Research

Talk about my sabbatical semester in Aotearoa/New Zealand in winter 2024/25. I explored the question of how game design can contribute positively to the climate and sustainability debate. During my research semester, I exchanged theory for practice: in an artistic residency in a renaturation project in Kawakawa (Aotearoa/New Zealand), I literally stood with my feet in the swamp – searching for a meaningful creative contribution. The lecture took place on October 21st 2025 as part of the Jour Fix programme at Burg Giebichenstein - University of Art and Design Halle. Produced with the kind support of BURG StreamLab. ...

Julian Kucklich wrote a resume about the last five years of game studies (since the year 2000, when Arseth announced the ‘year one’ of game studies) and now Julian Kucklich announced Game Studies 2.0: So what I have called Game Studies 2.0 is really a phase of transition between colonialist game studies and postcolonial game studies. The outside interest in our little corner of the world, both academic and non-, draws attention to just how comfortable this corner has become. However, complacency is hardly the appropriate attitude in the face of ongoing change all around us. We like to think that we have developed theories and models that allow us to speak with some authority about a topic that is dear to our hearts. We still like to play, after all, even if the games are getting more derivative and lacklustre year by year. This might easily turn out to be a fallacy. In a world where prominent theorists are becoming increasingly aware of gaming culture, playing games might just not be enough.This is the reason why I look hopefully toward signs of change such as the development of MMOG studies, steeped in jargon as it may be, spearheading a renewed interest in the diversity of gaming cultures… ...

Avantgame’s Jane McGonigal recently finished her dissertation and she’s now posting chapter after chapter as pdf files at her site. As you may know, Jane research deals with ubiquitous games and she’s lead game designer at 42 Entertainment (of I love Bees fame). When she’s not making or playing games, she writes down Camus’ essays with cookies (that enough should drive you to read her dissertation! via: ludology.org Since I am interest in game studies I often came across Jane McGonogals writings. I think she really has very interesting ideas about gaming. I especially like here focus on performance in game activities and the way how she interferes the real world with her own games. ...