mobile blog notes
DiGRA 2007 underway
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
In her opening speech Tanya Krzywinska, DiGRA President (speaking in Tokyo University Yasuda Auditorium, pictured) described this year’s games research conference as “Godzilla” — which it in a sense is; even the proceedings book is almost 900 pages! The week is well underway, and today, in one of Thursday’s last sessions I have also my own paper presentation. Continue reading “DiGRA 2007 underway”
They start it small
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
This year’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS) was bigger than ever; with its expected 180 000 visitors, 1 550 booths and 54 000 square meters of show-floor space, this is certainly as loud as games cultures get today. No moment of rest for a gamer, even if personally I’d prefer to sit down in somewhere more quiet and focus in only a game or two, rather than drifting inside a torrent of visitors past hundreds screens, demos, show sessions, all shouting over each other. But, hey — quickly taken, it was fun!
More pictures among my Flickr travel photos, see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fransmayra/1426977592/
Edit: I did read later (from The Asahi Shimbun, 29-30 Sept. weekend edition) that the total number of exhibitors was 217 and number of visitors 193 040 — wow!
Tokyo morning 1: into TGS
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
After having slept for c. 11 hours, it feels good to wake up in Tokyo. My hotel is Sheraton Miyako, a slightly older establishment that is located quite far away from the DiGRA conference location in the Shirogane district. There are a few embassies in the area and with its temples and parks, the area looks rather nice; the photo is taken from my hotel window. Today I was planning on visiting the Tokyo Game Show, if I can handle the complexities of Japanese transportation system. There are several private and state metro and railway lines in Tokyo, so getting from place to place can be some sort of challenge. But I have no other obligations today, so: off we go!
To Tokyo and Stars
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
On the road again — via Arlanda (Sweden) and Copenhagen in two jumps to the long haul, arriving (jet-lagged) in Tokyo, and new, bright day. Even if it was hard to leave Laura and our sweet little baby, I cannot really skip a DiGRA conference. Making best of it, I will take a quick course in Japanese travellers’ lore (from Lonely Planet) and spend the night/day on plane reading science fiction (The Algebraist by Ian M. banks). Here we go — jump!
GameSpace workshop
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
Our research project on games design and evaluation methodologies organised another internal workshop this week. The project is focused on the design challenges of casual, multiplayer mobile games, and this time we worked on techniques of low-fi game mechanics prototyping. More on GameSpace here: http://gamelab.uta.fi/GameSpace
New Life
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
Announcing: our firstborn baby arrived this morning. A small, thoughtful-looking boy opened its eyes to the world for the first time this morning, half past ten. Wrinkling his eyebrows, flashes of half-articulated feelings, unthought thoughts of tomorrow pass over his tiny face like quick flashes of light and shadow, clouds and the sun. New day today — a new day and a new life.
Golf Plus TSI
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
Yesterday we got the new car, VW Golf Plus TSI. It should have enough room for us for a while at least, and it is compact enough for city traffic and parking. TSI motor is small, yet quite powerful due to the double turbo/compressor solution. I particularly like the high seats and good views — also at nights: we ordered bi-xenon lights. This is also the first day of my (long overdue) holidays. Still some phone conferences and article writing stuff though, so “soft landing” into the unknown that way. Weather looks fine in Finland and tomorrow is the Midsummer festival: great!
Ilari’s graduation dinner
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
Also Ilari, Laura’s brother has now finished his studies and it was again time to celebrate, with some fine dinner and wine in Restaurant Näsinneula. The servings and the views were excellent, as usual. In the slowly rotating tower-restaurant you can follow the sun going down beyond Näsijärvi Lake, while enjoying your meal. Now we have also met Anniina’s parents which was nice.
Bumblebee house
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
My birthday present this year: a bumblebee house. With its small colony of “kontukimalainen” (wonder what that species is in English?) these busy new neighbours of us will hopefully take care of visiting all the flowers in those fruit trees and berry bushes. Search for “pörrinpesä” if you are interested in getting your own.
Graveyard walk
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
The Kalevankangas Cemetery is a beautiful and peaceful place in Tampere, but it is also filled with sad and tragic memories of war. Timo Malmi (an author and expert of local history) talks here at the grave of Lauri Viita, one of the most famous Finnish modernists, whose work was also rooted in worker-class culture and folk traditions. A quiet moment was also spent in front of the mass graves from the 1918 civil war. The walk was organised by the local professors’ association.
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