Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;Journalism has embraced digital media in its struggle to survive. But most online journalism just translates existing practices to the Web: stories are written and edited as they are for print; video and audio features are produced as they would be for television and radio. The authors of andlt;Iandgt;Newsgamesandlt;/Iandgt; propose a new way of doing good journalism: videogames. Videogames are native to computers rather than a digitized form of prior media. Games simulate how things work by constructing interactive models; journalism as game involves more than just revisiting old forms of news production. andlt;Iandgt;Wiredandlt;/Iandgt; magazine's game andlt;Iandgt;Cutthroat Capitalismandlt;/Iandgt;, for example, explains the economics of Somali piracy by putting the player in command of a pirate ship, offering choices for hostage negotiation strategies. Videogames do not offer a panacea for the ills of contemporary news organizations. But if the industry embraces them as a viable method of doing journalism--not just an occasional treat for online readers--newsgames can make a valuable contribution.andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
“[Newsgames] pushes the profession to think differently about how current events can be turned into systems of scenarios and variables, instead of mere stories.”
— Alyssa Abkowitz, Columbia Journalism Review“In their well-researched and intriguing new book Newsgames: Journalism at Play, Ian Bogost, Simon Ferrari and Bobby Schweizer examine the practice of fusing gaming with journalism. It’s not a new idea. From before personal computers, with games like ‘Diplomacy’ and ‘Risk’ to early computer games, such as ‘Balance of Power’ and ‘Hidden Agenda,’ front-page reality and game-room fantasy have meshed well. Newsgames suggests this link should get stronger by purposefully employing gaming to convey news of the day. And it sets down a challenge, not to gamers, but to journalists.”
— Michael Humphrey, Forbes.com Technology, "Techno-tainers" blog"Newsgames posits an essential upgrade to the historical relationship between games and news—far beyond digitization of your morning crossword puzzle. This book is critical reading for those interested in emerging journalistic forms wherein the power of playful systems is harnessed to explicate the events of the day."
—Tracy Fullerton, Director, Game Innovation Lab, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media Division"A new generation of news junkies has stopped reading the news and started playing it. Newsgames will be their rulebook."
—Fred Turner, Stanford University
Review
Bobby Schweizer is a doctoral student in digital media at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The MIT Press The MIT Press The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
A new generation of news junkies has stopped reading the news and started playing it. Newsgames will be their rulebook. The MIT Press
Review
Newsgames posits an essential upgrade to the historical relationship between games and news -- far beyond digitization of your morning crossword puzzle. This book is critical reading for those interested in emerging journalistic forms wherein the power of playful systems is harnessed to explicate the events of the day. Fred Turner, Stanford University
Review
"Newsgames pushes the profession to think differently about how current events can be turned into systems of scenarios and variables, instead of mere stories." Alyssa Abkowitz Columbia Journalism Review The MIT Press
Review
In their well-researched and intriguing new book Newsgames: Journalism at Play, Ian Bogost, Simon Ferrari and Bobby Schweizer examine the practice of fusing gaming with journalism. It's not a new idea. From before personal computers, with games like 'Diplomacy' and 'Risk' to early computer games, such as 'Balance of Power' and 'Hidden Agenda,' front-page reality and game-room fantasy have meshed well. Newsgames suggests this link should get stronger by purposefully employing gaming to convey news of the day. And it sets down a challenge, not to gamers, but to journalists. Alyssa Abkowitz, Columbia Journalism Review
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"A new generation of news junkies has stopped reading the news and started playing it. Newsgames will be their rulebook." Fred Turner, Stanford Universityandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Newsgames posits an essential upgrade to the historical relationship between games and news -- far beyond digitization of your morning crossword puzzle. This book is critical reading for those interested in emerging journalistic forms wherein the power of playful systems is harnessed to explicate the events of the day." Tracy Fullerton, Director, Game Innovation Lab, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media Divisionandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;andquot;Newsgames pushes the profession to think differently about how current events can be turned into systems of scenarios and variables, instead of mere stories.andquot; Alyssa Abkowitz Columbia Journalism Reviewandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;andquot;In their well-researched and intriguing new book Newsgames: Journalism at Play, Ian Bogost, Simon Ferrari and Bobby Schweizer examine the practice of fusing gaming with journalism. It's not a new idea. From before personal computers, with games like 'Diplomacy' and 'Risk' to early computer games, such as 'Balance of Power' and 'Hidden Agenda,' front-page reality and game-room fantasy have meshed well. Newsgames suggests this link should get stronger by purposefully employing gaming to convey news of the day. And it sets down a challenge, not to gamers, but to journalists.andquot; Michael Humphrey Forbes.com Technology, "Techno-tainers" blogandlt;/Pandgt;
Review
Newsgames pushes the profession to think differently about how current events can be turned into systems of scenarios and variables, instead of mere stories. Tracy Fullerton, Director, Game Innovation Lab, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Interactive Media Divisio
Synopsis
Journalism has embraced digital media in its struggle to survive. But most online journalism just translates existing practices to the Web: stories are written and edited as they are for print; video and audio features are produced as they would be for television and radio. The authors of Newsgames propose a new way of doing good journalism: videogames. Videogames are native to computers rather than a digitized form of prior media. Games simulate how things work by constructing interactive models; journalism as game involves more than just revisiting old forms of news production. Wired magazine's game Cutthroat Capitalism, for example, explains the economics of Somali piracy by putting the player in command of a pirate ship, offering choices for hostage negotiation strategies. Videogames do not offer a panacea for the ills of contemporary news organizations. But if the industry embraces them as a viable method of doing journalism -- not just an occasional treat for online readers -- newsgames can make a valuable contribution.
Synopsis
How videogames offer a new way to do journalism.
Journalism has embraced digital media in its struggle to survive. But most online journalism just translates existing practices to the Web: stories are written and edited as they are for print; video and audio features are produced as they would be for television and radio. The authors of Newsgames propose a new way of doing good journalism: videogames.
Videogames are native to computers rather than a digitized form of prior media. Games simulate how things work by constructing interactive models; journalism as game involves more than just revisiting old forms of news production. Wired magazine's game Cutthroat Capitalism, for example, explains the economics of Somali piracy by putting the player in command of a pirate ship, offering choices for hostage negotiation strategies.
Videogames do not offer a panacea for the ills of contemporary news organizations. But if the industry embraces them as a viable method of doing journalism -- not just an occasional treat for online readers -- newsgames can make a valuable contribution.
Synopsis
How videogames offer a new way to do journalism.
Synopsis
Journalism has embraced digital media in its struggle to survive. But most online journalism just translates existing practices to the Web: stories are written and edited as they are for print; video and audio features are produced as they would be for television and radio. The authors of
Synopsis
andlt;Pandgt;How videogames offer a new way to do journalism.andlt;/Pandgt;
About the Author
Ian Bogost is Ivan Allen College Distinguished Chair in Media Studies and Professor of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Founding Partner at Persuasive Games LLC, and the coauthor of Newsgames: Journalism at Play (MIT Press, 2010). Simon Ferrari is a doctoral student in digital media at the Georgia Institute of Technology.Bobby Schweizer is a doctoral student in digital media at the Georgia Institute of Technology.