What's funny about academic attempts to study RPGs is that they fall between the cracks.
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@vortiwife That would be like the end of Goodfellas when Tommy thinks he's going to become a made guy.
Except instead of an empty room, it's you sat on a dusty office chair with an evil grin.
"why am I having my viva on a plastic sheet" @Taskerland @vortiwife
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Normally, this would be dealt with as as interdisciplinary matter BUT academia's grip on RPGs is so tenuous that there's no way to get funding or nail down referees.
There are no academic authorities but there are no non-academic authorities either because the broader hobby doesn't value analysis let another theory and everything gets forgotten every time D&D goes tits up.
@Taskerland I actually just think it suits imposter syndrome snobs. You don't have to encompass gaming in a grand unified theory to study it via intersects of different disciplines. Psychology has a big corpus about roleplaying and improvisation, and drama therapy. I just think a lot of peeps approach with a film studies head on, and do some work the night before about interface design using pointing devices... Wait... That might be me
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@Taskerland I actually just think it suits imposter syndrome snobs. You don't have to encompass gaming in a grand unified theory to study it via intersects of different disciplines. Psychology has a big corpus about roleplaying and improvisation, and drama therapy. I just think a lot of peeps approach with a film studies head on, and do some work the night before about interface design using pointing devices... Wait... That might be me
@Printdevil The lead bloke at the Forge was a zoologist of all things.
I think a mature 'RPG Studies' set-up would benefit from psychological input definitely.
You're right, I think a lot of work is being done by people thinking they can rock up and just apply their disciplinary tools only to quickly realise that they're not making the kind of inroad that makes it worth the time and effort when you could be publishing on other things.
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@Printdevil The lead bloke at the Forge was a zoologist of all things.
I think a mature 'RPG Studies' set-up would benefit from psychological input definitely.
You're right, I think a lot of work is being done by people thinking they can rock up and just apply their disciplinary tools only to quickly realise that they're not making the kind of inroad that makes it worth the time and effort when you could be publishing on other things.
@Taskerland There's serious money thrown at Computer Game research but their models and analysis is very questionably applied to table top RPGs. They do try though, because publish or perish
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@Taskerland There's serious money thrown at Computer Game research but their models and analysis is very questionably applied to table top RPGs. They do try though, because publish or perish
@Printdevil Games Studies people seem to view RPGs as a kind of cultural throwback that might shine a light on some of the assumptions underpinning proper games. Like studying an isolated rainforest tribe.
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P Pteryx the Puzzle Secretary shared this topic
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@Printdevil Games Studies people seem to view RPGs as a kind of cultural throwback that might shine a light on some of the assumptions underpinning proper games. Like studying an isolated rainforest tribe.
@Taskerland I think that's true of a lot of applied research, because people can attach GSR sensors, and pulse monitors and brain candy floss grant making engines to your brain while playing computer games, all nicely quantified on a recording device, but it's next to impossible to research tabletop in that manner. It requires a background in discourse and protocol analysis and using programs like SHAPA and video protocols. It's arduous and researchers like painless data capture.
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Normally, this would be dealt with as as interdisciplinary matter BUT academia's grip on RPGs is so tenuous that there's no way to get funding or nail down referees.
There are no academic authorities but there are no non-academic authorities either because the broader hobby doesn't value analysis let another theory and everything gets forgotten every time D&D goes tits up.
@Taskerland True but ironic, because for some of us, the only times we feel _optimistic_ about RPGs are the times when D&D goes tits-up.
Then gaming becomes like one of those little Colorado mountain towns during the off-season ... all the noisy, ignorant tourists are finally gone and it's like "Oh, hey, we live somewhere BEAUTIFUL. I forgot!"
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@Taskerland True but ironic, because for some of us, the only times we feel _optimistic_ about RPGs are the times when D&D goes tits-up.
Then gaming becomes like one of those little Colorado mountain towns during the off-season ... all the noisy, ignorant tourists are finally gone and it's like "Oh, hey, we live somewhere BEAUTIFUL. I forgot!"
@SJohnRoss That is a lovely image and very true.
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@SJohnRoss That is a lovely image and very true.
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Normally, this would be dealt with as as interdisciplinary matter BUT academia's grip on RPGs is so tenuous that there's no way to get funding or nail down referees.
There are no academic authorities but there are no non-academic authorities either because the broader hobby doesn't value analysis let another theory and everything gets forgotten every time D&D goes tits up.
the broader hobby doesn’t value analysis
You mean looking up RPGBOT and selecting all of the blue options isn’t rigorous study?
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