Workshop

Workshop: History and culture through traditional games

Elradia Suliman — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:33:08 +0000

Workshop: History and culture through traditional games Elradia Suliman Wed, 11/08/2023 - 14:33

Please note that this is an in-person event at the Games Institute , EC1 at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. Online participation may be accommodated for individuals with accessibility requirements, however, the workshop is designed for an in-person audience. Please reach out to the Games Institute (games.institute@uwaterloo.ca) if you would like to discuss the online option.

This workshop hosted by Dallas Squire of Onkwehonwe Games offers participants the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the people of the Six Nations (also called Haudenosaunee) through Traditional Games. Interactive and hands-on, their approach to teaching is indigenous in its foundation. While learning about traditional games of the Six Nations of the Grand River, participants will simultaneously be learning about and experiencing local First Nations culture. In Kanyen'keha Onkwehonwe translates to ‘the original or first people’. The traditional way of many Onkwehonwe is to live in harmony with Mother Earth. Living in this good way requires a balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Games were and are still used as a way to stay healthy and connected to a person’s community. Six Nations traditional games are used to enhance individual and team skills, as well as create sportsmanship, connection and laughter.

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.

Register with Shopify! Please note there is a nominal participation fee ($5) associated with this event, however, Black and Indigenous students are invited free-of-charge with code GAMES2023 to be used at check-out. This nominal fee helps supplement the cost of workshop materials, particularly Indigenous games construction kits.

Speaker Bio:

Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk), Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River, Dallas Squire owner and operator of Onkwehonwe Games is our main program facilitator. A former professional Lacrosse player Dallas has been sharing culture and games for over a decade. Creating a safe and positive environment for learning Dallas encourages participants to experience the culture through traditional games and storytelling. Over the past several years Onkwehonwe Games has been able to expand its reach across Ontario and beyond.

Emerging Voices in Asian/ American Game Studies

Elradia Suliman — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 19:21:51 +0000

Emerging Voices in Asian/ American Game Studies Elradia Suliman Wed, 11/08/2023 - 14:21

This panel highlights emerging scholars in Asian/American games studies. Panelists will present recent and/or ongoing work, sharing a glimpse of the emerging research questions animating the field. Topics include He’s analysis of NPC discourse, particularly the phenomena of NPC streaming, as an Asiatic form, Ganzon’s examination of Filipino political activism in digital games that extend public and community spaces, and Howard’s inquiry on 'region locking' in online games as racial practices.

Register with Eventbrite!

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 Bios:

Sarah Christina Ganzon, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Gaming, Media and Communication at Simon Fraser University. Her research revolves mostly around the areas of game studies and digital fandoms. Recently, she finished her thesis on otome games in English, and otome game players. She holds a PhD in Communication Studies at Concordia University and an MA in English Literature from Cardiff University. Prior to starting her doctorate, she taught courses in literature and the humanities at the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University.

Huan He, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. Recently, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan’s Digital Studies Institute. His research engages Asian/American literature and culture, digital studies, and critical game studies. Currently titled The Racial Interface, his book project examines the racial associations linking Asian Americans and information technologies. His research appears / is forthcoming in Configurations, College Literature: A Journal of Critical Literary Studies, Media-N and an anthology on Asian American game studies. He also writes poetry, which can be found in Poetry, Sewanee Review, A Public Space, Beloit Poetry Journal, and elsewhere.

Matthew Jungsuk Howard, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at Loyola University, Chicago's School of Communication. He writes "gyopo media histories" that explore the intertwinement of the "Korean Wave" of globalized circulation of South Korean popular culture and peninsular diasporas, particularly in North America. He is particularly interested in the media-cultural histories of race, ethnicity, and nationality. When he is not spoiling all of our favorite entertainment forms, Matt can be found chasing his step-pug Morty around the house, sneaking treats to his baby conure, Jennie, and withering under Goober the Cat's disdainful gaze.

The Psychology of Fun and Frustration

Elradia Suliman — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:41:44 +0000

The Psychology of Fun and Frustration Elradia Suliman Fri, 10/06/2023 - 11:41

An enduring appeal of interactive entertainment media such as video games is that they invite the user to co-create the on-screen experience. More than an invitation, these experiences demand near-constant attention from players—and do so on myriad dimensions, including cognitive (problem-solving), emotional (affective reactions), apparatus (control or interface intuitiveness), exertional (physical activity) and social (attending to social agents). Individually and combined, these sources of demand are mediators for understanding the relationship between formal features of interactive media and intended (or unintended) outcomes of usage. This presentation will present and review an interactivity-as-demand model based on prior and ongoing research into video games and virtual reality technologies, with specific implications for game design and player psychology.

Register with Eventbrite!

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.

Speaker:

Nick Bowman (PhD, Michigan State University) is an Associate Professor of Emerging Media at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. His research focuses on the uses and effects of interactive and immersive media, with specific interests in social media, video games, and metaverse technologies. He has published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts and co-authored more than 200 competitively selected conference presentations. He is the editor of Journal of Media Psychology and associate editor for Technology, Mind, and Behavior. Recently, he completed a term as the Fulbright Taiwan Wu Jing-Jyi Arts & Culture Fellow and the National Chengchi University in Taipei, where he was researching the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social demands of virtual reality experiences, including video gaming and digital advertising campaigns. He is a lifelong gamer, part-time mechanic, and an excited-yet-skeptical futurist.

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.

Register with Eventbrite!

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.

WINTER 2023 Global Game Jam

Emma Vossen — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 16:10:11 +0000

WINTER 2023 Global Game Jam Emma Vossen Mon, 01/09/2023 - 11:10

On February 2nd- February 5th, 2023, join us for the GLOBAL GAME JAM! Build a game with your team, join a thriving community & have lots of fun over the weekend!

WINTER 2023 Global Jam

Start: Time TBD, Thursday, February 2nd

End: Time TBD, Sunday, February 5th

To take part in the Game Jam, sign up:
In Person - on the University Page
Online - on Eventbrite!

The ��ݮ��Ƶ Game Jam event is an event for game makers of all ages and abilities, and has an equal focus on art, design, and playability! Partnering with the global game jam we are one of the hundreds of sites around the world jamming together. Throughout the weekend, you can work to take your game idea from dream to playable. Mentors from the Games Institute will be giving talks and tutorials about how to brainstorm, prototype, and develop your own games. Starting with paper prototypes and game concepts, the GI mentors will help you discover the world of games outside of ‌programming, from game mechanics, to narrative, and artwork.

Please see the GI Jam page for more details and a tenative schedule.

Games, Aging and Health: Networking, Social, and Learning (hybrid event)

Emma Vossen — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:27:56 +0000

Games, Aging and Health: Networking, Social, and Learning (hybrid event) Emma Vossen Wed, 11/09/2022 - 14:27

The Games Institute and AGE-WELL are hosting a networking event to foster a community of innovative aging research to learn about projects, ideas, and interests in how games, technology, and health can support aging people living well. A half-day event will include presentations from experts in aging research and serious game design, a chance to learn about AGE-WELL funding opportunities for emerging researchers, and a chance to gain connections during game demos at the end of the event.

Try games designed for cognitive rehabilitation social engagement and more!

Learn about what games, health, and older adults all have in common!

Masks will be required.

Registration Required.

Fall 2022 Games Institute Game Jam

Emma Vossen — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:52:51 +0000

Fall 2022 Games Institute Game Jam Emma Vossen Mon, 09/12/2022 - 10:52

From September 29th-October 2nd, 2022, build a game with your team, join a thriving community & have lots of fun!

If you have questions not answered by the FAQ, please reach out to current Game Jam captain(s) Alexander (aekglover@uwaterloo.ca) for more details.

Start: 6pm, Thursday, September 28th

End: 4pm, Sunday, October 2nd

To take part in the Game Jam, sign up on Eventbrite!

The ��ݮ��Ƶ Game Jam event is an event for game makers of all ages and abilities, and has an equal focus on art, design, and playability!

Throughout the weekend, you can work to take your game idea from dream to playable.

Mentors from the Games Institute will be giving talks and tutorials about how to brainstorm, prototype, and develop your own games.

Starting with paper prototypes and game concepts, the GI mentors will help you discover the world of games outside of ‌programming, from game mechanics, to narrative, and artwork.

Tentative Schedule

Thursday, September 29th:

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Team building event: join in for a team-building activity to find teammates for the game jam, if you entered without a team or are looking for additional teammates.

Friday, September 30th:

6:00 pm to 6:30 pm - Opening ceremonies, game jam theme reveal!

6:30 pm to 7:00 pm - Team building round 2

8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Intro to Unity and Version Control

Saturday, October 1st:

12:30 pm to 1:30pm - Lunch and Keynote Speakers: Former UW students and current games industry professionals talk about their experiences entering and working in the industry, and answer your questions.

Sunday, October 2nd:

2:30 - Submissions deadline

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Games Showcase, Closing remarks

Celebrate finishing the Game Jam!

In-Person

On Eventbrite select the “In-Person” ticket option.

The event will consist of a combination of supervised and unsupervised jamming time in addition to in-person speakers and final game presentations and playing!

As we are hosted by the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ we will be following University health and safety policies. If you have questions or would like updates closer to the date please contact the event organizers.

Online

On Eventbrite select the “Online” ticket option.

We aim to provide a fun and entertaining experience for those jammers who wish to attend virtually through our discord community and live-streamed events/presentations. Additional information will be sent out with discord information closer to the date of the event.

FAQ

Should I choose online or in-person?

We encourage you to choose the format that you feel comfortable attending, but highly recommend the in-person attendance option as we believe the atmosphere and experience provide a great contrast to the past few years of jamming at U��ݮ��Ƶ. We are working to make both options a positive experience and fun for all.

Where does the game jam happen and is there parking available for the event?

The Jam will be happening online and at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. Parking is available on campus paid on Thursday & Friday, and free on the weekends. Additional information on parking and room locations will be sent out to participants closer to the date.

Do I need to be an expert game developer?

Absolutely not! ��ݮ��Ƶ Game Jam is all about having fun and learning about games! If you’ve ever played a game of Monopoly, Charades, or Super Mario, you can make your own game!

Our advice: Keep it simple and focus on creating something fun! Start with what you know/like and remix from there!

There is so much more that goes into games other than coding and programing. You can create a simple game mechanic, some artwork, the game's narrative and characters, rather than an entire game itself.

What about adding a ‘shareholder’ mechanic to Monopoly? Or adding sheep-stealing alien invaders to Settlers of Catan? How about making a bizarro version of Pong where players control the ball instead of the paddles? Or a tablet version of Twister for your fingers? Or a multiplayer version of QWOP? Or a platform game where you race against a rainbow?

The possibilities are endless, so no matter what your gaming experience, all you need is an open mind!

Will everyone be working on their own game?

We encourage participants to form teams for the event. You’re free to go lone wolf, but it’s been our experience that working in teams helps round out a group’s collective experience. Don’t worry if you aren’t able to put a crew together beforehand either, we’ll be helping people team up at the start of the jam too.

In fact, some of our most successful games have come from teams that had never met prior to their first Game Jam!

Are there any recommended tools I should consider to help with making games?

Using the right tools can save a lot of time when tinkering and prototyping new game ideas. Below are some sample tools we recommend at the Games Institute and what’s even better, most of them are FREE!

For analog board games and party games, nothing beats good old pencil and paper! We also try to have some cardboard, clay, and tape on hand.

For video games, the recommended tools are a little more new-school and diverse:

Engines and Editors

Unity and GameMaker are excellent game engines and editors in one.

Tiled map editor is great for grid based (including isomatric) map creation.

Visual

GIMP and Inkscape are popular image editing programs (for raster and vector graphics respectively.)

Piskel is a nifty online sprite editor.

Sound

Bfxr is a great, simple way for non-audiophiles to generate a wide variety of retro-style sound effects for use in their games. Twiddle the various knobs and experiment with combinations of basic waveforms to create as many free to use sound effects as you need.

Content Resources

Various sprite archives are also a good place to find a variety of pixel art and sprite sheets to use if you lack artistic skill. Be mindful however: many such sites feature art assets from commercial games and so are subject to appropriate copyright laws. As an example, you are typically free to use sprites of Mario or Sonic for educational purposes like the GI Jam, but you cannot use those assets in commercial games! You wouldn’t want someone ripping off and profiting from your creative work, would you?

FreeSound.org and similar websites are also a great to find more true-to-life pre-recorded sound effects. Like commercial sprites though, many of the sound effects found on these sites carry specific license restrictions. Sometimes they’re for non-commercial use only and sometimes its as simple as making sure to credit the original authors in your own games.

How many team members are allowed in one group?

There is no set limit on how large a team can be, but the recommended size is between 3-5 people.

Covid Winter Follies

Aathani Raveendran — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 15:00:18 +0000

Covid Winter Follies Aathani Raveendran Wed, 12/01/2021 - 10:00

If Big Data was Godzilla and Small Data was KingKong who do you think would win??

Whether you are on team Godzilla or team Kong come to join Feminist Think Tank (FTT) for our final Data Jam of 2021 on December 8th, 1-3 PM. We will be sharing our collection of Covid digital ephemera (memes, hashtag threads, APIs) and making a game of it to see if we can make sense of this hot mess of collection of misinformation, dark humour, and lulz!

If you have never ever worked with data or are a data analyst of the highest order - all are welcome to come play with data! (also there will be prizes!!)

Register on Eventbrite!

Data Jam - Feminist Think Tank Presents: Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Aathani Raveendran — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:10:45 +0000

Data Jam - Feminist Think Tank Presents: Everything but the Kitchen Sink Aathani Raveendran Fri, 11/19/2021 - 16:10

Abstract

This is a fun opportunity to learn more about data in a safe space! Any degree of understanding of data is welcome! In this Data Jam we will be collecting everything but the kitchen sink on your phone (of course with your permission) this will entail all things social media. Saved posts, screenshots, or liked content, from Instagram to TikTok to Twitter. This is a great chance to enter the world of data visualization! We will be going through and tagging posts while coming up with hypotheses'.

Register on Eventbrite!

Workshop on Physiological Measures for Games and VR: Novel Tools and Approaches

Pamela Maria Schmidt — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:28:27 +0000

Workshop on Physiological Measures for Games and VR: Novel Tools and Approaches Pamela Maria Schmidt Thu, 09/21/2023 - 16:28

The utilization of physiological measures in games and virtual reality (VR) has garnered significant attention in recent years. This hybrid panel covers the exploration of biometrics (or physiological measures) in game user research, driven by advancements in sensing technologies and the increased accessibility of signal processing tools. The growing body of research linking psychological states to physiological signals has further accelerated the adoption of biometric technologies by game studios and start-ups. While the application of complex biometric modalities outside of controlled laboratory settings remains limited, analyzing player frustration, learning, and flow during playtesting sessions has become more common, providing valuable insights that complement other game user experience methodologies. Participants are also required to attend the corresponding Panel Talk with Drs. Ifi Mavdirou and John E. Muñoz that will be taking place at 11:00 AM.

Register using the Eventbrite link

This event will be held IN-PERSON and has very limited spots available.

Instructor Bio:

Dr. John Muñoz is a game designer and interface technologist specialized in the use of physiological signals to optimize the user experience in interactive systems. John is currently the Chief Science Officer at J&F Alliance Group and an Adjunct Professor at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ carrying out research in the fields of physiological computing, assistive technology, human-robot interaction, and virtual reality. John has created multiple software tools and design frameworks that allow the integration of games and physiological signals on applications such as social robots, games for health, and virtual simulations for training. John has been a speaker at many international conferences on human-computer interaction and serious games and he has co-organized panels and workshops with experts in the fields of game design, human-robot interaction, and physiological computing.