Archive for the 'Game design' Category

 
This is the introduction to my dissertation, which discusses the academic context of the rest of my essay as well as establishing some key points in the gender problematic as pertaining to IT and games.
Both the computer and videogames appear to be contested sites, appropriated and dominated by men. Only 22% of computer science graduates [...]


This suggested method for reinforcing learning in field-dependents is only part of the solution. The evaluation UI must be complemented by mechanics, dynamics and aesthetics that present the salient points of each dynamic in clear terms. In other words, the designer needs to carefully consider how the user will understand the structuring of the information provided. For [...]


My hypothesis is that field-dependent videogame users find themselves demotivated by the often unambigiously negative and unnuanced feedback provided by most videogames. My suggestion is that simply awarding points or a grade for good performance and presenting the player with a fail-state when the player’s ability does not match the difficulty or complexity of the [...]


The previous discussion of field-dependent learning styles grew out of its shell in attempting to discuss field-dependent learning styles, game design and motivation for media consumption. A lot of the points raised in the previous attempt were interesting, particularly the discussion of what actually constitutes “social orientation”. Is social orientation real-life social situations, or portrayals [...]


Witkin’s cognitive theory of field dependence-independence describes a high-level cognitive control which determines the mode of interpretation and organization of the perceptual field and working memory. My assumption is that field-dependence/independence is related to other constructs in sociology and cognitive theory, namely male reason and androcentrism, and that modern videogames privilege not only male perspectives [...]


I’m puzzled, apparently because I trust the natural sciences too much. You see, I’m writing a dissertation on subverting male reason in game and interface design patterns and I’m stumped as to what framework for interpreting gender construction I’m really arguing in favour of. On the one hand, we’ve got the radical feminist framework derived [...]