Seminar

The Case for Paratopian Design

Elradia Suliman — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:55:18 +0000

The Case for Paratopian Design Elradia Suliman Thu, 10/05/2023 - 14:55

What if we could make complex social and cultural questions playable? And what if we could do so through interactions with familiar digital interfaces set in alternative presents and near futures? The work I will discuss sits at the intersection between the design traditions of speculative and critical design on the one hand, and the philosophies and best practices of game design, playful media and interaction design on the other. It turns out, though, that an arranged marriage between these traditions produces unusual offspring. In this talk, grounded in examples including outsourcing religious tolerance to technological solutions, Indigenous Hawaiians undertaking space travel, matrimonial websites from the near future, and flirtatious AI chatbot therapists, I make the case for paratopian design, which is neither utopian nor dystopian, but proposes paradigm shifts that invite us to reconceptualise and reconsider the building blocks of "here" & "now".

This event is part of the “ADE for Game Communities: Enculturing Anti-Racism, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ADE) in Games Research and Creation” series from the ADE Committee of the Games Institute, University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, and is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

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This event will be held in HYBRID format. Please join us in-person at the Games Institute, EC1 at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ or virtually thorugh Microsoft Teams.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Rilla Khaled is an Associate Professor of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montréal. She directs the Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) Research Centre. Her work focuses on how playful media can improve daily life, and spans designing award-winning games, creating speculative prototypes of near-future technologies, working with BIPOC communities to materialise inclusive futures, establishing foundations for recoverable, materials-based game design research, and articulating boundaries for experimental uses of AI.

Workshop on Building Equitable and Sustainable Game Development Education

Shae Ashcroft — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 18:29:37 +0000

Workshop on Building Equitable and Sustainable Game Development Education Shae Ashcroft Tue, 08/08/2023 - 14:29

With recent waves of layoffs, high-profile workplace harassment cases, and a notoriously short career length for gender minorities and people of colour, the transition of new workers into the game industry involves navigating a spate of barriers to equity and success that have been understudied in academic research. This panel talks about "The First Three Years", an ongoing longitudinal study of graduates of game programs in Canada and the United States, following the journey of 207 students as they move into the game industry.

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This event will be held in a HYBRID format. Please join us in-person at the Games Institute, EC1 on the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ campus or online through Microsoft Teams.

Speakers:

Kenzie Gordon is a PhD Candidate in Digital Humanities and Media & Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta. Her work examines gender and violence in video games and equity issues in the game industry.

Dr. Sean Gouglas is a Professor in Digital Humanities and Co-Director of the Certificate in Computer Game Development at the University of Alberta. He conducts research on university curriculum related to video game design and study, as well as the relationship between postsecondary institutions and the video game industry. He has consulted with government on tax and investment policy as it relates to video game production and has published reports for SSHRC and HEVGA on the state of the video game industry and higher education game programs.

Dr. Alison Harvey is Associate Professor in the Communications program at Glendon College, York University. Her research and teaching focuses on issues of inclusivity and accessibility in digital culture, with an emphasis on gender and labour in digital games. She is the author of Gender, Age, and Digital Games in the Domestic Context (2015, Routledge) and Feminist Media Studies (2019, Polity). Her work has also appeared in a range of interdisciplinary journals, including New Media & Society, Games & Culture, International Journal of Cultural Studies, Feminist Media Studies, Information, Communication & Society, Social Media & Society, and Studies in Social Justice.

Vishal Sooknananl is a PhD student at Western University in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Vishal studies issues of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace with a focus on the lived experiences of marginalized and minoritized groups and subtle discrimination. This work has been focused on various workplace settings including the games industry as part of the First Three Years project. His work can be found on Scholarship@Western and https://igda.org/dss/.

Dr. Johanna Weststar is an Associate Professor in the DAN Department of Management and Organizational Studies at Western University and cross-appointed to I/O Psychology and the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. Johanna specializes in labour and employment relations with a focus on the video game industry where she is interested in issues of workplace citizenship, representation and unionization, working conditions and the labour process, project management and occupational identity. You can find her work at Scholarship@Western, igda.org/dss and GameQoL.

Dr. Jennifer Whitson (she/her) is an Associate Professor in Sociology & Legal Studies and at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. She studies the “squishy” side of software development and has been conducting ethnographic fieldwork with game developers since 2012. You can find her work at: IndieInterfaces.com, first3yearsproject.com, and jenniferwhitson.com.

Panel on Emerging Voices in Black Games Studies

Shae Ashcroft — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 18:24:12 +0000

Panel on Emerging Voices in Black Games Studies Shae Ashcroft Tue, 08/08/2023 - 14:24

This panel highlights emerging scholars in Black game studies. Panelists will present recent and/or ongoing work, sharing a glimpse of the emerging research questions animating the field. Topics include Black worldbuilding in and across games (Fletcher), perceptions of Black male exceptionalism in gaming cultures (Dashiell), and the relationship between avatar representation and Black user experience in social VR (DeVeaux).

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This event will be held in a HYBRID format. Please join us in-person at the Games Institute, EC1 on the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ campus or online through Microsoft Teams.

Speakers:

Dr. Akil Fletcher is an award-winning anthropologist and a Cotsen Postdoctoral Fellow in the Society of Fellows at Princeton University. Utilizing his research which intersects between Anthropology, African American Studies, and Game studies, Fletcher explores and teaches about the lived experiences of Black individuals in online gaming spaces.

Fletcher earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California Irvine, where he wrote his dissertation “Playing in Color: An Exploration of Black Gaming Communities and Practices,” which discussed how Black communities use digital platforms to form selfhood and relationships in gaming spaces while circumventing forms of racism and anti-Blackness in games like Final Fantasy XIV and communication platforms like Discord. In doing so, his work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of California.

Cyan DeVeaux is a 3rd year Communication Ph.D. Candidate at Stanford University. As a member of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab and Human-Computer Interaction Group, she researches the psychological, behavioral, and sociocultural implications of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Her current work explores identity, culture, and embodiment in social AR/VR. DeVeaux is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science & Engineering, and Stanford Technology & Racial Equity Graduate Fellowship.

Dr. Steven Dashiell is a visiting affiliate researcher in the Game Center of American University, and holds a PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture. Steven's work focuses on the sociology of language and the nature of discourse in male-dominated spaces, notably gaming, military, and other subcultures. He has published research regarding online discourse, gaming, and masculinity in the Journal of Men’s Studies, Sexuality & Culture, and Games & Culture, among other places.

Student Speaker Series: Speech in Human-Agent Interaction with Nima Zargham

Shae Ashcroft — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:15:50 +0000

Student Speaker Series: Speech in Human-Agent Interaction with Nima Zargham Shae Ashcroft Fri, 07/14/2023 - 15:15

Due to technological advancements, communicating with computer systems using natural language has become a casual phenomenon. Speech-based systems, like Siri or Cortana, have become widely popular among people due to their convenience. Speech interaction encompasses a social component as it reflects the fundamental human capacity for communication and enables interpersonal engagement through verbal exchange. This makes human-agent interaction an essential topic of research in the field of human-computer interaction. When trying to achieve a higher user experience with speech-based systems, it is important to have a greater focus on the application fields of personal assistants and speech-based video games. In this talk, PhD Candidate Nima Zargham will give a broad perspective on approaches when designing desirable human-agent speech interaction and discuss relevant design factors.

Speaker:

Nima Zargham is a Ph.D. student in the Digital Media Lab at the University of Bremen who is currently visiting the Games Institute. His research focuses on human-agent speech interaction.

A Panel Discussion on Games and Education

Emma Vossen — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 20:21:12 +0000

A Panel Discussion on Games and Education Emma Vossen Wed, 11/02/2022 - 16:21

Please join us at the Games Institute or virtually via Teams for a panel discussion on games and education with Drs. Jason Hawreliak (Brock University, ��ݮ��Ƶ English Language and Literature Alum), Kristina R. Llewellyn (Social Development Studies), Jennifer R. Whitson (Sociology and Legal Studies and Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business) and Steve Wilcox (University of Wilfred Laurier, ��ݮ��Ƶ English Language and Literature Alum).

How can games and virtual reality be used to improve how we teach Canadian history and other complex topics?

How is teaching game design different than teaching game studies? How are they the same?

Are educators effectively preparing students to find roles in the highly competitive games industry?

Are students who receive training to work in games finding jobs? Or are they leaving the games industry soon after they begin?

These four experts will address these questions and more during this moderated panel discussion about the state of games and education.

***Please note that in line with the new University policy masks will be required at this and all GI events***

Panelists

Dr. Jason Hawreliak is an Associate Professor of Game Studies, Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities, and Graduate Program Director of the MA in Game Studies Program at Brock University. His research examines meaning formation in video games and knowledge dissemination in Game Studies. He is the author of the book, Multimodal Semiotics and Rhetoric in Videogames (Routledge, 2019).

Dr. Kristina R. Llewellyn is a Professor of Social Development Studies at Renison University College, University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. She is a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. Her teaching and research address history, education, and equity. Dr. Llewellyn is the Director of the project Digital Oral Histories for Reconciliation: The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children History Education Initiative (www.dohr.ca) and Executive Member of the project Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future (www.thinking-historically.ca). Dr. Llewellyn is a regular commentator for local and national media on education issues.

Dr. Jennifer R. Whitson is an Associate Professor in Sociology & Legal Studies and at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. She studies the “squishy” side of software development and has been conducting ethnographic fieldwork with game developers since 2012. You can find her work at: IndieInterfaces.com, first3yearsproject.com, and jenniferwhitson.com.

Dr. Steve Wilcox is an assistant professor of game design & development, a community-based researcher, and an instructional designer. His research focuses on pro-social applications of games and play, with projects on reducing bullying in schools, equitable access to health services, and addressing family violence in Canada.

A Discussion on Health and Games

Emma Vossen — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 19:08:06 +0000

A Discussion on Health and Games Emma Vossen Mon, 06/06/2022 - 15:08

Join us on July 5th at 1:30 for a panel discussion with three Games Institute (GI) faculty members about their work in games and health. This event will be held both online and in-person and the GI. The panel will feature Dean of Health Dr. Lili Liu, Associate Professor Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan and SYDE Instructor Dr. John Muñoz.

You can register on Eventbrite now.

Dr. Lili Liu is a Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, and Dean of the Faculty of Health at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, ��ݮ��Ƶ, ON, Canada. Her research examines ways technologies can help older adults and family caregivers. Dr. Liu's research program involves partners such as Alzheimer Societies, police services, search and rescue services, and dementia advocacy and caregiver associations, nationally and internationally. Dr. Liu will be discussing her project “Feasibility and Acceptability of a Serious Mobile-Game Intervention for Older Adults.

Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Kinesiology, and the Director of the Multisensory Brain and Cognition Lab, which seeks to determine how the brain integrates multisensory information. The lab uses different techniques such as psychophysics, neuroimaging, brain stimulation, motion tracking, and virtual reality to assess cognitive function, time perception, object recognition, decision-making, and coordinated movements in the normal, injured, diseased, and aging brain. Dr Barnett-Cowan will be discussing his work in assessing multisensory integration in real and virtual environments and applications to health."

Dr. John Muñoz is a research scientist and game designer interested in using human body signals to create more "humanized" assistive technologies based on games and interactive systems. John’s research has been applied mainly in healthcare scenarios from physical activity promotion for the seniors to neurorehabilitation games for stroke patients. John has designed and co-developed a dozen videogames interfaced with physiological sensors such as brain-computer interfaces (BCI), heart rate monitors, depth cams, and wearable electromyography armbands as well as a set of software tools that to promote the synergy between physiological computing and gaming. Dr Muñoz will be discussing “Seas the Day” a VR experience on the Oculus Quest designed to improve the health of older adults.

Cap and Trade Game and Project "Postmortem" With Alex Fleck and Dr. Jason Grove

Emma Vossen — Mon, 30 May 2022 14:38:17 +0000

Cap and Trade Game and Project "Postmortem" With Alex Fleck and Dr. Jason Grove Emma Vossen Mon, 05/30/2022 - 10:38

Canadian Cap and Trade Simulation (CCTS) is a serious game/simulation designed to teach undergraduate Chemical Engineering and Environmental Studies students about carbon tax and trade systems in Canada created by PhD candidate Alex Fleck and Dr. Jason Grove.

The two will talk about the CCTS and how it works, as well as their experience in the process of game design and interdisciplinary collaboration in academia fostered by the Games Institute.

Join us for this hybrid event either in-person at the Games Institute or virtually via Microsoft Teams!

Please Register via Eventbrite!

Speaker Series Session 2: Networked Digital Identities and Communities

Sophie Valleteau De Moulliac — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:58:53 +0000

Speaker Series Session 2: Networked Digital Identities and Communities Sophie Vallete… Mon, 02/14/2022 - 15:58

Hi everyone! Join Feminist Think Tank this Wednesday (February 16th) at 5:30pm for the second event in their ♀️Networked Feminisms Speaker Series: Activist Assemblies and Digital Practices♀️

Based on the book "Networked Feminisms" edited by GI Members Drs. Shana MacDonald and Brianna Wiens, this second session will explore Networked Digital Identities and Communities, focusing on the role of digital counter publics and artifacts for fostering solidarity. Speakers include Ace J. Eckstein, Adan Jerreat-Poole, and Elizabeth Nathanson.

Networked Feminisms: Activist Assemblies and Digital Practices

Sophie Valleteau De Moulliac — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 19:59:44 +0000

Networked Feminisms: Activist Assemblies and Digital Practices Sophie Vallete… Tue, 01/25/2022 - 14:59

Join Feminist Think Tank this Thursday, January 27th at 11:00am for the first event in their Networked Feminisms Speaker Series: Activist Assemblies and Digital Practices.

Based on the book "Networked Feminisms" edited by GI Members Drs. Shana MacDonald and Brianna Wiens, the speaker series explores how feminists employ online platforms, practices, and tools to create spaces of solidarity and articulate a critical politics. This first session will focus on Conceptual Frameworks for Networked Feminism, led by Melissa Brown, Tara L. Conley, and Helene Suarez Val.

Guest Lecture: Prof. Matt Parker, NYU Game Centre

Agata Antkiewicz — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 19:14:41 +0000

Guest Lecture: Prof. Matt Parker, NYU Game Centre Agata Antkiewicz Mon, 11/29/2021 - 14:14

Bio:
Matt Parker is an Associate Professor of the Arts at the NYU Game Center, where he serves as the Area Head for Programming and is the Director of Special Projects. Professor Parker was the founder chair for IndieCade East and Chair for the festival and conference from 2013-2015. He was the lead Curator for the Game For Change conference in 2016 and 2018. In 2018 he co-founded the OpenAir Collective, a global volunteer network that empowers its members to fight climate change by advancing carbon emissions reduction and removal.

Matt is also a game designer and new media artist. His work has been displayed at the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Academy of Music, SIGGRAPH Asia, the NY Hall of Science, Museum of the Moving Image, FILE Games Rio, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, the New Zealand Festival, and many other venues. His game Lucid was a finalist in Android’s Developer Challenge 2 and his project Lumarca won the “Create the Future” prize at the World Maker Faire. He created the game Recurse for the inaugural No Quarter exhibition at the NYU Game Center. Recurse was a finalist for Indiecade 2010 and won the “Play This Now!” award at Come Out and Play 2012. In 2011 Matt was an Eyebeam Resident in 2011 and in 2018 he was selected to participate in the Princeton Atelier. He is currently serving as a Distinguished International Scholar at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.

Abstract:
As part of multiple exhibitions at the recent COP26 UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, the OpenAir Collective developed Carbon Collector, a multiplayer game that demonstrates the importance of carbon removal as an important tool in an overall climate change solution approach, as outlined in the UN's IPCC report. Developed by Professor Matt Parker and Professor Chris Chung, Carbon Collector encourages players discuss strategies for remaining within our carbon budget to stay under 1.5C. Using their phones as controllers, they vote on the appropriate allocation of resources, then, looking at the game itself on a large screen, they witness the results of their collective decisions.

This informal talk will discuss Professor Parker's journey as an artist and activist, what lead him to co-founding the OpenAir Collective, and why games are an effective way to communicate concepts that are sometimes difficult to grasp through non-interactive media.

Attendees will also get an opportunity to play Carbon Collector and provide input on feedback. Given it's success at COP26, OpenAir would like to modify Carbon Collector from a game meant for a conference atmosphere to a web based experience and would love the audience to join in a free flowing exchange of ideas on what would be helpful for a web-based version of the game.

Online event - please contact games.institute@uwaterloo.ca to request a link to the event.