Hello all,
I'm entering the grad program at my University in the field of Ludology ([URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludology]wiki link[/URL]). 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.