Academics Turn Their Attention To Videogames

Onyxviper writes "As one who is an avid gamer, an article by USA Today/AP discussing the growing academic study of games, or 'Ludology', makes some points about gaming that I had only begun to think about. Seems like the plots and composition of the game are starting to overtake the gameplay itself, and it is interesting to see that others are starting to look at it in a more serious light. What do the rest of you think, are any of you actually involved in one of these programs?" Is there plenty important being done in this field, or is it possible that academic study of videogames can tend towards overanalysis?

Comments

Re:A Study Done at the U of Rochester

[Rallion]

Ahh, no. I remember that one, and it wasn't flawed. Unless you mean a different one. The study I remember from UR was on visual awareness -- ability to count objects without actually counting them, ability to really see in your peripheral vision, etc.

The reason I say it wasn't flawed is that they took a group of non gamers, tested them all, put half of them on a strict gaming regimen, and then tested them all again.

I mean, that's pretty damn straightforward. The ones with the games' average quick counting ability doubled, I think. Fairly indisputable. No outside factors within reason would have produced results nearly that consistent.

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