Author Archives: Lauren
Exhibit Contribution #2
For some reason (probably because we are all on the site at the same time), nothing I try to add to The Portal Exhibit is showing up! Very frustrating. So, I am going to put what I wrote on here to … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Portal
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Possible Exhibits
My group thought that it would be kind of cool to arrange the exhibits in a manner similar to the gameplay of Portal. So, consistent with the 19 Test Chambers of the game, I tried to come up with 19 … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Portal
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Response to ‘Portal and Gender’
I agree that the fact that both Chell and GLaDOS are female is irrelevant to gameplay. I think the creators of Portal wanted to make a puzzle game, so they came up with the different levels and challenges, and then … Continue reading
Posted in Respondents
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Pros v. Joes
Novice players are typically new to a game or system, so most of their time spent playing is centered on learning the game mechanics and exploration. They may or may not have a serious interest in the game, and they … Continue reading
Posted in In-Class
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The Art of Video Games
I realize that this post is a bit early, but I really wanted to share this link! After reading the New York Times article about the video game canon, I decided to do a little research. I went to the joystiq … Continue reading
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Games+Gore=?
Although he declined to talk about it, Galloway made reference to the “Columbine theory” in his chapter on Social Realism. He defined it quite simply: games plus gore equals psychotic behavior. This topic is also addressed by Simon Penny in … Continue reading
Posted in First Readers
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In Response to “Tomb Raider”
Although Schleiner used more intense words to describe Lara Croft than I would myself (see Rebecca’s post), I generally agree with what she had to say about this character. I think that Lara Croft’s body was made to appeal to … Continue reading
Posted in Respondents
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Pac-Txt
What do you get when you mix the classic arcade game, Pacman, with the interactive fiction style of gaming? Pac-Txt! After a little bit of searching around, I found this text-based version of Pacman. I have played it for a little while … Continue reading
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Questions on Sound
Before reading Whalen’s article on music in videogames, I did not give much thought to the music I hear while playing a game. I knew that certain beats, tempos, and rhythms elicited certain emotions in me, like fear, happiness, and … Continue reading
Posted in First Readers
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Response to ‘Nintendo and Marketing’
When I think of my childhood, certain things stand out in my mind: the Easy Bake oven, Legends of the Hidden Temple, and Playdough. However, my predominant memory is that of the Nintendo. Beginning with the original console, my family … Continue reading
Posted in Respondents
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The Uncanny Valley
After class on Tuesday, I was puzzled by our discussion on Lara Croft and her…ehem…bodily proportions. So, in an effort to understand why this matters so much to some people, I started looking for pertinent articles. Thus, the reason for … Continue reading
Posted in Links
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2/1 – Lauren Stephens (First Reader)
If play is such a “waste of time, energy, ingenuity, skill, and money”, as Caillois suggests, then what motivates people to play? Is it purely for leisure purposes, or are they seeking something else? Both Caillois and Koster believe that … Continue reading
Posted in First Readers
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