I would like to say a BIG thank you to everyone that contributed to this project:
Location: Singapore MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, Massachusetts, USA
Role: Video Game Lecturer and Researcher
Website: Jesper Juul's personal site
What does convergence culture in online gaming mean to you?
Well, convergence isn't really my focus, but there are a few obvious angles:
1) How many games are transmedial properties - football games tie into football on TV; Star Wars games tie into film etc...
2) On the other hand, I think this is frequently overstated. If we talk about online game broadly, the primary driver isn't media properties or storytelling, but social interaction.
3) In terms of device convergence, it seems not be happening - rather games are spreading into a number of different devices. Cell phones, MP3 players etc...
4) In terms of rhetorical convergence, that isn't really happening either. While games are borrowing from TV and vice versa, they remain distinct media.
Can you explain the differences between online games vs. PC/Platform games?
By online, do you mean distributed on the web / played in browsers / multiplayer ? By "platform" - do you mean "console" or do you mean "platform as in games where you jump around"?
There could be several differences:
-Who controls what is published? Anyone can publish a PC/Mac game, but you have to get permission from Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft to publish a console game.
-Single vs. multiplayer.
-Multiplayer via the net vs. multiplayer in the same room.
With Henry Jenkins moving over to USC next year, do you think this will affect the work at Gambit Game Lab; will Henry Jenkins still have some form of role at Gambit?
Once Henry's moved (from summer 2009), he will only have little contact with us. But many of these things aren't quite decided yet. We will see.
Location: Jagex Ltd. Head Quarters in Cambridge. UK
Role: Head of Public Relations
Website: Jagex Ltd.
How do you market RuneScape to get more players subscribed?
We are in a great position where we do not have to market our products too much, we have been successful because people who play and enjoy our games tell their friends. We utilize viral marketing quiet heavily and have had a great deal of success from that.
Do you consider the recreational or social aspect of playing RuneScape, to be the biggest factor when gamers play the game?
It is hard to say and in truth the answer is probably a little of both, our players love playing the game to relax and be challenged but we also know that one of the key successes of RuneScape has been to provide gamers with a great place to play and chat to their friends at the same time.
Location: City University, London. UK
Role: Lecturer & Computer Game Company Director, Childish Things Ltd.
Website: City University MSc Computer Games course
About the MSc Computer Games course:
What is the attraction and culture behind online gaming:
Has the recession affected the games industry and what will happen to new graduates?
Potential future developments that online game play can achieve:
Location: All around the world
Role: People who play Runescape
Website:
Facebook
Runescape
Location: Soham, Cambridgeshire. UK
Role: Postgraduate studying MSc Electronic Publishing at City University
Email: Click to send me an email