Week 8

1) In his introduction, Lovink quotes G.H. Mead who describes "Sociality" as what?

"Sociality is the capacity of being several things at once."

2) Where did Silicon Valley find inspiration in the post 9/11 reconstruction period? (two things)

It found inspiration in Google, and also the Blogging industry.

3) With tools to oversee national IP range, it is possible for countries to do two things with these technologies. What are they?

They're able to block users outside the country from viewing things, and they can prevent citizens from visiting foreign sites.

4) Lovink argues top-down considerations with Web 2.0 are less interesting than 'bottom-up' ones. What does he mean by this?

He thinks that it's more interesting to see what Netizens create with the use of Web 2.0.

5) What is the function of profiles abstracted from 'user generated content' - how is it then used?

They're then sold to advertisers as direct marketing data.

6) What is 'massification'

It is the notion that considers the pure number of people that use the internet and engage online. Because of massification, internet is strongly integrated into our society.

7) Geert Lovink describes the Internet as an 'indifferent bystander' as a revolutionary tool in the global recession. What does he mean by this?

He means that the internet is something which doesn't lend itself easily as a revolutionary tool. This is because it is easily censured by governments who don't want certain information getting out, or certain individuals expressing their opinions.

8) Lovink says that power these days is not absolute but ________ ?

Dynamic

9) "Managing complexity" is the aim of authoritarian uses of the internet such as the Great Chinese _______________?

Firewall.

10) What are "organized networks"?

They're networks intended to “set events in motion,” meaning oppose certain viewpoints and inspire change.

Wk7 Questions

1) Who invented the first computer game on the PDP1?
 Steve Russel
2) What was the name of the game?
 Spacewar
3) What was the name of Morton Helig's amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3D filmed experiences?
 The Sensorama
4) What early 1970s movie does an arcade console machine of Spacewar appear?
 Soylent Green
5) What was the name of the man who developed the first TV tennis game?
 Ralph Baer
6) Who was the man whose company Atari commercialized the idea of the arcade computer tennis game?
 Nolan Bushnell
7) What was the name of this version of the game?
 Pong
8) What are vector graphics?
 Graphics which are representative of geometric forms, points, and lines.
9) What types of games do vector graphics lend themselves to?
 Those tending to be more realistic, simulations.
10) When home computers were first made available, how did owners load games into them?
 They were loaded via cassette tape.
11) What is the name of the 1985 film in which a young Matthew Broderick starts World War III with his home computer and modem?
 War Games
12) From what sources did the designer of the Space Invaders aliens draw inspiration?
 H.G. Wells' “War of the Worlds.”
13) What is the name given to the contemporary subculture of 8 bit music made with gameboys and other 80s game technology
 Chiptunes
14) "Escape from Woomera" was a videogame which was used to draw attention to the plight of inmates at a remote detention center in desert town in what country?
Australia

Week 5

Student Name    Dan Wilbur
Today’s Date    02/02/11
Game Title Examined    Missile Command
Year of Publication    1980
game Publisher     Atari
Game Developer    Atari

1 - What is the game genre (e.g. shoot-em-up, racing, sports, puzzle, MMORPG, ‘sandbox’, music sequence following game (e.g. DDR, guitar hero)

I would classify this as an accuracy and timing based shooter.

2 -What is the type of game ‘world’ or environment (e.g. flat environment, puzzle/maze space, 3D world?)

It is a flat environment.

3 - What is the perspective taken by player (e.g first person, third person perspective, top down, isometric) in relation to main player controlled character.

It’s an isometric view.

4 - What is the actual gameplay – what does the player have to do?

The player is in control of three missile stations, and shoots the missiles in order to intercept incoming missiles that are headed towards your cities. In order to complete the level, you have to defend your cities from all of the incoming missiles.

5 - Is the gameplay intuitive? (i.e. is it easy to understand what to do without instructions?) describe.

It is incredibly intuitive. There are hardly any instructions to begin with.

6 - Is the gameplay patterned (game does the same thing over & over) or is it random (happens differently every time?)

Well, it is sort of both. The missiles always come, and there are fliers that go across the screen that bring variety to the scene. The gameplay is always the same; you shoot the missiles down before they hit your cities.

7 - What does the type of graphic approach used as well as the audio tell you about the limits of the technology at the time the game was published?

The technology was very primitive, and was incredibly limiting as to what could be displayed both audibly and visibly.

8 - Describe your views about the game from the point of view of

1. ease of play

It is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. You just need to destroy the main missiles before they break up into smaller missiles, and also you can conserve your missiles by deploying them to destroy multiple enemy missiles at once. The enemy missiles cause their own explosions too when detonated, which can start a chain reaction of explosions.

2. Enjoyability

This game is definitely a classic. However, the gameplay is incredibly repetitive, and can get old fast.

c) level of engagement/immersion

There is little to no engagement and immersion. The graphics and sounds are definitely not developed enough to bring me into the game. However, It is still fun.

9 - Had you played this game prior to this time? If so, when?

Yes, I played this on my dad’s computer in the early 90’s.

10 - what does playing the game remind you of in terms of other games/media?

It reminds me of when computers were just little babies, and DOS was king.