I am today, tomorrow and until Thursday participating in the MindTrek conference, first as the chair of the Games Track in Tuesday, then giving a short presentation on SoPlay project in Thursday. See the program (note two versions!) here:
Category: events
seminars, conferences, other events
J.P. Gee's lecture in Helsinki
Jim Gee is offering an interesting lecture today in Helsinki University. I wanted to hear him comment on the state of literacy and the current dilemmas the US is facing, and he did not disappoint. Games provide valuable tools for learning to understand and to handle complex systems with multiple interrelated variables. (Something that people responsible for the US economy were not apparently capable to manage.) Interesting opportunities are also opened up for future collaboration, considering that our University Alliance games & learning spearhead group will be focusing exactly on similar themes.
DiGRA 2009 CFP
The CFP for the next DiGRA conference is out — I am not sure if DiGRA site has this yet, but here is the text:
First Call for Papers
DiGRA 2009
Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory
Brunel University, West London, United Kingdom, Tuesday 1st September — Friday 4th September 2009
The South of Britain Consortium are pleased to announce the first Call for Papers for the Digital Games Research Association 2009. DiGRA is an organisation that embraces all aspects of game studies, and the conference aims to provide a diverse platform for discussion, and a lively forum for debate. We therefore welcome papers from any discipline focused on any aspect of games, play, game culture and the games industry. Continue reading “DiGRA 2009 CFP”
Gambling studies seminar, Sept 24
Next week we will be presenting core findings from our online poker player study in an expert seminar — if you are interested, contact Tellervo Nenonen (tellervo.nenonen(at)hel.fi), there might still be places in the seminar. More information: http://www.stakes.fi/FI/ajankohtaista/Tapahtumakalenteri/Tapahtuma/240908b.htm
Imaginary Japan Conference
Today I am again in Helsinki, this time participating in the Imaginary Japan Conference; see: http://sets.wordpress.com/category/imaginary-japan-conference/
Much really interesting talk about Japan, its role in the world of new media and media culture. My talk is titled “Japanese Fantasy and the East-West Dialectic”. (Pictured is Ateneum, where they have a Hokusai exhibition — much of Japan going around today!)
AVEK Award to Pia Lindman
It looks like this will be one of those 13-hour work days. But lets not complain when everything you work on is so interesting and challenging. The late-night part of today’s agenda was acting the part of award jury and handing the 2008 AVEK media art award to Pia Lindman (pictured). She is really interesting contemporary artist, with work that explores topical yet timeless themes like emotions and universal/inter-cultural communication with wit and intelligence. Congratulations! (And shame on me for not remembering to thank fellow juries Minna Tarkka and Janne Gallen-Kallela-Sirén for their crucial expertise in my short speech — my only apology is that I saw the program and realized that I would be speaking only half-an-hour before I was on the LUME main stage…) More on the event e.g. in Helsingin Sanomat and in the AVEK info bulletin.
Contextual Gaming in IR9.0
I think I have managed to successfully submit the full paper into the Internet Research 9.0 conference system (no confirmation messages, so I cannot be really sure). Here is the revised short abstract — see you all in Copenhagen!
Play in the Mobile Internet: Towards Contextual Gaming
Frans MäyräAbstract
As use of Internet from broadband-enabled mobile devices is becoming more common, studying the particular characteristics of mobile usage gains new importance. This paper discusses the role of services like Flickr and Facebook from the perspective of “contextual gaming” – the appropriation of mobile and networked media for playful purposes in a social context. Applying Roger Caillois’ distinction between paidia and ludus, the paper will introduce both free-form and improvised, as well as more rule-bound and competitive developments into playful, social media. The paper will conclude with both some criticism of the increasingly pervasive and continuous entanglement in socially charged technologies, while also welcoming the empowering and liberating potentials in this process.
Luka one year
This weekend, Luka celebrated his first birthday party. Here he’s pictured in the morning, wondering at the first (but not the last) gift package of the day. He continues to amaze us, this energetic, curious, crazy, wonderful little boy. All the best to the second year, hope it goes as well as the first one!
Art & Science Goes Kapakka
Just a quick note: I will be speaking in Helsinki, in 16th August (Saturday) in Art Goes Kapakka, science talks session, about our relationship to technology and discussing social media. For more, go to http://www.artgoeskapakka.fi/ and click “Tiede on Taidetta – Science Is Art”.
DiGRA 2009 dates and place set
Recent news from DiGRA: the next DiGRA conference will take place in the UK, in Brunel university 31st August – 4th September 2009. News post in DiGRA site is here (more will follow later this year).
frans goes blog 
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