New Issue of Games and Culture Online

A new issue of Games and Culture (1 July 2006; Vol. 1, No. 3) is available online at

The below Table of Contents is available online at: http://gac.sagepub.com/content/vol1/issue3/?etoc

The Mangle of Play

Constance Steinkuehler

Games and Culture 2006;1 199-213
http://gac.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1/3/199

Restricted Play: Synergy and the Limits of Interactivity in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Video Game

Robert Alan Brookey and Paul Booth

Games and Culture 2006;1 214-230
http://gac.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1/3/214

Hybrid Reality Games Reframed: Potential Uses in Educational Contexts

Adriana de Souza e Silva and Girlie C. Delacruz

Games and Culture 2006;1 231-251
http://gac.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1/3/231

Live Action Role-Playing Games: Control, Communication, Storytelling, and MMORPG Similarities

Anders Tychsen, Michael Hitchens, Thea Brolund, and Manolya Kavakli

Games and Culture 2006;1 252-275
http://gac.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/1/3/252

ITConversations

Big Games: Large-Scale, Multi-Player, Real-World Games
Podcast by Kevin Slavin
“A Big Game might involve transforming a city into a giant board game, hundreds of players roaming the streets looking for invisible treasure, or a TV show built on real-time audience interactions.”

Serious Games
Podcast by Steven Berlin Johnson, author of Everything Bad is Good for You
“Johnson argues that judgment of video games should consider the intellectual and problem solving skills they require.”

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E3 2006 Nintendo Conference Wii Video 1

I was looking for different videos on YouTube when i found this. If you look closely you can see how the controller will work.

It will be a long time before the Wii comes out, but I think it will be great. Odd, but great.

Research!

Massively Multi-Learner: Recent advances in 3D social environments
by Livingstone, D. and Kemp, J., Computing and Information Systems Journal, School of Computing, University of Paisley, Volume 10, No 2 May 2006

Video Games: Serious Business for America’s Economy
Crandall, R. Sidak, J. G.
white paper presented at E3, May 2006

Articles of Use for Collection Development

The David Lynch of Video Games! Final Fantasy XI ; Dreamfall; Paradise
by Harold Goldberg, Village Voice 5/3/06
“Adventure games are kind of like the best of the indie film genre.”

Midway Games Unveils Video Games Based on Popular Movies
Movieweb.com 5/3/06
“Unveiling one of the most diversified and high powered lineups in company history, Midway Games Inc., a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, announced its lineup of upcoming video games.”

Upcoming Programs at Alliance Second Life Library 2.0

A Guide to Second Life for Newbie Librarians
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2006
Time: 5:00PM – 6:00PM (60 minutes)
Location: Minoa (205,85)
Host: Rain Noonan
Category: Education
Cover Charge? No

Event description: Katt Kongo, Publisher of the Metaverse Messenger will provide a brief introduction to Second Life Librarians who are new – and tips and tricks for living a Second Life. She will also take questions.The training session will be on the roof of the library.

How to Start and Run a Business in Second Life
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2006
Time: 5:00PM – 6:00PM (60 minutes)
Location: Minoa (205,85)
Host: Rain Noonan
Category: Education
Cover Charge? No

Event description: If you are interested in finding out how to run a business in Second Life, how it works, and ideas for starting one, come to this program on the roof at Alliance Second Life Library 2.0. The presenter is Katt Kongo, Publisher of the Metaverse Messenger. Everyone is welcome.

Second Life Library 2.0 Meeting

Pathfinder Linden (in the green wizard hat) called participants at tonight’s Second Life Library 2.0 meeting “pioneers” as a group of librarians met to discuss the the new in-game library. As the talk turned to publicizing our presence, Pathfinder gave great suggestions such as participating in a the current culture fair “Dreams” and installing a kiosk that links to his directory of Real Life Education Places in Second Life

After he left, committees were set up to deal with various aspects of SL such as programs, collections, staffing the reference desk, a grand opening celebration and more. Programs via OPAL, a monthly book discussion, guides on how to use the library, a donation box, roving reference, a column in the Metaverse Messenger, and a “book” mobile were just a few of the ideas tossed around.

Issues such as confidentiality, a teen space on Teen Second Life, PG appropriateness of materials and behavior, and a formal style of government for the new space were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by a local e-book vendor and an author as well as 20-25 librarians. As the discussion evolved to formal hours and training, one librarian warned “don’t build a traditional library in cyberspace – that isn’t the idea here folks,” before departing.

Complete meeting minutes should be posted over on the Second Life blog at http://secondlifelibrary.blogspot.com

Stay tuned – and the next time you are logged into Second Life, teleport over to Minoa Heights and look us up! Coordinates 200, 85, 111 puts you right outside the door.

Not Library 2.0

After
Originally uploaded by kokeshi.

Ok last Flickr post.

I found this today, and I wanted to show librarians how patrons feel about gaming in libraries

Communication Between Techies and Non-Techies–Second Life Library 2.0

The first Library 2.0 Event went extremely well. We listened to the presentation and sat chatting. I was a great event, although somewhat clunky to switch between windows.

The Next event will be Tuesday-Book Discussion Group. More information can be found at http://secondlifelibrary.blogspot.com/

Sorry I have been so silent, I am working on a Final.

Alliance Library System and OPAL to open: An Alliance of Libraries 2.0 on Second Life

Alliance Library System and OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries) – are pleased to announce that selected OPAL programs will soon be offered in the online virtual reality game Second Life. Book discussions, training sessions, and other programs will be offered to current virtual residents. The goal of the project is to promote the real library and online library services to adults who might not otherwise use the library. What is Second Life? Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by nearly 200,000 people from around the globe. There are shopping malls, events, homes, lands of different types, and best of all, participants can contribute content, buildings, and other digital creations.

“We are excited to be offering new outreach programs, events, and services to people who might not otherwise come to the library,” stated Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System. “Second Life has almost 200,000 residents and is rapidly growing in popularity. This will allow us to see what works and what does not work in this area. Second Life has malls, residential neighborhoods, online communities – why not a library?”

Alliance Library System and OPAL are teaming up to utilize the programs currently offered online to librarians and library users to extend the programs to the Second Life virtual reality game. Although there are a couple of libraries currently on Second Life, none currently offers programs or services. Alliance and OPAL will start with programs and eventually hope to offer library services.

Second Life also now has a Teen Second Life. If adult programs are successful, the group will work to offer library services in Teen Second Life. Librarians who would like to become involved and receive updates on this collaborative project can join a google group set up for the new service at http://groups.google.com/group/alliancesecondlife
Interested librarians may also contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com for an invitation to join the group.

“We invite any librarian interested in working on this exciting project to join us,” remarked Kitty Pope. “After we offer some programs, if they are successful, we will want to expand to offer additional programs and services.”

Alliance will begin Second Life programming in June 2006. Alliance Library System is a regional library system located in East Peoria, Illinois with 260 library members of all types. Alliance offers continuing education, consulting, resource sharing, and delivery service to members.