Addiction seminar in Haarlem

Addiction seminar in Haarlem
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.

The panelists (pictured) discuss social responsibility issues related to alcohol problems in the PTS2007 seminar taking place today in Haarlem, The Netherlands. I find myself in this seminar to discuss the various addiction or control problem issues of digital games, virtual worlds and online gambling. A rather broad and troublesome field, but it is also interesting to test approaching game like it would be a drug, and see what we could then say about the future of ‘ludic society’ if we take games’ holding powers more seriously. And whether they should be taken seriously.

Talks in MindTrek, Lab's 15th Anniversary

Talks in MindTrek, Lab’s 15th Anniversary
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.

Zak Greant from FOO Associates is here presenting a talk in MindTrek conference, drawing broad lines into the history of communication. There is an entire track dedicated to the transformation of games from products into services. Our department, Hypermedia Laboratory is also celebrating today its 15th anniversary. A long career in new media studies. Cheers!