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WK 13: "All Your History are Belong to Us"

11/20/2013

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WK 12: Why Textbooks? 

11/14/2013

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Tonight we talked about texts, why they are important, and why we read and write them. The final assignment is to write as if answering a call for chapters from Springer. We covered the Word template generator and how to use it. See the post below for the links to what you need for that. Prezi is below. Since we didn't watch all the "All your History" links we may do that on a future day, but they are some of the better entries in the series available to you if you need yet more case studies or quotes for your final. Use the texts assigned for this class as a tone guide for how "am-pro" you should (not) be writing.

I promised some samples so here they are. (Springer changed their system/policy so now you need to click the "Look Inside" to see the previews I was talking about. You will note that the format is flexible, and these samples are short snips of the longer works - but all have been created within the macro that I showed you in class and you will be able to re-create the look and style of these chapters easily. Again, ignore the "cover" but feel free to include a cover sheet. No headers please! Use an industry standard byline as with D2! 
EXAMPLES: 
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/0-387-22641-9_13
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-05078-7_9
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-7908-1624-8_19
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-8299-3_11

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WK 8-11: D2 Presentations (& D3 Format)

10/17/2013

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D2 presentations are very simple - you have 15 minutes to speak and 5 minutes for question time. You are to summarize your work and research for us. Think of this as an audio-visual version of your abstract. You may not read your abstract to us, but you may break down the main points into a ppt or prezi or similar and discuss the process and CONCLUSION you came to for your thesis. The A project is the one that has a great topic, a great execution and analysis of the research, and an interesting and engaging presentation. 



FYI: I use a method I call I/E/P for grading presentations -- 1 point for standing up, 1-3 for idea, 1-3 for execution, 1-3 for presentation. (10/10 points) Great job so far! 

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FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO D3...
http://www.springer.com/authors/book+authors?SGWID=0-154102-12-970129-0

We are using the SPRINGER style guide for D3. 
Download the complete Manuscript Guidelines or Key Style Points:
Manuscript Guidelines (pdf, 430 kB)
Key Style Points (pdf, 1.3 MB               

(Note: the following is a mock-up of the TYPE of call for chapters that you might respond to IRL. It is NOT a real call for papers - but rather an assignment for ATEC 3353 at the University of Texas at Dallas.)

Final call for chapters for a new Springer book on “Game Studies” 

FORMAT:
Springer series Studies in Computational Intelligence (Springer SCI)  Indexed by DBLP, Ulrichs, SCOPUS, MathSciNet, Current Mathematica Publications, Mathematical Reviews, Zentralblatt Math: MetaPress and Springerlink.
Guest Editors:
Dr. Adam Brackin, University of Texas at Dallas
Call for Chapters
This inter- and multi-disciplinary text aims to examine, explore and critically engage with the issues and implications created by the mass use of computers and videogames for human entertainment and focus on the impact of innovative videogame titles and interfaces for human communication and ludic culture. In particular the text will encourage equally theoretical and practical juxtapositions of research which surround the cultural contexts within which videogames flourish.
Chapters are invited on any of the following themes:
1. Videogames and Gaming - Theories and Concepts of Gaming. Identifying Key Features and Issues.Videogames as Text. Videogames as Interactive Image. Multidisciplinary. Approaches to Videogame Analysis. Film, Literary, Art Studies and Cultural Studies Approaches to the Analysis of Videogames.
2. Videogame Cultures - Emerging Practices in Online and Offline Gaming. Games as Cultural Artifacts.Pervasive Gaming, Convergence and the Integration of Videogames.Videogames as Art, Fan Cultures.
3. Games and Society - Ethical Issues in Videogames, Videogame Controversy – Rating, Violence, Sex, Morality and their relation to Maturity. Videogames and Politics. Propaganda Games. Censorship.
4. Immersion and Embodiment - New Forms of Interaction, Immersion and Collaboration in Videogames. Sound, Music, Touch, and Game Space. Evolution of Gaming. The Role of Innovative Interfaces.
5. Games with Meaning? - The Relationship between Game and Gamer. Social Impact Simulations. Educational Use of Videogames. Serious Games. News and Documentary Videogames.
6. Reception, Temporality and Videogames - Player Generations. Old Originals vs. Retro games. Indie Games and Low-Tech Aesthetics. Innovations in Independent Game Movements.
Important Dates
 Chapter proposals: (only If changing your topic from D2) NEXT WEEK to adam.brackin@utdallas.edu
 First submission chapter: Final Class 
 Tentative Publication: TBD
Submission
Print only - in person final day of class (or before to ATC 2.913)  
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WK 7: Academic Topics in Games (3 Perspectives) 

10/10/2013

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WK 6: Library Research Methods

10/3/2013

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Many thanks to Matt Makowka for demystifying the UTD library system. The most important thing to remember is that if you are on campus or logged in to the library you will have full access to the library's robust database of journals and magazines. It is a bit like having access to the second half of the internet! 

If your abstract was not approved last night, have no fear! Email me your revised abstract proposal (make sure you have that clear thesis!) and I will as quickly as I can send you back an approval and/or suggest changes. You want your abstract to give you clear direction as you continue your research on the topic! 
Didn't turn one in? I know who you are so I'm expecting you to email me asap! 

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WK 5: 5 Minute Reviews

9/19/2013

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(NOTE THAT I'M POSTING THIS EARLY PER YOUR REQUEST! WEEK 4 IS BELOW AND WEEK 6 IS ON OCTOBER 2!) 

FIVE MINUTE GAME REVIEW DAY! 
No Prezi today so here is a talking cat: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxNg7ZP6E5E

Those of you who chose to record your review can send me the link and I'll post it here (if you want!)

FOR WEEK 6:  Abstract is due for D2 - details are here, hard copies will be given next week
(Note the template link below!) 

NOW: Brainstorm topics! Focus on hot issues in game studies. Topic ideas might include things like: "The structure of MMO communities," "Technology trends in consoles," "The real effects of violent games: an empirical analysis of existing studies," "Gender portrayals in single player RPG worlds," "Trending in handheld devices," "Kinesthetic input methods in games," or similar. 

***DUE WEEK 6! \/ \/ \/***                             
Write a ONE PARAGRAPH abstract due next week describing the depth and breadth of your topic for approval. Include a clearly identifiable thesis and summary of your (anticipated) research leading to a specific conclusion. (*Note: This will likely change! When it does you will rewrite it after you complete your paper and replace your early assumptions with new data in the final version you turn in. So long as your overall topic does not change you do not need to resubmit it.) *You will know if your topic has been approved by the end of next class period. 

HERE IS THE TEMPLATE FOR YOUR DOWNLOADING PLEASURE - USE THIS!!! [*FIXED 10/2/13]
https://www.dropbox.com/s/586kcl9talkr826/Game%20Studies%20D2%20Template.doc
HERE IS CHICAGO STYLE WE ARE USING - FOLLOW THIS!! 
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/16/ch14/ch14_toc.html
AN ADDITIONAL REFERENCE GUIDE FOR YOUR INTEREST AND EDIFICATION ---
https://www.dropbox.com/s/izqmzmsc3tycjj2/Chicago%20Style%20of%20Reference%202.1-2012.pdf
HERE IS THE FULL ASSIGNMENT - UNDERSTAND THIS! 

ATEC 3353 d2

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WK 4: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Sources

9/18/2013

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(Case Study: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 

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This week week we talked about Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources through the case-study of ENSLAVED - probably my all time favorite game for reasons too lengthy to cover here. The big take-away is that the type of source something is can change depending on the type of research you are doing! 

If you need more help with this topic (or were one of those who missed class this week!) I recommend reading the examples given by Yale at this link:
http://www.yale.edu/collections_collaborative/primarysources/primarysources.html

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WK 3: From Authenticity to Validity

9/11/2013

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HW: Using the search engine of your choice, start thinking about D2 and gather some choice resources for a possible D2 topic you are thinking about. Post a link to three things here: 1) A highly VALID source 2) A very AUTHENTIC source 3) A BALANCED (both) source. If you can't find all three, post a theory as to why this is.

Begin thinking about your abstract for D2 - it is put simply a paragraph (250 words) summarizing the purpose and assertion(s) of the academic topic in games you intend to research. (That will be due on Library Day which is Oct 2!) 

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WK 2: Game Reviews as Entertainment vs. Analysis

9/4/2013

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HW: D1 "Current Commercial Game Review" due date is Week 5. As you play your game, consider the tone you wish to achieve in your D1 and search for some video or text reviews of your game. You will not NEED to cite sources in your paper, but post here links to a few contemporary reviews of your game. You don't want to plagiarize, so make sure that your opinions are your own (even if they are shared by others) by doing this simple research. Don't forget - 5 minute game reviews CAN be done by recording a video and playing it to the class.

[Note to those who took ATEC 3352 in the past - the tone here is different than the D1 "Critical analysis" done for that course. This is very clearly an opinion piece with a more casual tone. The use of first person "I" is encouraged and recommended for this project unlike in the other as you may recall. No recycling!]


If you want to see more about the Yogscast, that prezi is below.
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WK 1: Why Game Studies? & Intro

8/29/2013

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HW: The first assignment is to write as though submitting to the Escapist so it is only natural that you should read some of the articles there! Here is a selection I have chosen from the same week in 2012 that all our examples were from, which illustrate well the tone you are shooting for. Read and comment here - not on the content but on the TONE of the pieces.
  • http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/9876-Slender-Review
  • http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/9863-Darksiders-II-Review
  • http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/9888-Transformers-Fall-of-Cybertron-Review

For your viewing pleasure: Intro to ALL YOUR HISTORY ARE BELONG TO US.


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