Talk of the Nation segment, "New Video Games Entertain and Educate"
Yesterday I was on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, discussing games about political and social issues. Here’s their blurb: Today’s video games are moving beyond violence and sports. New games provide chances to play middle-east peacemaker or solve problems regarding immigration or food safety. Ian Bogost, creator of these games, discusses why he makes games that go beyond entertainment to… read more
Burger King's Xbox games revive a forgotten genre of advertising games. From my "Persuasive Games" column at Gamasutra.
Recently Burger King released three Xbox and Xbox 360 titles featuring the creepy King mascot that has graced the companyâ??s advertising of late, as well as memorable former spokescreatures like the Subservient Chicken and Brooke Burke. The titles include Pocketbike Racer, a Mario Kart-style battle racer; Big Bumpinâ??, a collection of head-to-head bumper car games including races, battles, and hockey;… read more
The social benefit of boredom of gunplay games. From my "Persuasive Games" column at Gamasutra.
At E3 2006, the U.S. Army hosted a spectacle of military excess outside the L.A. Convention Centerâ??s South Hall, in promotion of the new Special Forces edition of their popular title Americaâ??s Army. As part of this spectacle, they offered passersby the opportunity to pose holding a large assault rifle next to a camouflaged special forces operative and a Hum-V.… read more
A riposte to the Critical Simulation section of Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Pat Harrigan's edited collection First Person
You can buy First Person: New Media as Story, Performance, and Game in print. You an also read this article with cross-references to other pieces in the volume at the electronic book review. Simon Penny discusses a specific kind of physical embodiment, having to do with corporeal coupling to simulation devices and videogame characters. Reading his call to consider the… read more