DOCSLIB.ORG

Block by Block: the Use of the Video Game “Minecraft” As a Tool to Increase Public Participation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Block by Block: the Use of the Video Game “Minecraft” As a Tool to Increase Public Participation Block by Block: The Use of the Video Game “Minecraft” as a Tool to Increase Public Participation By Tim McDaniel An Applied Research Project (PA 5398) Submitted to the Department of Public Administration Texas State University—San Marcos In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration _____________________________________ Patricia M. Shields, Ph.D. _____________________________________ Brendan Scott, M.P.A. _____________________________________ Thomas Varacalli, Ph.D. Abstract: Mojang and UN Habitat have formed Block by Block, an organization with the sole purpose of using Mojang’s game, Minecraft, to increase community input in planning projects around the world. This use of Minecraft in such a tangible way is fairly new in gaming and urban planning contexts, as previous games that may have been useful in the urban planning field weren’t necessarily powerful enough to be of use to planners. The purpose of this research project is to explore the Block by Block program in order to examine whether the methodologies employed by the Block by Block team can increase participation in marginalized communities. This research project analyzes the Block by Block program through a review of manuals and other materials released by the program itself, and finds preliminary evidence that the program may be useful in increasing participation in marginalized communities. ii About the Author Tim McDaniel has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, as well as a Masters in Public Administration from Texas State University. His interests include urban planning, LGBT policy and advocacy, meteorology, and political activism. He has worked on numerous local, state, and national campaigns in Texas, and has made sure to use his voice on all of those levels both during and after campaign season. Contact: [email protected] Acknowledgements Special thank you to Dr. Patricia Shields, who put up with multiple delays due the most tumultuous semester of my life, and still managed to offer meaningful advice throughout the process. ` Special thank you to my sister, Lilly McDaniel (Phil_Ny3), as well as my friends Michael Laman (prisonxmike), Mary Kincade (awkwardeccentric), and Erika Mitchell (stimpy90) for their assistance in maintaining a Minecraft server that was not only mined for virtual diamonds, but for screenshots and a greater understanding of how the game could be used in this context. Thank you to Dr. Hassan Tajalli for helping keep me from heading too far off of the path, and for helping me avoid unnecessary work. And finally, thank you to Dr. Billy Fields, for helping remind me that my childhood love of SimCity could be turned into a profession, and for showing me how to approach that profession with a belief that public spaces are for everyone and not just cars. iii Contents Abstract: ........................................................................................................................................................ ii About the Author ......................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2: Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 6 The Use of “City Builder” Games in Urban Planning ................................................................................. 6 SimCity .................................................................................................................................................. 7 SimCity 2000 and 3000 ......................................................................................................................... 9 SimCity 4 ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Cities: Skylines ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Minecraft ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Basic Walkthrough of Minecraft: ............................................................................................................ 15 Modding the game: ................................................................................................................................. 18 Block by Block ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Chapter 3: Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................. 20 Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................................................... 20 Pillar Question 1: Public Engagement ................................................................................................. 20 Pillar Question 1a: Public Participation ............................................................................................... 21 Pillar Question 1b: Public Voice .......................................................................................................... 22 Pillar Question 2: Equity ...................................................................................................................... 24 Pillar Question 2a: Socioeconomic Status ........................................................................................... 24 Pillar Question 2b: Women and Gaming ............................................................................................ 25 Pillar Question 2c: Youth Participation ............................................................................................... 29 Chapter 4: Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 33 UN Habitat Publications .......................................................................................................................... 34 Co-Thesis ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Quantitative Data Sources and Drawbacks............................................................................................. 38 Chapter 5: Results ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Pillar Question 1a .................................................................................................................................... 39 Do participants seem to enjoy using Minecraft during Block by Block’s public meetings?................ 39 How does Block by Block’s use of Minecraft affect turnout in public meetings? .............................. 40 Pillar Question 1b .................................................................................................................................... 41 iv How easy is Minecraft for participants to pick up? ............................................................................ 41 How does the use of Minecraft by the Block by Block program attempt to minimize planner bias? 43 Pillar Question 2a .................................................................................................................................... 43 How does Block by Block address issues related to lower socioeconomic status? ............................ 44 Pillar Question 2b .................................................................................................................................... 45 How does Block by Block address the misogyny embedded in “gamer” culture? ............................. 45 Does Block by Block have success in fostering young female participation in their program? .......... 46 Pillar Question 2c .................................................................................................................................... 47 How does Block by Block encourage participation among children within its program? .................. 47 Does Block by Block have trouble with participation within older populations in communities where they operate? ...................................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter 6: Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 52 Further Research ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Q1: How will the Block by Block model perform in more developed countries? ....................................... 53 Q2: Are shorter workshops possible in countries where more Minecraft players are present? ............... 53 Q3: How can the Block by Block model be more culturally sensitive to existing landmarks? ..................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Designing a User Interface for Musical Gameplay
    Designing a User Interface for Musical Gameplay An Interactive Qualifying Project submitted to the faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science Submitted by: Tech Side: Hongbo Fang Alexander Guerra Xiaoren Yang Art Side: Kedong Ma Connor Thornberg Advisor Prof. Vincent J. Manzo Abstract A game is made up of many components, each of which require attention to detail in order to produce a game that is enjoyable to use and easy to learn. The graphical user interface, or GUI, is the method a game uses to communicate with the player and has a large impact on the gameplay experience. The goal of this project was to design a GUI for a music oriented game that allows players to construct a custom instrument using instruments they have acquired throughout the game. Based on our research of GUIs, we designed a prototype in Unity that incorporates a grid system that responds to keypress and mouse click events. We then performed a playtest and conducted a survey with students to acquire feedback about the simplicity and effectiveness of our design. We found that our design had some confusing elements, but was overall intuitive and easy to use. We found that facilitation may have impacted the results and should be taken into consideration for future development along with object labeling and testing sample size. 1 Acknowledgements We would like to thank Professor Vincent Manzo for selecting us to design an important feature of his game and for is support and encouragement throughout the duration of the project.
    [Show full text]
  • Crusader Kings 2 2.8.2.1 Download Free Crusader Kings II - Middle Mars V.1.0.6 - Game Mod - Download
    crusader kings 2 2.8.2.1 download free Crusader Kings II - Middle Mars v.1.0.6 - Game mod - Download. The file Middle Mars v.1.0.6 is a modification for Crusader Kings II , a(n) strategy game. Download for free. file type Game mod. file size 58.1 MB. last update Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Report problems with download to [email protected] Middle Mars is a mod for Crusader Kings II , created by zombaxx. Description: Long ago, many centuries after Mars had been fully Terraformed, Earth went dark on the same day all existing electronics on Mars stopped working. All ships not in orbit fell from the sky. Mars quickly descended into chaos as society collapsed, bringing on a new Dark Age. Most of the population succumbed to famine as governments broke down and nations fractured. Around 1000 years later humanity is recovering and has entered a new Medieval Era, largely forgetting the accurate history of humanity and the disaster. No one knows if Earth is still around and is thought of as more of a holy icon and legend. Some ideologies reject the concept or existence of Earth as we know it. Extract into �My Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings II\mods� and activate in game�s menu. Crusader Kings II - Zhiza v.6022021 - Game mod - Download. The file Zhiza v.6022021 is a modification for Crusader Kings II , a(n) strategy game. Download for free. file type Game mod. file size 1.3 MB. last update Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Report problems with download to [email protected] Zhiza is a mod for Crusader Kings II , created by modester.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Corporate Acquisitions in Sweden: a Survey Jerker Hellström, Oscar Almén, Johan Englund
    Chinese corporate acquisitions in Sweden: A survey Jerker Hellström, Oscar Almén, Johan Englund Main conclusions • This survey has resulted in the first comprehensive and openly accessible compilation of Chinese corporate acquisitions in Sweden. • The audit has identified 51 companies in Sweden in which Chinese (including Hong Kong) companies have acquired a majority ownership. In addition, the survey has identified another 14 minority acquisitions. • Zhejiang Geely’s acquisition of a minority stake in Swedish truck-maker AB Volvo was among the largest Chinese acquisitions completed in Europe and North America in 2018. • Through these acquisitions, Chinese investors have taken control of at least some one hundred subsidiaries. • Most of the identified acquisitions were made since 2014. The highest annual amount of acquisitions was recorded in 2017. • The majority of the acquired companies belong to the following five sectors: industrial products and machinery, health and biotechnology, information and communications technology (ICT), electronics, and the automotive industry. • For nearly half of the acquired companies, there is a correlation between their operations and the technology sectors highlighted in the “Made in China 2025” plan for China's national industrial development. The sectors included in the plan are of particular importance to the Chinese state. • This survey includes several companies that have not been identified as Chinese acquisitions in previous compilations of Chinese investments. • More than 1,000 companies have reported to Sweden’s Companies Registration Office that their beneficial owner is a citizen of either China or Hong Kong. For the majority of these companies, however, the Chinese ownership is not a result of an acquisition.
    [Show full text]
  • Year-End Report and Quarterly Report October - December 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31
    YEAR-END REPORT AND QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31 YEAR-END REPORT AND QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31 *Please note that this is a translation for information purposes only - in case of any discrepancies between this version and the Swedish, the Swedish version shall prevail. Paradox Interactive AB (publ) • Org.nr: 556667-4759 • Magnus Ladulåsgatan 4, 118 66 Stockholm • www.paradoxinteractive.com 1 YEAR-END REPORT AND QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31 YEAR-END REPORT AND QUARTERLY REPORT OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31 FOURTH QUARTER 2020 IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER 2020 • Revenues amounted to MSEK 433.7 (MSEK 381.3), an increase by 14 % • The new game Empire of Sin, developed by Romero Games, was released compared to the same period last year. December 1, 2020. • Operating profit amounted to MSEK 79.5 (MSEK 163.5), a decrease by 51 %. • Two expansions were released during the period; Star Kings for Age of • Profit after financial items amounted to MSEK 78.6 (MSEK 156.7), and profit Wonders: Planetfall, and Battle for the Bosporus for Hearts of Iron IV. after tax amounted to MSEK 59.5 (MSEK 130.5). • The Group’s employees continue to work from home to reduce the spread of • Cash flow from operating activities amounted to MSEK 387.1 (MSEK 265.4), and Covid-19. cash flow from investing activities amounted to MSEK -207.3 (MSEK -135.4). • By the end of the period cash amounted to MSEK 767.6 (MSEK 554.2).
    [Show full text]
  • Publisher Version (Open Access)
    EUROCENTRIC VALUES AT PLAY MODDING THE COLONIAL FROM THE INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE RHETT LOBAN AND THOMAS APPERLEY Indigenous people and cultures are rarely included in digital games, and if they are it is often in a rather thoughtless manner. The indigenous peoples and cultures of many parts of the world have been portrayed in digital games in several ways that show little respect or understanding of the important issues these populations face. For example, in the Australian-made Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (Electronic Arts, 2002), Australian Aboriginal people are completely absent, replaced by anthropomorphized indigenous animals some of whom wear traditional face paint, while the plot involves rescuing other animals from the “dreamtime.” So while a secularized white settler version of Aboriginal culture is a core part of the game, the people are absent. The controversial mobile game Survival Island 3: Australia Story (NIL Entertainment, 2015), was removed from the Google Play and Apple stores in January 2016, largely because of an online petition that was concerned the game encouraged violence against indigenous Australians. The game portrayed Aboriginal people as “savages” who contributed to the difficulty of surviving in the Australian outback. Other games have appropriated indigenous iconography and culture, like Mark of Kri (Sony Computer Entertainment, 2002) which used traditional Māori (the indigenous people of Aotearoa/New Zealand) facial tattoo or Tā moko on characters in the game. These examples are disappointing, and seem to represent a common 1 occurrence in commercial non-indigenous media. However, there have also recently been a number of critically acclaimed commercial gaming projects which deal with indigenous culture and issues from an indigenous perspective, for example the game Never Alone/Kisima Inŋitchuŋa (E-Line Media, 2014), made by Upper One Games in partnership with 2 Alaska’s Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
    [Show full text]
  • EA and Crytek Recruit Players Into Free Trial for Crysis Wars
    EA and Crytek Recruit Players Into Free Trial for Crysis Wars New Players Can Experience the Critically-Acclaimed Multiplayer Action GameFree from April 9- April 17 and Get the Complete Crysis CompilationCrysis Maximum EditionStarting May 5 REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Apr 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Crytek GmbH announced the start of a free trial period for Crysis Wars(R)*, the multiplayer game for Crysis Warhead(R), the award-winning first-person shooter originally released last Fall. Starting today, gamers can play all of Crysis Wars** online for free including each of the game's three action-packed multiplayer modes and all 23 maps. The free trial period runs until Friday, April 17, 2009. This trial is designed to give players a sample of the signature action and visuals that only the Crysis(R) series delivered. For those players that want more than just a sample, EA and Crytek will release Crysis(R) Maximum Edition, a compilation of all three Crysis games in one box (Crysis, Crysis Warhead and Crysis Wars). Available beginning May 5th for the MSRP of $39.99, Crysis Maximum Edition is the ultimate Crysis experience. "When Crysis Wars was released seven months ago, one of our biggest goals was to be able to deliver continued support to our growing multiplayer community," said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. "We think we have delivered on that promise, not only by releasing new content, fixes and our powerful MOD SDK, but also by continuing to offer these types of free trials." Crysis Wars supports matches for up to 32 players and contains three distinct gameplay modes; InstantAction, frenetic deathmatch enhanced by the power of the nanosuit, PowerStruggle, a hardcore team-based mode and TeamInstantAction, a mix of fast-paced action in a team-based environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Playing, Mapping, and Power a Critical Analysis of Using Minecraft in Spatial Design • Hamza Bashandy
    Playing, Mapping, and Power A Critical Analysis of Using Minecraft in Spatial Design • Hamza Bashandy Investigating the potential of video games as an aid to community mapping and participatory architectural design, the author discusses the use of the sandbox game Minecraft by the Block by Block Foundation in collaboration with Mojang Studios, Microsoft, and UN-Habitat for three projects—Model Street (Dandora Phase 2, in Nairobi, Kenya), Mind the Step (Jardim Naka- mura, in São Paulo, Brazil) and Former Marketplace (in Pristina, Kosovo). The author offers different perspectives or “lens” from which to view the projects, including as an architect (which he calls a spatial lens) and as a community member (which he dubs a player lens). Favoring agency over participant choices, he claims, the institutional forces at work can prevent true access to space making by either the foundation or the game, each of which suffers from accessibility problems for both players and the communi- ties. He argues for a need to look more closely into the politics of the Block by Block Foundation and Minecraft and seeks to make readers explicitly aware of the systemic mechanisms of exclusion. Key words: democracy and public space; marginalized communities; Minecraft; participatory design; power hierarchies; video games People around the world use digital media to aid civic participation and promote social justice. Many governmental and community organizations have changed their mission and functions as they adopt new digital tools and practices (Gordon and Mihailidis 2016). Similarly, digital games have been seen as a very potent vehicle adopted by many large-scale institutions such as the United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-Habitat).
    [Show full text]
  • Interim Report 2019-01-01 - 2019-06-30
    INTERIM REPORT 2019-01-01 - 2019-06-30 INTERIM REPORT 2019-01-01 - 2019-06-30 *Please note that this is a translation for information purposes only - in case of any discrepancies between this version and the Swedish, the Swedish version shall prevail. Paradox Interactive AB (publ) • Org.nr: 556667-4759 • Västgötagatan 5, 6th floor • S -118 27 Stockholm • www.paradoxinteractive.com 1 INTERIM REPORT 2019-01-01 - 2019-06-30 INTERIM REPORT 2019-01-01 - 2019-06-30 SECOND QUARTER 2019 • In June, the new game Empire of Sin was announced, developed by Romero • Revenues amounted to SEK 387.2 (298.8) million, an increase by 30 % compa- Games. The game is planned for release in spring 2020. red to the same period last year. • A collaboration has been initiated with publisher and developer Double • Operating profit amounted to SEK 154.2 (99.4) million, an increase by 55 %. Eleven for continued development of the game Prison Architect on PC and • Profit before tax amounted to SEK 154.0 (99.5) million, and profit after tax console. amounted to SEK 120.3 (77.9) million. • Steam Summer Sale took place June 25 to July 9. • Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 232.7 (182.3) million, • At the Annual General Meeting on May 17, Mathias Hermansson was elected and cash flow from investing activities amounted to SEK -104.9 (-121.2) million. as a new board member. Cecilia Beck-Friis declined re-election. • By the end of the period cash amounted to SEK 396.4 (329.3) million.
    [Show full text]
  • High-Performance Play: the Making of Machinima
    High-Performance Play: The Making of Machinima Henry Lowood Stanford University <DRAFT. Do not cite or distribute. To appear in: Videogames and Art: Intersections and Interactions, Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell (eds.), Intellect Books (UK), 2005. Please contact author, [email protected], for permission.> Abstract: Machinima is the making of animated movies in real time through the use of computer game technology. The projects that launched machinima embedded gameplay in practices of performance, spectatorship, subversion, modification, and community. This article is concerned primarily with the earliest machinima projects. In this phase, DOOM and especially Quake movie makers created practices of game performance and high-performance technology that yielded a new medium for linear storytelling and artistic expression. My aim is not to answer the question, “are games art?”, but to suggest that game-based performance practices will influence work in artistic and narrative media. Biography: Henry Lowood is Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections at Stanford University and co-Principal Investigator for the How They Got Game Project in the Stanford Humanities Laboratory. A historian of science and technology, he teaches Stanford’s annual course on the history of computer game design. With the collaboration of the Internet Archive and the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences, he is currently working on a project to develop The Machinima Archive, a permanent repository to document the history of Machinima moviemaking. A body of research on the social and cultural impacts of interactive entertainment is gradually replacing the dismissal of computer games and videogames as mindless amusement for young boys. There are many good reasons for taking computer games1 seriously.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Meme War:” the Alt-Right and Its Multifarious Enemies
    Angles New Perspectives on the Anglophone World 10 | 2020 Creating the Enemy The “Great Meme War:” the Alt-Right and its Multifarious Enemies Maxime Dafaure Electronic version URL: http://journals.openedition.org/angles/369 ISSN: 2274-2042 Publisher Société des Anglicistes de l'Enseignement Supérieur Electronic reference Maxime Dafaure, « The “Great Meme War:” the Alt-Right and its Multifarious Enemies », Angles [Online], 10 | 2020, Online since 01 April 2020, connection on 28 July 2020. URL : http:// journals.openedition.org/angles/369 This text was automatically generated on 28 July 2020. Angles. New Perspectives on the Anglophone World is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The “Great Meme War:” the Alt-Right and its Multifarious Enemies 1 The “Great Meme War:” the Alt- Right and its Multifarious Enemies Maxime Dafaure Memes and the metapolitics of the alt-right 1 The alt-right has been a major actor of the online culture wars of the past few years. Since it came to prominence during the 2014 Gamergate controversy,1 this loosely- defined, puzzling movement has achieved mainstream recognition and has been the subject of discussion by journalists and scholars alike. Although the movement is notoriously difficult to define, a few overarching themes can be delineated: unequivocal rejections of immigration and multiculturalism among most, if not all, alt- right subgroups; an intense criticism of feminism, in particular within the manosphere community, which itself is divided into several clans with different goals and subcultures (men’s rights activists, Men Going Their Own Way, pick-up artists, incels).2 Demographically speaking, an overwhelming majority of alt-righters are white heterosexual males, one of the major social categories who feel dispossessed and resentful, as pointed out as early as in the mid-20th century by Daniel Bell, and more recently by Michael Kimmel (Angry White Men 2013) and Dick Howard (Les Ombres de l’Amérique 2017).
    [Show full text]
  • Game Development Companies/Studios in Orange County
    Walt Scacchi, UCI GameLab Game Development companies/studios in Orange County (listings in parentheses appear to no longer be in business in Orange County, but may have relocated elsewhere) Version of May 2013 1. A2Z [Amazon.com Game Studio] Lake Forest, http://games.amazon.com/jobs/ 2. Atlus USA, Irvine – http://www.atlus.com/ 3. (Bandai Games/BandaiAmerica, Cypress) 4. Blind Squirrel Games, Costa Mesa, http://www.blindsquirrelgames.com/ 5. Blizzard Entertainment, Irvine -- http://www.blizzard.com/ 6. (BooHag Studios, Buena Park) 7. Carbine Studios/NCSoft, Aliso Viejo, -- http://www.carbinestudios.com/studio/ 8. (Codefire, Irvine) 9. Coresoft, Lake Forest -- http://www.coresoft.com/ 10. (Crave Entertainment, Newport Beach) 11. (Crazy Pixel, Irvine) 12. Double Helix Games [Foundation 9 Entertainment], Irvine -- http://www.doublehelixgames.com/ 13. Fallstreak Studio, Orange -- http://www.axle.fallstreakstudio.com/ 14. FreezeTag Games, Tustin -- http://www.freezetag.com/ 15. Gaikai [Sony Computer Entertainment], Aliso Viejo -- http://www.gaikai.com/ 16. GamersFirst/Reloaded Games, Irvine -- http://www.reloadedinc.com/ 17. (Gamespy/IGN Entertainment, Costa Mesa) 18. InXile Entertainment, Newport Beach -- http://www.inxile-entertainment.com 19. (In-Fusio, Tustin) 20. Interplay, Irvine -- http://www.interplay.com/ 21. InterServ, Irvine -- http://game.interserv.com.tw/ 22. Javaground USA – http://www.javaground.be/corporate_contact.html 23. (K2 Network, Irvine) 24. Leadwerks, Newport Beach, -- http://www.leadwerks.com 25. Little Orbit, Rancho Santa Marguerita -- http://www.littleorbit.com/ 26. MobilityWare, Irvine -- http://mobilityware.com/ 27. MumboJumbo, Costa Mesa, -- http://www.mumbojumbo.com/ 28. Nexus Entertainment, Huntington Beach -- http://www.nexusent.com/ 29. (NHN USA [ijji.com], Irvine) 30. (Ntreeve [aka, SG Interactive], Irvine) 31.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Cultural Software' in Architectural Education
    Code-breaking: curiosity through the critical examination of ‘cultural software’ in architectural education Luke Pearson The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, UK ABSTRACT As computational technologies continue to proliferate in architectural education, from digital fabrication and parametric design to BIM, the underlying socio-political implications of the software used every day by students is rarely questioned. This paper will call for architectural educators and their students to examine where our reliance on software of all forms is leading the profession. Lev Manovich’s writings on new media have exposed how the type of creative software packages we teach students to use, which he terms cultural software, have developed on a trajectory that both simulates and subsequently extends traditional modes of representation. Manovich defines how Photoshop has affected visual tradition, transforming the collage from a radical statement performed through pictorial juxtapositions to the smoothed and blended apolitical imagery we see in the contemporary architectural rendering. Likewise, the proliferation of software for leisure such as social media and videogames and the influence they have on the politics of the user has been discussed in the works of Manovich, Ian Bogost and Alexander Galloway, however not with a specific focus on their meaning for architectural education and practice. This paper considers the ways in which architectural students can become more curious about the software they use to design, communicate and mediate the city around them, and how they can shape the politics of the profession through this attitude. The paper will introduce a series of case studies, outlining strategies for curiosity through reference to design projects including work produced by students of my studio.
    [Show full text]