I REALLY enjoyed AOIR. I met some really interesting and friendly people and saw some interesting presentations. The vice panel -- aka “Inside and Outside AOIR” was so helpful for building up my understanding of the community as an AOIR virgin. It was also interesting of itself with Terri Senft’s theorsation of risk (and later tales of sports bras), Susanna Paasonen’s call for more porn research and Holly Krusse’s for increased gambling stuff. I also liked Charlie Breindahl’s call for extendi
ng the agenda on digital games research. Indeed, given the content of Susanna and Holly’s talks, I’d like to see it extended in those directions too. Games research, can be a little vanilla and MMORPG oriented. Whilst I really like this work and real value in it, I reckon we need to do more work on other types of games (I would say that wouldn’t I!). Doing some research on some more ‘mainstream’ games such as those on the Wii platform I think could help further challenge the stereotypes around gamers (as geeks) and the discourses regarding addiction and violence (yawn). But also, I think we need to look at some of the less well researched aspects of games. Jenny Sunden’s queering of WoW study is a good example. Indeed, I can think of loads of examples from my own experience, of areas which need further study. Like Jenny, I think there’s more to do regarding sexaulity and play. Members of gaygamer.net for example had discussions about how to make the Wii game, wario smooth moves work as a strip game… it was also hacked not too long ago (the rationale being homophobia). Another example is SingStar Anthems -- it may as well have been called SingStar Gay Anthems -- see the packaging posted here. Maybe I’m reading too much into things, but if you look closely at the non singers -- are they admiring the performance or something else? Maybe they’re cross-eyed bisexuals or straight trannies? Or maybe they’re just enjoying each others company? If you can get hold of it, the intro video to the game on the disk is a sight to be seen -- all feather boa’s, and if I remember rightly the odd drag queen thrown in for good measure! Anyway, check out the tracklisting! I rest my case…
Anyway, pics of AOIR9 can be found on flickr -- search IR9 and on Facebook… I am looking forward to what conference dinner photos there may be soon -- I am proud to say with the help of TL Taylor, I introduced AOIR to the world of SingStar -- and I think mine and TL’s rendition of the Darkness was a definate ‘accept with no changes’ ;o)
