Feb 5 – MIXCADE

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

MIXCADE – February 5th, 5-9 PM

 

As part of Concordia’s 2012 President’s Conference Series, “Experiencing the Media Mix: Anime, Manga, Video Games,” Concordia University’s Technoculture, Art and Games research centre (TAG), Lab Six and a Half, and Montreal’s Mount Royal Game Society have joined forces to announce MIXCADE, a showcase of the best in innovative, experimental, and cutting-edge independent games from both local and international creators.

Open to all and featuring a blend of screen-based and physical games, immersive virtual worlds and unabashedly joyous multiplayer experiences, MIXCADE offers a glimpse into an exciting future of digital games. On Sunday, February 5th from 5-9, join us in the lobby of Concordia’s Engineering and Visual Arts building for a ‘new arcade’ event that celebrates the art and culture of a vibrant global community.

For more information check out the Concordia Now page.

Look forward to our upcoming post announcing the game list at MIXCADE!

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Feb 2 – PlayPR Presentation with Ron Wakkary

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

The First PlayPR Skype/Google Hangouts of 2012 will be by Ron Wakkary and Co at SFU in Vancouver.

If you are in Montréal, come to the TAG lab in the EV building at 1515 Ste. Catherine St Ouest. 10th floor, room 730 at 15hr (3pm) on Feb 2nd.

Title : The Delight and Inevitability of Everyday Design

In this presentation, Ron Wakkary will present an overview of the work we have been doing at the Everyday Design studio at Simon Fraser University. He will touch on previous work in the area of interactive tangible museum guides (ec(h)o, socio-ec(h)o, Kurio) and of tabletop design tools for game designers (Tangiplay).

He will also present more recent work about the topic of appropriation, the use of an object in a different way than what intended by the designer(s). Our world is constantly appropriated; appropriation is part of the lifecycle of design artifacts. Our studies include everyday design studies (ethnography in the home, with a focus on actions, routines and systems), repair and reuse study (Leah Maestri’s work) and steampunk study of design fictions (combination of Do-it-yourself communities, appropriation and bricolage, with a focus on materials, techniques and practices. Work with Joshua and Karen Tanenbaum).

There will be snacks and beverages.

 

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Transformative by Design? Unpacking Serious Games for Social Change

Posted on January 14, 2012 by admin

Konstantin Mitgutsch, PhD, Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab

Friday, January 27, 2012 10-11:30 AM, EV 6.735

Once upon a time games were mainly played for enjoyment and to engage players in social, physical and cultural activities. But in the last several years a new trend of designing serious games with “serious purposes” arose. These games claim to raise awareness about social and political issues such as inequity, injustice, poverty, racism, sexism, exploitation, oppression, teach about global problems, and reach specific purposes beyond pure entertainment. Some of these games even aim at changing the world. But what are the specific attributes of serious games? Do these games really have an impact on their players? And what insights do we have about the limits and potentials of serious games to transform their players?

In this talk I will focus on the questions of what serious games are, what their potential might be and where they reach their instructional limit. From an educational point of view the theoretical basis behind the term “serious games” will be introduced and the narrative behind “games for change” will be deconstructed. In addition to that, limits and potentials of serious games and their design will be exemplified and empirical findings about serious games and their impact will be discussed. Finally, future challenges and best practice examples will be highlighted.

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5a7 Symposium next week

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Carolyn

The first 5a7 Symposium for 2012 will be held next week, January 11th. So far there are no presentations scheduled, however we’ll take a few minutes near the beginning to collect ideas, suggestions, and/or triumphant visions for the upcoming year.

Where: Technoculture, Art, and Games (TAG) LAB, EV 11.425, Corner of Guy and St. Catherine O.
When: Wednesday, January 11, 5pm-7pm
Who: Anyone is welcome, please feel free to bring friends or colleagues who might be interested.
What: Open discussion and game night.

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TAG Research Symposium CfP 2012

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Carolyn

The 2012 call for presentations/workshops/roundtables for the TAG 5a7 Research Symposium is out! We’re hoping to get more proposals this time around, so PLEASE, if you have a project, or even just a topic you want to discuss with the group, let us know. Also FYI, here is a list of the TAG Graduate Student Society members:

Kevin Freedman
Katian Witchger (on temporary leave)
Salvador Garcia-Martinez
Leif Penzendorfer
Carolyn Jong
Will Robinson

All this list means is that we are 1. currently grad students at Concordia and 2. we take it in turns to be “on duty” for the 5a7 and collectively take care of the (minimal) organization and planning. There are lots of other people who have helped out but have moved on and/or don’t have a key to the lab. Feel free to talk to any one of us if you’re interested in getting involved, or if you have questions about the 5a7 or the TAG lab. If you want to contact us by email, you can use the email below: taggradsociety@gmail.com

Happy Holidays!

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Bonjour à tous!

Our team of volunteers is currently working on the schedule for our popular 5 à 7 Research Symposium. Every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 PM TAG opens its doors to the public for an evening of game play, discussion, and presentations about digital games.

TAG is currently searching for people interested in sharing their work or experience in all aspects of digital game research and production with us. Contact us with an abstract and if we choose your work, you will have the opportunity to give a short presentation (10-15 minutes) on a subject dear to your heart.

We are looking for a broad range of presenters! You could be an academic exploring games from any discipline, a group of students preparing a project for a course, an industry veteran willing to share your experience or a young indie developer working in the basement.

Please email all submissions to: taggradsociety@gmail.com

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Bonjour à tous!

Notre équipe de volontaire travaille actuellement à la programmation de nos fameux 5 à 7.

Tout les mercredi soir, de 5 à 7, le TAG ouvre ses portes au public pour une soirée jeux ou une soirée présentations.

TAG est actuellement à la recherche de gens passionnés qui seraient prêts à venir partager leur travail ou leur expérience avec nous.

Contactez-nous avec un “abstract” de votre projet, si vous êtes sélectionné, vous aurez la chance de faire une courte présentation (10-15 minutes) sur le sujet qui vous tient à coeur.

Nous sommes à la recherche de gens de tout genre!

Que vous soyez un académique en pleine exploration vidéo-ludique, un groupe d’étudiants en train de travailler sur un projet de jeu pour un cours, une jeune Indie travaillant dans son sous-sol,

un vétéran de l’industrie souhaitant partager son expérience, un organisation centré sur les jeux ou un collectionneur de cartouches de NES, nous voulons vous connaître.

S’il vous plaît envoyer toutes les soumissions à: taggradsociety@gmail.com

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