For the past few years, the VizLab has hosted a Video Game Symposium at UMD in the spring. This year, Harbor City School, an alternative highschool in downtown Duluth is hosting a related event. My students who are working on anime or video game related projects in Digital Studio class can earn extra credit by presenting their projects on April 26 when there will be workshops, displays, presentations, and speakers.
The New York Times had an article on gender toys and Ugly Dolls this Sunday. They claim that Ugly Dolls are particularly appealing to boys.
http://parsonsillustration.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/ugly-dolls-for-boys/
Here is a website devoted to vinyl toys and a link to blank DIY toys you can buy and alter...
http://www.myplasticheart.com/c/008DIY/DIY+Corner.html
This week we wrapped up our DIGITAL PLAYLAND projects in Digital Studio 2 class.
view gallery of projects
http://www.d.umn.edu/~jrock2/digital_playland/
Students were asked to investigate recreational and playful opportunities for adults in digital culture. Some areas of interest : virtual worlds, video games, web comics, character design and toys created using digital tools.
Here's an image from Sam Pickard's project. His wacky character designs for an imagined video game are created using 3d modeling techniques.
More project ideas and reflections by students...
Digital Studio 2 students are investigating the ways that digital culture is providing recreational and playful opportunities for adults. Some areas of interest are: virtual worlds, games of various types, and toy like products created using digital tools. Students will post their favorite finds in the comments below...
(Students: please include a short description of the area of playful culture you are drawn to, a link to at least one visual example, and what you plan to explore in your own PLAYLAND project...)
Here are some ways that writers are thinking about role playing games as a literary artform:
link to essays on the Electronic Book Review:
www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/firstperson