There’s something ethereal about beginning a new semester. Students are hyped up on a cocktail of overstimulated hormones and adrenaline, while educators and admin are bight-eyed and eager to practice their new curriculum. This will last a couple weeks before the novelty wears off and we begin realizing the gravity of of the position we’ve put ourselves in.
On the other hand, there are those of who rebelled long enough to land exactly where we belong.
This semester we kick off our second semester at Mizzou’s School of Information Science and Learning Technology where I’m pursuing research on Game Studies and Simulations. Curious as to how we come to interact with games, ontologically, culturally, and psychologically. What happens when we interact with other cultures within a real-time MMORPG. What affordances cement the preservation of historic practices?
During the pandemic I noticed this sweeping transformation across Japan as many shrines and monasteries adapted to the circumstance of lockdowns and widespread eeriness by initiating virtual pilgrimages. Virtual tours. Virtual environments where practitioners could continue their faiths, their honoring of the gods, etc.
I knew then exactly where I belonged. I shifted my focus from
Old Japanese (上代日本語),phonology, kana (仮名) and the literary history of the Heian, to the study of video games and simulations as a location for human artifacts. Think virtual archaeology.
This hurt my brain at first. Archaeology… in games? Virtual anthropology? Digital ethnography? This makes but little logical sense. Until you step beyond the projections of physical excavations, physical fieldwork, so on.
The answer came in the form of Game studies. Backed by such greats as Janet Murray (Hamlet on the Holodeck) and Digital Archaeology, I modified my goal ever slightly.
So! Here we are. New semester, a new program. Same old Bumi. In conjunction with this shift I’ve been tasked with launching a blog accessory this one tasked specifically with the study of games, their analysis, and my own interactions as I work to reconcile these realms of ontology, play, and literary theory. Where I’ll examine such questions as: what happens when we enter a Shinto shrine online? Or, what differences occurs when we practice Gagaku (雅楽) in a virtual arrangement?
🎮📚 Welcome to Pixel Ponder Play, where pixels paint narratives, gameplay sparks curiosity, and stories come alive in the realm of gaming! 🌟
Dive into a virtual universe where we take the scholastic approach to explore the intricacies of game design, unravel the threads of immersive storytelling, and celebrate the magic that happens when pixels and narratives converge. 🎉
Join us on this exhilarating journey as we traverse the landscapes of beloved classics, cutting-edge titles, and hidden gems, delving into the mechanics, themes, and narratives that make each game unique. 🕹️✨
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer, a narrative enthusiast, or simply curious about the art of gaming, Pixel Ponder Play is your ultimate destination for insightful analysis, captivating stories, and a celebration of the passion that fuels the gaming community.
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Are you ready to embark on a journey where pixels play, stories ponder, and the gaming world comes alive? Let’s press start and venture into the extraordinary world of Pixel Ponder Play! 🎮📖✨
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