Lindsay Grace, American University School of Communication
Readers read, viewers watch and players do. That level of engagement gives games real power to influence people both within and outside the play itself.
Twenty years after Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov at chess, artificial intelligence can make games more fun, and perhaps even endlessly enjoyable, if it learns to adapt.
People want video games and interactive experiences that help them explore deep and meaningful themes, such as creating family, valuing diversity and living responsibly.
A strengthening movement of Indigenous designers and developers is working to show Indigenous cultures, teachings, languages and ways of knowing through video games.
Video games such as Battlefield I encourage players to find purpose and meaning in war. But a new generation of artists and gamers is starting to question the messages they propagate.
Two researchers interviewed military members and vets to see what role first-person shooters played in their lives – before, during and after their enlistments.
Nintendo has a history of innovation in the console market, and the Switch follows suit. But it trades power for flexibility, and it’s unknown yet whether that’s what gamers want.
Video games aren’t just fun, they can also be potent therapeutic devices. The OrbIT has shown it can help children with cerebral palsy to improve their hand function.
The vast majority of video game movie adaptions are commercial and critical failures. But with big budgets, dedicated fans and real talent involved, what’s going wrong?
We recently set up a Foldit competition between gamers, undergraduate students and professional scientists. The winner might surprise you – and offer important possibilities for scientific research.