In an increasingly multiplatform, multiformat world, the way we combine activity with storytelling fascinates me. Although usually associated with video games, I think the principle of ‘interactive narrative’ applies to all the domains where we punctuate presentation with participation. [To clarify, I’m using the following definitions: ‘story’ describes characters, events and plot; ‘narrative’ describes how […]
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RSS feed for this sectionViolent Play – Rubbing salt into the wound
I came across an interesting research paper today in the Social Psychological and Personality Science journal. Brad Bushman (Ohio State University) and Bryan Gibson (Central Michigan University) suggest that the aggression associated with violent video games can persist long after the game play has finished. Many people, notably Craig Anderson of the Department of Psychology at […]
Stopping Children’s Play
The news today made me cry out with primal rage. The UK government is cancelling the funding for thousands of community playgrounds. The Playbuilder scheme was a key element of the 2007 Children’s Act and was establlished in response to the universally acknowledged need for safe outdoor places for children to play. Now the government […]