When SimCity got serious: the story of Maxis Business Simulations and SimRefinery
This piece by @itstheshadsy is going onto my Intro to a Digital Studies syllabus. It’s a doubleheader of media archaeology and simulation studies.
A Theory of Zoom Fatigue
A Theory of Zoom Fatigue
"We are paying attention to ourselves in an odd way"—yes! This idea from @lmsacasas is something I haven't been able to put my finger on until now about teaching through video.
Creepypasta, ‘Candle Cove’, and the Digital Gothic
Bookmarking Jessica Balanzategui's piece for the next iteration of my Death in the Digital Age course
Creepypasta, ‘Candle Cove’, and the Digital Gothic
Destroy / Wait
Pierre Chevalier's "Destroy / Wait" is another dilemma game in Twine, with every move a choice between the two title actions. An existential god game that undoes the meaning of "god" game.
Destroy / Wait
Pierre Chevalier's "Destroy / Wait" is another dilemma game in Twine, with every move a choice between the two title actions. An existential god game that undoes the meaning of "god" game.
Let’s Punch a Nazi!
Do you or don't you punch a Nazi? A Twine game by Rex Mundane. The graphics and text don't necessarily tell the same story. Also notable for being a "dilemma" game, where every move is a choice between two opposing choices.
Let’s Punch a Nazi!
Do you or don't you punch a Nazi? A Twine game by Rex Mundane. The graphics and text don't necessarily tell the same story. Also notable for being a "dilemma" game, where every move is a choice between two opposing choices.
Why protests are becoming increasingly faceless
Quick overview of the influence of art and design on protests masks, including dazzle masks and Zach Blas' facial weaponization suite.
Why protests are becoming increasingly faceless
Quick overview of the influence of art and design on protests masks, including dazzle masks and Zach Blas' facial weaponization suite.
A Bestiary of Player Agency
A loose and overlapping catalog of the kinds of agency choice-based games can give their players
Small-Scale Structures in CYOA
One of the must-read articles about designing structure on choice-based interactive fiction
A Bestiary of Player Agency
A loose and overlapping catalog of the kinds of agency choice-based games can give their players
Small-Scale Structures in CYOA
One of the must-read articles about designing structure on choice-based interactive fiction
The 7 Deadly Sins of Interactive Fiction
I don't agree with every rule here by a long shot. These are more like "things to think about" when creating a certain kind of interactive fiction game.
The 7 Deadly Sins of Interactive Fiction
I don't agree with every rule here by a long shot. These are more like "things to think about" when creating a certain kind of interactive fiction game.
Unraveling the Secret Origins of an AmazonBasics Battery
This would make a great introduction the materiality and labor in a class about digital culture and infrastructure
Unraveling the Secret Origins of an AmazonBasics Battery
This would make a great introduction the materiality and labor in a class about digital culture and infrastructure
Period-Tracking Apps Say You May Have a Disorder. What if They’re Wrong?
Worth including on my Gender and a Technology syllabus
Period-Tracking Apps Say You May Have a Disorder. What if They’re Wrong?
Worth including on my Gender and a Technology syllabus
Maybe It’s Not YouTube’s Algorithm That Radicalizes People
A counter to the "red pill" theory of YouTube radicalization
Maybe It’s Not YouTube’s Algorithm That Radicalizes People
A counter to the "red pill" theory of YouTube radicalization
the relief of impact by ghoulnoise
Here's an evocative Twine horror game to include in the next version of my Death in the Digital Age course.
the relief of impact by ghoulnoise
Here's an evocative Twine horror game to include in the next version of my Death in the Digital Age course.
Escape from the Crazy Place
Escape from the Crazy Place
Surface Reading
Worth including at the beginning of the semester in an e-lit class
Surface Reading
Worth including at the beginning of the semester in an e-lit class
Jeffrey Epstein’s influence in the science world is a symptom of larger problems | Kate Darling | Opinion | The Guardian
A not entirely convincing case for why Joi Ito should remain head of MIT's Media Lab (because he has the humility to work toward change)
Jeffrey Epstein’s influence in the science world is a symptom of larger problems | Kate Darling | Opinion | The Guardian
A not entirely convincing case for why Joi Ito should remain head of MIT's Media Lab (because he has the humility to work toward change)
My Twenty Favorite Works of Interactive Fiction
A great overview of some must-play new and newish interactive fiction, including Twine, ChoiceScript, and other platforms.
My Twenty Favorite Works of Interactive Fiction
A great overview of some must-play new and newish interactive fiction, including Twine, ChoiceScript, and other platforms.
Verge exposé on the horrific working lives of Facebook content moderator
“Facebook needs to shut down” says one content moderator.
Verge exposé on the horrific working lives of Facebook content moderator
“Facebook needs to shut down” says one content moderator.
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Glitching images and making eerie glitched GIFs out of photos
[untitled]
Glitching images and making eerie glitched GIFs out of photos
Was this Google Executive deeply misinformed or lying in the New York Times?
Was this Google Executive deeply misinformed or lying in the New York Times?
AI Ethics: Seven Traps
The traps that discussions about AI ethics fall into. Especially appreciate "the rule of law" trap, wherein we assume laws about AI will inherently be ethical.
AI Ethics: Seven Traps
The traps that discussions about AI ethics fall into. Especially appreciate "the rule of law" trap, wherein we assume laws about AI will inherently be ethical.
DNA Friend
"All it takes is a mouth and a phone" - Brilliant parody of the DNA-testing industry
DNA Friend
"All it takes is a mouth and a phone" - Brilliant parody of the DNA-testing industry
“Pac-Man: The Untold Story of How We Really Played The Game”
Fascinating look at the embodied and material nature of the classic arcade game
“Pac-Man: The Untold Story of How We Really Played The Game”
Fascinating look at the embodied and material nature of the classic arcade game
How Amazon’s Algorithms Curated a Dystopian Bookstore
Honestly though you'll soon be able to replace "bookstore" with any noun.
How Amazon’s Algorithms Curated a Dystopian Bookstore
Honestly though you'll soon be able to replace "bookstore" with any noun.
The Famous Photo of Chernobyl’s Most Dangerous Radioactive Material Was a Selfie
Good background on Chernobyl for when we talk about "dark tourism" in "Death in the Digital Age"
The Famous Photo of Chernobyl’s Most Dangerous Radioactive Material Was a Selfie
Good background on Chernobyl for when we talk about "dark tourism" in "Death in the Digital Age"
Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics
Perfect timing for this NYT article on contemporary mediums. Just yesterday in DIG 215 we were talking about the Fox sisters and their "spiritual telegraph" to the afterlife.
Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics
Perfect timing for this NYT article on contemporary mediums. Just yesterday in DIG 215 we were talking about the Fox sisters and their "spiritual telegraph" to the afterlife.
Thieves of experience: On the rise of surveillance capitalism
Pretty thorough review of Shoshana Zuboff’s new book. Key idea is the “extraction imperative” that drives Google, Facebook, etc.
Thieves of experience: On the rise of surveillance capitalism
Pretty thorough review of Shoshana Zuboff’s new book. Key idea is the “extraction imperative” that drives Google, Facebook, etc.
They Will Not Return
Possible Twine game to include on my Death in the Digital Age syllabus, with shades of Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains”
They Will Not Return
Possible Twine game to include on my Death in the Digital Age syllabus, with shades of Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains”
The Fyre Festival and the Trumpet of Amplification
Terrific/terrifying post by Mike Caulfield showing that the same principles that underwrote the Fyre Festival apply to disinformation and conspiracy theories
The Fyre Festival and the Trumpet of Amplification
Terrific/terrifying post by Mike Caulfield showing that the same principles that underwrote the Fyre Festival apply to disinformation and conspiracy theories
How To Pay Attention
Tips include "Look slowly," "Look repeatedly," "Follow the quiet," and "Let a stranger lead you"
How To Pay Attention
Tips include "Look slowly," "Look repeatedly," "Follow the quiet," and "Let a stranger lead you"
Code and data for paper “Deep Painterly Harmonization”
Maybe I should add “deep painting” to the glitching and databending section of my “Hacking, Remixing, and Design” seminar...
Code and data for paper “Deep Painterly Harmonization”
Maybe I should add “deep painting” to the glitching and databending section of my “Hacking, Remixing, and Design” seminar...
STET by Sarah Gailey
Short experimental fiction with a fresh take on the AI trolley problem.
STET by Sarah Gailey
Short experimental fiction with a fresh take on the AI trolley problem.
“Blackfishing” on Instagram
Adding this to future syllabuses, to be paired with Lauren Michele Jackson's digital blackface article in Teen Vogue.
“Blackfishing” on Instagram
Adding this to future syllabuses, to be paired with Lauren Michele Jackson's digital blackface article in Teen Vogue.
Video Games In East Germany: The Stasi Played Along
Fascinating history of the Commodore 64, East Germany in the 80s, and the surveillance state.
Video Games In East Germany: The Stasi Played Along
Fascinating history of the Commodore 64, East Germany in the 80s, and the surveillance state.
Atlantic article on the rise of exorcisms
Adding to my Death in the Digital Age class, where we’re already discussing demons and exorcism in the 21st century
Atlantic article on the rise of exorcisms
Adding to my Death in the Digital Age class, where we’re already discussing demons and exorcism in the 21st century
Before You Make a Thing
Yeah, I think I’m stealing this for my spring Hacking, Remixing, and Design course.
Before You Make a Thing
Yeah, I think I’m stealing this for my spring Hacking, Remixing, and Design course.
The United States of Guns
Powerful post by @jkottke on the (minority of) Americans’ obsession with guns.
The United States of Guns
Powerful post by @jkottke on the (minority of) Americans’ obsession with guns.
MIT’s Docubase
Not sure why I didn't know before about MIT's Open Documentary Lab and its Docubase, a database of digital documentary projects
MIT’s Docubase
Not sure why I didn't know before about MIT's Open Documentary Lab and its Docubase, a database of digital documentary projects
Cult Conversations: A Series on Horror, Exploitation and the Gothic · Henry Jenkins
Terrific look at where horror has been in the past 100 years, and what the genre looks like now.
Cult Conversations: A Series on Horror, Exploitation and the Gothic · Henry Jenkins
Terrific look at where horror has been in the past 100 years, and what the genre looks like now.
Digital immortality: How your life’s data means a version of you could live forever
Adding this to my “Death in the Digital Age” syllabus for the spring.
Digital immortality: How your life’s data means a version of you could live forever
Adding this to my “Death in the Digital Age” syllabus for the spring.
Games really need to fall out of love with Lovecraft
“It's time to let go of Lovecraft. No more tentacled multi-eyed monstrosities, no foggy fishing towns or ancient aliens posing as gods.”
Games really need to fall out of love with Lovecraft
“It's time to let go of Lovecraft. No more tentacled multi-eyed monstrosities, no foggy fishing towns or ancient aliens posing as gods.”
From Memes to Infowars: How 75 Fascist Activists Were “Red-Pilled”
White supremacists credit YouTube with being the single-most important media source in their radicalization.
From Memes to Infowars: How 75 Fascist Activists Were “Red-Pilled”
White supremacists credit YouTube with being the single-most important media source in their radicalization.
Standard Patterns in Choice-Based Games
A bit dated now, but still a good overview of the dynamic between interactive narrative structures and narrative motifs.
Standard Patterns in Choice-Based Games
A bit dated now, but still a good overview of the dynamic between interactive narrative structures and narrative motifs.
“We’re Going to Have to Do Things That Are Unthinkable”: Masculinity/Games/Torture
Fascinating reading of torture in videogames as masculine ritual and affect (and builds on my own work on virtual torture)
“We’re Going to Have to Do Things That Are Unthinkable”: Masculinity/Games/Torture
Fascinating reading of torture in videogames as masculine ritual and affect (and builds on my own work on virtual torture)
Undum returns
Undum, an interactive fiction platform that was never as widely adapted as it should’ve been, is now on Github, complete with all the documentation. Go write something!
Undum returns
Undum, an interactive fiction platform that was never as widely adapted as it should’ve been, is now on Github, complete with all the documentation. Go write something!
Walmart’s Patent for a Biometric-Enhanced Cart
Walmart just patented a procedure for capturing customer health data via shopping cart handles. No way this data could be misused, no-sir.
Walmart’s Patent for a Biometric-Enhanced Cart
Walmart just patented a procedure for capturing customer health data via shopping cart handles. No way this data could be misused, no-sir.
Two popular conservative Twitter personalities were just outed as Russian trolls
Revisiting this 2017 article after reading about Kathleen Hall Jamieson's new "Cyberwar" book.
Two popular conservative Twitter personalities were just outed as Russian trolls
Revisiting this 2017 article after reading about Kathleen Hall Jamieson's new "Cyberwar" book.
Amazon Alexa Will Take Over Your Home – The Atlantic
Will probably add this to my DIG 101 syllabus. And it would pair well with Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains.”
Amazon Alexa Will Take Over Your Home – The Atlantic
Will probably add this to my DIG 101 syllabus. And it would pair well with Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains.”
21 of the Best Horror Books by Women
I second many of the novels here, but will admit I was disappointed by The Grip of It.
21 of the Best Horror Books by Women
I second many of the novels here, but will admit I was disappointed by The Grip of It.
First Monday Volume 23, Number 9
The entire September 2018 issue of First Monday is devoted to emoji 💛🧡❤️💚💙💜
First Monday Volume 23, Number 9
The entire September 2018 issue of First Monday is devoted to emoji 💛🧡❤️💚💙💜
GIFs as Disinformation Remedy (aka The GIF Curriculum)
Explainer GIFs for link-averse media consumers…Perfect for my DIG 101, where we’re discussing animated GIFs next week and Internet conspiracies a few weeks later.