The seminar ’Serious Simulations (for fun)’ deals with a dramatic change in the area of computer games. Computer games have throughout the past decades given us the opportunity to experience, tell stories and play in virtual, computer generated worlds. Today however, the narratives of the computer games, their laws of physics and their rule structure not only belong to the game world. Incessantly and innovatively, they reach far beyond the game universe and into reality. The computer game today is the place where we not only escape reality but also relate to reality – similar to the role of the movie in the 20th century. They have become an important part of marketing, teaching, political activism, communication and information to the public. It is the language of the future, the language for and about the reality we are living in. The game simulations are still compelling and entertaining but at the same time the fun is related to the seriousness of reality.
The seminar will focus on computer games that cross the line between fiction and reality. This could be the use of computer games in military training, in marketing, in public service and communication of political messages. Games will be demonstrated, discussed and questioned: What are we interacting with in a simulated world? What does the computer simulation do to the experience of the virtual world? How do we communicate a message in a simulation? What is the relationship between entertainment and communication? What is the role of the player when the game is no longer just a game? Are these serious games a new phenomenon or do we see examples of communicative games in the past? Can we learn from history?
The invited speakers are:
Molleindustria – An Italian team of game producers specialised in political, activist games. Producers of numerous famous games with a political agenda, amongst others: ‘Mayday Netparade, ‘McDonald’s Videogame’, ‘Tomatipico – your virtual flexworker’. www.molleindustria.org
Simon Yuill – Artist, programmer and creator of ’Spring_Alpha’, a game-based project using an open source game development as an exploration of software and social governance. The game exposes and explores the representational mechanics of gaming systems and their relationship to social models.
Gonzalo Frasca – Ph.d. student at the IT University of Copenhagen. Author of the very acknowledged blog ludology.org and of several political computer games – amongst others ’September 12th’, debating the effect of the war on terror and computer games for Howard Dean’s 2003 presidential campaign in the US. Gonzalo Frasca has also published numerous articles on game theory and the use of games in political campaigns.
Peter Sjøstedt – Researcher at The Royal Danish Defence College, The Faculty of Military Psychology, Leadership and Pedagogy. Specialised in the development of cognitive competences through advanced technology. Co-author of the report ‘Simulation Supported Education With Numerous Participants – tactical training with Steal Beasts’ (‘Simulatorstøttet uddannelse med mange deltagere - taktisk træner med Steel Beasts’)
Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen – Assistant professor, Dept. of Digital Aesthetics & Communication, IT University of Copenhagen. Ph.D on the educational potential of computer games. Has written several articles on computer games, children, education, and learning since 1997. Board member of Digital Game Research Association, co-founder of Game-Research.com, editor of Ivory tower column, and a founding member of Center for Computer Games Research Copenhagen Co-founder of the company Serious Games.
Christian Ulrik Andersen – Assistant professor, Information Studies and Multimedia, University of Aarhus. Ph.D. on ‘Aesthetic Interfaces’ – discussing how computer interaction works when the computer is not at tool but a toy. Founding member of the Digital Aesthetics Research Centre and co-organizer of read_me 2004 – software art festival. Has published articles on computer games, software art and the cultural implications of computer interaction.
