Always nice to not have to travel to a conference… This year, the Canadian Game Studies Association (CGSA) hosted its annual conference in Montreal, at Concordia University. There was a nice set of diverse sessions, though mostly geared towards the humanities.

I gave a talk on evolving business models, and how digital distribution and the “minimum viable product” (MVP) approach to development is shifting risk. Apparently, I must have fooled a few folks into thinking I was actually smart, as several commended me on presenting a good “paper”. Of course, I mostly wing my talks and never write anything down - I don’t even use PowerPoint, let alone write a paper ;)

Sadly, I only got to attend the first day. Sadder still, there were no game developers in attendance (unless they all showed up on day2)… Considering how vibrant/big the Montreal dev community is, it still demonstrates the massive gap between industry and academia…


Bart Simon (Concordia University) on how gamers are central to understanding games as cultural artifacts.

 


Schema of fear/horror games from the Ludicine Research Group at the University of Montreal.

 


Matt White (Memorial University of Newfoundland) on studying game tutorials and gender.