News

PhD Position: Multisensory integration

Department of Kinesiology (Neuroscience)

University of Waterloo

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

One PhD position is available to Canadian resident students for a September, 2015 start to study multisensory integration (broadly defined) in the Multisensory Brain and Cognition Lab in the Department of Kinesiology (Neuroscience) at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan.

Diane Watson from The Games Institute has been featured in UWaterloo's Alumni blog:

At the University, my research has led me to create a game, called Reading Garden, which motivates undergraduate students to read the textbook that is assigned with their course. In the game, players grow and harvest flowers. The game has social features where players can visit and water other players’ gardens. Like many casual games, there is a special currency, which unlocks advanced gameplay mechanics, such as levelling up faster. To earn this currency, players must complete reading challenges related directly to assigned course readings from the textbook. This game has been now deployed in several courses in two different departments (Management Sciences and Systems Design Engineering) at the University of Waterloo; results show that the social play in the game is useful in motivating real-world textbook reading.

Do you have experience with spray paint? Do you like to play/study/create games or games-related material? The Games Institute is looking for a volunteer to spruce up our new space in East Campus 1 with some graffiti art. Interested parties should contact GI’s Graphic Artist Becky Anderson for more details. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Take a look at this exciting opportunity!

Critical Hit, a games incubator that develops experimental and innovative games that would not be made in a commercial setting is looking for people that are interested in wearable technology.

This unique opportunity will allow participants to examine various wearable technology platforms and environments, as well as work alongside a diverse set of people while exploring these technologies.

The Director of the Games Institute and the IMMERSe network, Neil Randall, will be giving an informative presentation to the Senate at the University of Waterloo. Held in Needles Hall on Monday January 19th, the meeting is open to the university community. The future of the GI will be discussed as well as a discussion of games culture within a university setting.

Bioshock and Bertrand Russell's Authority & the Individual

Many commentators and reporters have ascribed the downfall of BioShock’s Rapture – the Adam addicts, the horrifying cruelty and the shocking race towards self destruction – to the game’s desire to satirise the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.