game: politics

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Week 20, 2012
Joensuu, Finland

In this year, due to presidential elections which will affect me directly, I have been following, closer than usual, different political agendas in Europe and American continents. To be informed is our right and responsibility as citizens. However the game of politics is, for me, very complex.

A common denominators emerged across countries, which I would consider game components:

  • Population: require education in different subjects including politics, in addition to have critical thinking skills. Their aim is to decide which politicians will organize them by representing them. The education level of the population determines the degree of freedom that the politicians will have. Consequently, as less educated is the population, politicians know they can manipulate easily the information and avoid the creation of constructive analysis over political and economical decisions that sooner or later will affect each member of the population, i.e. each individual.
  • Politicians: in theory they are part of the population, and their aim is to help the population to be organized.  However most of the politicians seem to be affected by some kind of virus called power. According to the culture, the politicians might be more immune to the virus than others. As more infected the politicians are the more they will utilize the population to fulfil their personal agenda neglecting their aim to organize the population. The worst case scenario is when the politicians are highly infected by the virus and the population is no-educated.  However, what most of the politicians have in common is: they believe their own words, at least apparently.
  • Discourse and Strategies: the mechanics of the politics. I would say this should be the most interesting part of the game. Nowadays, it seems in danger of extinction.

Politics is a difficult game, which all of us has to live at some level, we want it or not. *sight*

 Note: this post has not the same agenda than Ian Bogost approach to persuasive games. Persuasive games might complement this post in the sense that digital games with a political agenda belong to a big game of politics. I find Bogost’s analysis and arguments interesting and, honestly, some of them I am still digesting. Nonetheless, the purpose to write this post is: to express my wonder about the meta game of politics, and my concern is the lack of education on the topic.

politics game

politics game

Photos source: from the Journalist Foundation

 

bowling

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Week 18, 2012
Joensuu, Finland

Last Friday, April 28th, I was completely desperate. It was my third week sick and I was feeling trapped, tired, in need of exercise, frustrated, aghrrr…. In few words, everything was in dissonance and out of control.

From the blue, I got the impulse to go bowling.  That is it.  I told to Mikko, if he would join me and he accepted 😉

Luckily, the bowling place had a table for us available. The fact to get the 8 or 12 kg ball in my hands, focus on the ten-pin and throw the ball made me good.

We played for one hour. Actually that was a surprise for me because I thought we paid one line and at the end we played 3. We were lucky! The bowling place was full, despite the photo showing the opposite. I guess we were all playing and finalizing at the same time. I guess there was an event or a training hour because you could see several good players. Maybe it is normal to find good players in Joensuu, one reason to go back to check this out 😉

The reason for me to post this is what I share with Mikko after the game, which I found a rich and relevant experience. Let me explain. At the end of the session I asked to him about the game session. I was particular curious on his answer, not only because I care, but I knew he had played bowling on digital games and he likes it, and this one was the first time he was playing bowling in the physical world.

Now, this should not be surprising. From my perspective, the probabilty to find individuals who experience an activity first in the virtuality and second in the physical world is and will be increasing.  Hence, I wonder, if the reference point of our world somehow differs from those individuals who experience first the physical world and second the virtuality. Anyway, I might write later about this more seriously, but this time was my first time experiencing this too.

The answer was really precise, and full of truth: It feels real and the background noise is changing 😉

At the end, a crazy day finalized being a very nice one!

Thank you!

Bowling in Joensuu

Bowling in Joensuu

peer review

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Week 18, 2012
Joensuu, Finland

In Mach, while giving the game design course, I was a student too of a Paper Reviewing Workshop organized by some active members of TEL.

The workshop was very good. I can report that I learn. Also it called my attention that we were active during the course despite that all the participants were spread all over the world. Yes, the workshop was on-line.

Screenshot of one of my sessions at the peer review workshop

Screenshot of one of my sessions at the peer review workshop

 

Let me clarify, in the past I reviewed some conference papers, however I felt something was missing in my reviews.

I admit that one is constantly learning about one’s area of expertise while doing research. One can offer constructive criticism towards one’s work and the work of others when we write together.  Additionally, one can be critical reader of colleagues’ work before they submit their manuscript, so one is somehow a pre-reviewer.  Finally, I have learned A LOT from the feedback of those reviewers who had  examine my work, despite to be painful to read sometimes.

So, what can one learn from a workshop about peer review process?

In my case, to make explicit what we know or assume tacitly. The process is the learning experience in itself, to share with others and to hear the advices from experts in this specific topic is priceless.

Last week I review some papers, and I sense that my confidence level as a reviewer has increased after the workshop. Consequently, I assumed that my performance a reviewer has improved too. There is also space for improvement, specially with practice. But I want to thank  the organizers of the workshop! as well as the expositors and colleges with whom I discussed.

To close this post, I share a presentation from Marco Kalz which I honestly like and might be useful for others as well.

Peer review – Why does it matter for your academic career?

View more PowerPoint from Marco Kalz

summary of april

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Week 17, 2012
Joensuu, Finland

Much has happened since the last time I posted. Five highlights will give an idea of life events:

  •  I read and graded over 250 essays =  WOW!

A big work and huge learning experience too, I confess.

  • I got my first pre-examinator’s feedback

Even Erkki called me from Mozambique to help me to digest the good news. Honestly, still I cannot believe how good the feedback is.  WOW!

  •  I was at the role-playing seminar and a huge nordic role-playing event.

That was a learning experience, and as always when I am with people from game studies I finish EXHAUSTED!

  •  I got sick

Started in Wednesday April 11th  :/  Last week was the worst week in a long time: constant fever, coughing, headaches, running nose, lost my voice, sore throat.   Yes, I am in quarantine. *sight*

  • We got the winners from the world-wide short film competition

Invite you to see the videos 😉

 

and, there is more but I must start writing proper posts again.

Meanwhile, focusing on getting well!

 

árbol de la vida

árbol de la vida

Source photo: árbol de la vida (tree of life) 

game design course (part 2)

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Week 13, 2012
Joensuu, Finland

It is amazing how fast March flew away. The last lecture of my game design course was today. Still I have two exercise sessions next week, and to finalize to qualify A LOT of essays from the participants. However, I feel the cycle of an important personal challenge is closing. I never though I could be a teacher, or instructor…. still the word sounds strange to me. 🙂 Even less I would have though I could enjoy to be an instructor, but I did.

In brief I can say that in this month:

  • My perception of teachers change. In earlier times, my opinion was fundamentally of a demanding student. Now, my opinion evolved because I was the instructor.  Teaching is not easy.  So, I confirm: it is easy to criticize, but once you have to do the things you were criticizing, one’s perception and understanding of the same event evolves. It seems to happen every single time.
  • I have the best group one can have for my first attempt as a teacher. I learn a lot from the participants of my course in different directions and topics.  I want to give them a big thank you! 🙂
  • To be a teacher is more demanding than I though it will be. I am tired. Simultaneously, I have a special fulfill feeling. I did my best in a challenging and new activity and I enjoy it. I had fun. Teaching is paradoxical, yes! 🙂 Cool!
  • Without any question, since I start to conceptualize the course I start to learn.  The whole process to exteriorize what you have learned is an intense learning experience in itself. In addition, I am aware I haven’t given justice to all the thinkers I have learned from…. yes, still is much to learn.

I hope most of the participants of the course also feel they learn something. Well the aim of the course was clear:

  • Discover something new in reference to game design
  • Do your best and take a learning experience in game design.

My interest was to make us wonder. Yes, I was included 🙂 . Thinking is a personal process. However, sharing ideas and reflections helps us to wonder and stimulate our thinking process. Additionally, designing is so stimulating, so…. I am happy!

One of the specific challenges to give lectures in UEF in computer science is: the group is divided in two campuses. Some participants are in Kuopio while others are in Joensuu and the connection is via a video. That is challenging! because it is not 100% face to face neither 100% blended learning neither 100% distance learning.  So, to promote interaction in class is harder than usual. However, I am so proud of the participants of my course because they did great. Today in special, we have presentations in Kuopio and Joensuu, and they really interact with each other (as you see on the photos below). I am so proud of my group!

 

Last day presentations (1)

Last day presentations (1)

Last day presentations (2)

Last day presentations (1)