Ludology Anyone?

[Flynn]

Hello all,

I'm entering the grad program at my University in the field of Ludology (wiki link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludology)). I was wondering if there was anyone else here at GP/ECA that is studying video games / game culture / sociology of MMOs etc?

If so, what are you study? I'm focusing my studies on Human/Avatar relations. Peoples views of their digital selves, and if the connections between people and their avatars are strong enough to make peoples reactions to things like the 'Corrupted Blood' outbreak in wow a valid epidemiological study.
(EX: Lofgren, E. T., & Fefferman, N. H. (2007). The untapped potential of virtual game worlds to shed light on real world epidemics. The Lancet Infectious Diseases , 7 (9), 625 - 629)

For everyone else:
That's right, it is in fact possible to make Halo 3 your homework :D
Unfortunately, the theses are nightmarish. Convincing people that there are merits to studying video games as a cultural, sociological, or research tool is still a tall order.

[Pelor]

What on Earth are you going to do with that kind of degree?

[Flynn]

I get this question a lot, usually from my family or anyone I may have to financially support one day ;)

There are a few good options. MMOs present a unique opportunity to study people and social interactions. Studying the game also means studying the culture, so there are the same avenues that sociologists, psychologists, and communication professionals take. Video game addiction research is pretty big right now. If you rolled up enough charisma when you were a kid you can get a spot as a "video game expert" talking-head, maybe argue with Thompson or some equally crazy jackass on TV, radio, news papers and so on. If you really score you can offer your services as a consultant - having studied a specific genera of games at the academic level with an emphasis on the human aspect, who better to advise game companies on what people like and what makes a good virtual world experience.

Personally, I'm setting off toward a career in academics. Which means plenty of research opportunities, but the 9-to-5 will be as a college professor. As a grad student I'm looking forward to teaching Intro to Comm (as I'm under the Communications Dept).

So there are a few options, but I'm not going BS ya (or myself), this is a proper liberal arts degree, lots of studies, reading, and paper writing for what is likely to be very little profit. It will take a while, but my hope is that it ends up viewed in the same way as the studies of broadcasting or print media, as video games really are just the next generation of mass media.

Hope that kinda answered the question :o

[Timbo]

What school are you going to that offers this Master's Program? I wasn't aware that Ludology had been officially recognized as a full field of study.

[Flynn]

It's not a specifically recognized field at my school yet. Right now I'm studying it under the umbrella of the digital communication dept. But we did just get our first Game Studies specific Phd (The rest are Phds in related fields who have started studying/teaching Game Theory). There are a number of schools that offer courses in Game Studies, or Ludology. It's important to make a distinction between academic study of games, and studying the programming, design, or building of games. There are a number of schools (too many frankly) that offer "game design" or "gaming degrees". Generally speaking, they are crap, like Westwood for example. A degree from them is worth less than the paper it's printed on. Do a little research and you'll find a number of schools offering Game Theory (or Game Rhetoric) course lines, usually under the title or grouping of "Emerging Fields" studies. I'll compile a short list and post it here later.

[Timbo]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't looked in the "Emerging Fields" sections of colleges for the field. I'd love to see the list you were talking about.