[-empyre-] culture, counter-culture and hardcore Farmville players

[Julian Kuecklich] I think it's useful to keep in mind that computer gaming itself was seen as a subculture until recently, and that some hardcore gamers are still holding on to this notion This is a very good point. Gaming culture has indeed been sub- for a very long time – subversive, even.

[-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

[Simon Biggs] All interesting. No mention though of Huizinga's work, or that of numerous related theorists, on the role of play in the formation, practice and value of cultural activities. Thanks, Simon! Huizinga is a very good reference, which had completely escaped me – probably because I

[-empyre-] Gaming Subcultures, Vol 72, Issue 25

Dear Julian and all, I am interested in the notion of “gaming subcultures”. This is not to be confused with “subversive gaming” is it? A Gaming subculture would be a subgrouping within the wider gaming culture that shares some of the values of the cultural whole and opposes others. Let me

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

It is easy to consider play as essentially gratuitous and aimless. However, is it? From a Darwinian point of view play would seem to offer advantages to those who do it. For young animals play is often the means by which they learn how to fight, hunt, mate and survive. It is a rehearsal. Well

Re: [-empyre-] Gaming Subcultures, Vol 72, Issue 25

Hi Mathias, good to see you here on empyre! I like the questions you raise (and the GTA4 anecdote), and I think this is a useful way of bringing the notion of gaming subcultures into focus. The example of GTA is also pertinent, because it is a game which supports different styles of play, and

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

I will also suggest that in some cases leisure is something that we don't relate with games...and in some specific cases, we do not know exactly when are we working or just having fun. Some projects that support the idea of serious games, developed and researched by people at UCSC are a kind of

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

Hey, folks, I am Rafael Trindade, and this is my first time at -empyre-. It's an honor, and a pleasure to be invited to this month's debate. Thank you. On the functionality of playing: I do agree with Simon Biggs. Playing is not aimless - or not essentially aimless. And we can discuss it on an

[-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

Rafael and all: Thanks for the observation that the ultimate drive is to stay within the experience. This points to a connection between video games and other immersive experiences. Think of Char Davies' early immersive VR work Osmose http://www.immersence.com/osmose, in which you had to

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

I really enjoy certain tabletop games (Settlers of Catan, Caracassonne, and Illuminati) and rarely play video games (I would, I suppose, if I owned some). But a large part of the gaming experience is intensely social. There is a circle of people that get together, students and faculty, that play

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

Hi Everyone, My name is Brock Dubbels, and I am new to this list. I appreciate being included in the conversation! I did a paper on this topic trying to explore what sustains engagement in games with a heavy emphasis on applying social learning theories on motivation and identity.

Re: [-empyre-] playing vs productivity (and what does it has to do with videogames?)

Hello everyone, My name is Ian Cofino, this is also my first time on -empyre-, thank you for including me in this conversation, I'm excited to be involved! I think that this discussion about competition and the competitive experience in association to video games directly relates to one of