoft's own project HoloLens while not derivative of the Oculus, seems very much inspired by this recently discovered appetite for virtual reality gaming. This despite no such foreseeable release date.
You must ultimately come to some conclusion about the viability of Kickstarter, which may concern issue of copyright (or intellectual property law.) (I'm studying law, but put your own spin on it.) You may also wish to consider the issue of trends, the bandwagon itself, in determining the success of new hardware or software.
I agree this topic needs to be discussed and even viewed in detail since it has become very infectious. Besides obvious success stories like yooka laylee or even Shenmue 3 it is hard to argue that making a kickstarter game seems very appealing. However as stated copyright can be the biggest issue if you are displaying your project. All it takes is one asset to be shown that is either very similar or looks like a complete copy of already existing material your project will be almost guaranteed to be shutdown. Besides that the other issue is also coming up with original content. In theory it sounds easy but it is far from it. I look forward to seeing who writes about this topic and what their conclusions are. – tylerjt10 years ago
I was watching the NA Challenger Series for LoL last week and was surprised to hear team Renegade had a female member! We live in a society which openly accepts women's participation in male dominated virtual sports, but still, where are they all? I remember once hearing about a female gamer in a competitive Dota2 match that was really controversial because an enemy team's member tweeted sexually harassing things about her, but other than that the only "professional girl gamers" I hear about are team Sirens (who are basically a joke).
Can someone tell us why there is still a lack of female representation in competitive gaming? (The only reason I can understand is that in LCS, LoL teams live in a house together and male/female residents might get complicated?)
I remember asking a girl when I was very little if she liked Nintendo. Her response was 'Most girls don't like Nintendo.' So... I've been wondering this same thing. Part of the problem will be the male dominated games out there. It stats with Mario, a man who rescues a Princess, which once again serves the role of man rescuing damsel. Link, same thing (though apparently, they're changing this.) The only exception is Lara Croft in Tomb Raider and I guess the problem there is the male dominated cast around her. – SpectreWriter10 years ago
I feel like for me, someone who is a girl, a gamer, and likes Nintendo, I identified more with being the hero for once. I am in the process of starting a game review/let's play channel on YouTube, and while I'm not sure if this answers your question, I am personally concerned about thoughtless comments just because of my gender. I'm reminded of a professional gamer from Australia who went to the commentators' mothers to stop the harassing. The incident is available for researching on YouTube. – BethanyS10 years ago
I play video games myself and I have friends who are girls that love to play games themselves too and they're quite good! I think the problem can probably stem to either there is not enough coverage on professional female gamers as the media specifically seems to focus only on the male demographic, only strengthening the stereotype that only boys play video games. And also most likely that those harasses you mentioned are one of the major reasons that female gamers are scared off. Which can be either that many of the online community that are male, for some reason feel threatened whenever a woman participates in their activity. That even happens when a product that was intended for girls, gets popular with boys, and yet certain boys scare off the girls while claiming it was never for girls. The mindset is almost territorial to an extent. Also, and this one might be a weak reason for your article, but most people online could just spout crap to anyone cause they can. They hide under the guise of the internet, which I compare as to wearing digital masks, so they can be anybody else or nobody and get away with such vile bullying and sexist remarks because no one knows who they are and find them. – Ryan Walsh10 years ago
The fighting game scene actually has a fairly diverse community of men and woman, although there is still a definite uneven ratio. It would also be interesting to look at Ricki Ortiz, a transgender fighting game professional as well as some of the other woman that are prominent in the fighting game community. – DullahanLi10 years ago
One interesting tidbit from my experience is that in the Counter-Strike scene, there is actually an all-female pro league for CS:GO. While it doesn't generate nearly as much prize money as the main ESL circuit, they are still just as competitive. – marknm9 years ago
Has anyone noticed how expensive Super Nintendo (SNES) games have become? Arguably the most influential gaming system ever, Super Nintendo games have endured the test of time for many reasons; but are the treasures so enjoyed by millions in the 1990's to be lost on the current generation because of hefty price tags? A detailed analysis of some of the system's hallmark characters–Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Kirby–would help solidify to modern games why SNES means so much to so many people.
Whoever takes this up should look at how the SNES has influenced modern gaming and whether this influence extends to other consoles than just the Nintendo. – SpectreWriter10 years ago
Recently, Nintendo announced that Fire Emblem Fates will have same sex marriage system(which was surprising considering Nintendo's response to Tomodachi Life's "same sex marriage"). Interesting thing I've noticed was that while the straight couples can have child (so basically an advantage in number), the same sex couples receive some sort of perk/bonus in battle. Another I've noticed that there is a restriction depending on the country the player chooses – one only supports male/male marriage, while the other supports female/female. There will be a story DLC where both same sex marriages are possible.
I thought this was an interesting way to depict the same sex marriage. It does differentiate it from the straight couple, and offers different bonus thus making it viable strategic option. I believe this is more advanced than the same sex marriage in Skyrim, which had virtually no difference between spouses.
What other ways can the game developers make to depict the same sex marriage in meaningful way?
I did not hear about this, but this makes me want the game so much more than I already want it, which I didn't think was possible. If only my Japanese was fluent, I wouldn't have to wait a year for the stupid international release :( Anyways, this topic might be a bit hard, but one thing to keep in mind would be to acknowledge a games genre. A game like Fable or Skyrim would be able to have expansive benefits with social meters based on same-sex marriage, which might be an interesting mechanic. Give access to certain social groups and missions as a part of a same-sex couple. – Austin10 years ago
I believe Elder Scrolls: Skyrim has done this too so you might talk about that too. Though a far as I know, there's no difference in that game whatever way you go. – SpectreWriter10 years ago
I doubt know about marriage but you can do all sorts of non traditional relationships in the jade empire. They really let people do what they were into in that one. – fchery10 years ago
Yes, you can same-sex marry in TES: Skyrim. Same-sex relationships are also possible in the Bioware games Mass Effect and Dragon Age. However, those games have been out for a while, and the same-sex marriage issue was debated at great length, particularly around the release of Dragon Age. If someone takes on this topic, it's vital to start with *thorough* online research to make sure the angle used is a new one, and not one that's been done to death already. – Monique10 years ago
Gold farming is a phenomenon in massively multiplayer online games where players will sell in-game gold for real life money. Despite being against the rules dictated in most games, this still occurs in almost every game – most gold farmers are actually teens from countries like China and India where they work to barely support their families. This article could discuss the culture behind gold farming from the perspective of Western and Eastern players as well as the evolving human right issues involving it. For the Win by Cory Doctorov and In Real Life by Cory Doctorov and Jen Wang are both sources of inspiration and information that could be used.
Actually a very interesting topic given how much online games have expanded. Discussing through perspectives of all players could be good and showing how it affects the economy for certain areas (Given it's popularity) and maybe go into how it's popular? Perhaps links between the perspective of MMO players (From anywhere) and how it leads to gold farming. Lisa Nakamura did a good article about the racialization of Chinese farmers in WoW and how new racial stereotypes develop through the online worlds. Lisa's article is a different subject matter but could be useful with citations and various development on what the perspective of players are when it comes to MMO's – Xzephyr10 years ago
Assassin's Creed is a very popular gaming series. When the original series ended (before Black Flag and the subsequent games were released) the stark difference was drawn? Which Assassin is better? Ezio Auditore or Al Tair ibn Lahad. By better which one gets more press, which one symbolizes the Assassin's Creed most, and which one was perhaps more skilled?
By Assassin's Creed, the actual creed, we mean of course the way Machiavelli and Ezio put it.
Where other men blindly follow the truth, Remember, 'nothing is true' Where other men are limited by morality or law, Remember, 'everything is permitted.' 'We work in the dark to serve the light.' We are assassins.
I think it is almost unfair to determine who gets more press. Ezio was the star of 3 AC games and AC2 is a universal favourite of the series. Naturally, Ezio will garner more attention and symbolize the series given that circumstance. It might not be beneficial to verse them against each other given that fact as well. It might be more rewarding to analyze how each character contributes to the Creed and the series in their own way. – Lexzie10 years ago
I agree with lexzie, also remember fans spent much more time with Ezio. – fchery10 years ago
I agree with Lexzie and fchery, though I ended up liking Altair more than Ezio.... for some reason. This comparison, however, is limited to what we are exposed to... ironically what we are "permitted" to see. Altair's greatness and embodiment of the creed is only limited to AC, Altair Chronicles on PSP... which limits what one can say about him... – Jill10 years ago
Ezio and Altair are similar characters because they both were cocky hotshots driven by personal motivations who developed into wise mentors of the Brotherhood. The question of most skilled is tricky because Ezio (arguably) accomplished more, but also had more to work with; he had a larger organization, better weapons, and more games to achieve his ends than Altair. – PaulMiller9 years ago
A commonly seen argument on the internet and when talking to self-described music fans is the idea that one cannot become a real fan of a band or a song if they came to it from a rhythm game. An expose into this idea would be interesting to see. Looking at how the engagement with the music through the rhythmic game play may or may not deepen one's relationship with the music as well as looking into what these people really mean when they say the words, a real fan.
Why are many leaders in today's institutions so concerned with making games serious. The industry is massively successful and has created many millionaires. No other industry has had to deal with its academic counterpart in such a stand-offish way. Many academics it seems want to apologize for the industries success and focus their students on the smaller parts of the industry and seem to think that fun equals immaturity.
While I understand what you're saying, I've yet to hear an authority on game design make any distinction as silly as "fun = immaturity". I'm also not sure what being financially successful and exploring mature themes have in common with each other. Please give something for us to work with. This isn't a platform to write an article about baseless claims. – Austin10 years ago
I too have not heard anyone saying that fun is immaturity. I think it would be good if you used a source for your claim. – SpectreWriter10 years ago
Fun is immature isn't something that is overly stated its more of a mindset that I have noticed as an academic. This is a topic that needs a more even handed voice than my own as I may be jaded to this topic. I was hoping that other people involved in academia choose flesh this out. So I must give a better example of what I'm implying. In some institutions many times departments will speak of their game design programs and quickly point to the research in serious games that they are doing. It is as if they are saying the fun stuff is just a cover for real work. I didn't mean to imply that these words were actually said it's just a mindset that I have seen and been around and tried to convey quickly perhaps to quickly. This mindset is usually not carried by professors in the feels but by deans and vice presidents. The reason why the financial state of games matter is because no other successful industry has an academic branch that tries to distance itself from then as much as games (opinion not a hard fact). Perhaps the topic should have been called games finding legitimacy in academia on there own merit. As I said while I can speak on my own stories about this topic as evidence, being invited to to the forum because of my positon as a game design professor, I thought that other academics could provide their take on it.
Certainly it isn't baseless to see that literature is more respected in all its forms than games are with one prevailing bias ( but by whom) being games are for children. This old mindset is changing slowly but there is still that apologetic we do real research too when speaking to non game designers.
– fchery10 years ago
I apologize, I typed on my phone which visually made it look like my last note was in paragraph form, seems I can't edit after its been submited. – fchery10 years ago
Maybe it's the fact the overriding emotional response from games is fun and that is all people in the lay public or other fields see it is capable of. As such encouraging the development of other responses a game can elicit is part of the broader goal of not letting games be limited to such narrow categorizations. – rj2n10 years ago
I'm having a hard time understanding what you said in your post, fchery. I'll work with what I can get though.
I agree with rj2n, and would like to add something else. All media have had to work their way into formal prestige. Books have been in existence for centuries, and literacy was something achieved only by the wealthy and powerful since the advent of written language, and even after the spread of literacy, many stories of grandeur and philosophical challenges were written, stories that accredit the medium and justify its classification as art. Film wasn't considered an art form until roughly 20 years after the inception of the medium, and that was through a film that explored the moral dilemmas of its characters. There are reasons that make these media academically prestigious, which you recognize, and those reasons form a standard that hasn't been met by games consistently yet, though I'd argue that we've made huge progress over the past decade. So, it makes sense that your fellow academics, who are *interested in games* strive to make games a medium that has the respect of their fellow academics. How do they do that? They give their students, who are the ones who will make future games, the tools and experience to make games that allow academic leaders acknowledge the fact that game can be art. This also goes with the fact that what's "fun" is often arbitrary, innate, and personal. It's not hard to make a fun game for a subset of people, and it's also hard to teach what is fun without devoting yourself to research that'll most likely be obsolete in a few years. So, what to teach instead? Formal education, one based in liberal arts and science such as psychology and philosophy, stuff that's been around for ages and will always be practical to teach when dealing with media.
tl;dr: academics teach and strive for formality because it is in their best interests AS ACADEMICS to do so – Austin10 years ago
I think your starting to understand the position. If I could some it up quicker. Videogames are multidisciplinary. Instead of utilizing the best people from different disciplines one thing that occurs often is a school decides it will focus on computer science in games or the effects of games. Very few have a holistic approach our a good understanding of the industry and what they need to train students to do to get into the field. This is also something I've heard from animation facilities, that they see good experimental at animations from some colleges but the students don't understand production workflow add some even lack basic skills used everyday in studios. The school answered this by hiring another person who past their rigorous interview which mostly dealt with mute experimental animation and their process. One would think the process they were looking for would match what commercial studios were looking for but that still east the case. I gues another way to look at the wuestion as I've seen this phenomenon in at classes as well. Why are some schools less inclined to train people practical skills that industry wants, focusing on the liberal at and humanities side of creativity without showing students the basics and explaining them in detail. If compared to engineering, it would be like speaking of high concepts and asking student to think of big revolutionary thought while only giving them little to know information about the laws of physics or the manufacturing process. – fchery10 years ago
A serious game has a decent story, breathtaking art, and wonderful music. It plays with imagery, literary devices, metaphors, and strong themes. Example, Final Fantasy XIII. Who cares if some of the gameplay is anstrengend(stressful). That's what youtube cutscene films are for. Now sometimes gameplay will make a game unfun if not done correctly. I think games should focus on excellent gameplay but story for me is key. – Starvix Draxon9 years ago
Could you please let us know where your statistics are coming from? – T. Palomino2 years ago
Nope, I quickly came to understand that no one at artifice was playing in field as me. But I have a long history in academia and came to discover the answer is of course money and funding, NSF,DOD,DOE. That's the data, follow the money. – fchery2 years ago
