Presentation given at RinCon gaming convention, 10 October 2010, Tucson AZ.

3. Artist, editor, game developer, writer... Hall of Fame 1995

5. ...and stealth librarian.

6. Hall of Fame 1995 Hall of Fame 1995

7. Why talk about Games?

8. Social change in progress Social change in progress Social change in progress Why talk about Games?

9. Social change in progress Social change in progress Social change in progress Over half of American adults play electronic games... ...one in five play every day.

10. Social change in progress Social change in progress Social change in progress Nearly all teens (97%) play. About half played a video game “yesterday.”

11. Social change in progress Social change in progress Social change in progress Those born after 1975... ...the “gamer generation”... ...are already a bigger demographic than the baby boomers.

12. online, console, computer, social media, portable device or cell phone

13. Academics and educators are really, really interested.

14. Academics and educators are really, really interested.

15. REALLY interested.

16. REALLY interested.

17. (Libraries are interested too)

18. (Libraries are interested too)

19. (Libraries are interested too)

20. (Libraries are interested too)

21. I grew interested.

22. I grew interested.

23. I grew interested.

25. Blizzcon 2007 by jnemo http://bit.ly/3mVuvY Blizzcon 2009 by jnemo http://bit. ly/3ZlpHn MMORG : Massively multi-player online roleplaying game

33. As you play games, you teach yourself and you learn

34. As you play games, you teach yourself and you learn Social Computing Sharing knowledge Computer Skills Problem solving Cooperation Creative Arts Civic engagement Language Critical thinking Scientific method Global awareness Accountability Time management Economics Flexibility Collaboration Social awareness

35. I decided to look into it for myself

36. over 1,600 respondents

37. 3 Age Stereotypes: who plays? 1 LFG GNOMER by Jennie Faber http://bit.ly/14ukQl 2 Rick’s Birthday by Alain-Christian http://bit.ly/1tsu29 3 Warcraft Warrior by Menage a Moi http://bit.ly/26yPSG 1 2 18-25 26-35 36-45

38. Gender Stereotypes: who plays?

39. 3:2 7:3 5:1 Gender Balance? 3:1

40. Brains or teh dumbz? PhD Graduation_3922 by KitLKat http://bit.ly/35T7V7 Redneck by adiffererntryan http://bit.ly/zstpQ

41. Braaaainz... US Census data 2007 for individuals over age 18 Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 17% PhD or equivalent: 1% Master's degree or equivalent: 6%

42. Braaaainz... US Census data 2007 for individuals over age 18 Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 17% PhD or equivalent: 1% Master's degree or equivalent: 6% But survey respondents ...

43. Braaaainz... US Census data 2007 for individuals over age 18 Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 17% PhD or equivalent: 1% Master's degree or equivalent: 6% 28% 28%

44. Braaaainz... US Census data 2007 for individuals over age 18 Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 17% PhD or equivalent: 1% Master's degree or equivalent: 6% 28% 28% 13%

45. Braaaainz... US Census data 2007 for individuals over age 18 Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 17% PhD or equivalent: 1% Master's degree or equivalent: 6% 28% 28% 13% 2.5%

46. Are they “gamers?” Chess Event in Karazhan by Nicole Lee http://bit.ly/59TjhF Are they “gamers?”

47. Are they “gamers?” 93% say gaming is one of their primary hobbies or recreational activities (Are you a gamer?)

48. but when asked “ Would you describe yourself as 'a gamer?' ” 30% said “rarely or never”

50. Genie III by Cathérine http://bit.ly/4fkeQl

52. In comparison to other media consumption... Nielsen Three Screen Report: http://bit.ly/bOkUJH

53. Fatty watching himself on TV by Cloudzilla http://bit.ly/33jiwl An ordinary American watches: hours a week

54. Fatty watching himself on TV by Cloudzilla http://bit.ly/33jiwl ...an ordinary American watches: hours a week 35 +

55. An ordinary WoW hobbyist plays... hours/wk

56. An ordinary WoW hobbyist plays... 20-25 hours/wk (a third of my respondents played 10 hours/wk or less)

57. What are they getting out of it?

58. 1. Sharing knowledge 2. Problem solving 3. Creative arts 4. Social computing 5. Computer skills 6. Cooperation a. Activity, practice, or experienced within or for the game b. Learned in or because of the game but applied outside the game

59. Sharing knowledge … share knowledge during the game about subjects specific to internal gameplay? Agreed: 90.1% Sharing knowledge … share knowledge during the game but related to subjects housed outside the game? Agreed: 78.6%

61. Problem solving … learn problem-solving strategies within the game? Agreed: 89.8% Problem solving … problem-solving strategies from the game that affected your ability to solve problems in real life? Agreed: 53.6%

62. Creative Arts … an impact on your creativity and literacy within the game, in knowledge or practice? Agreed: 38% Creative Arts … impact of what you learned while in game on your creativity and literacy outside of the game? Agreed: 41.6% BlizzCon /09 (Shivarra) by brianjmatis http://bit.ly/3iWcyQ

63. All images courtesy of http://wow.com

64. Tucson Symphony Orchestra : March 13 and 14, 2010

65. Social Computing … new, more, or different uses of social online sites for game help? Agreed: 60% Social Computing … new, more, or different uses of social online sites aside from the game but originally as a result of playing WoW? Agreed: 38.3%

66. (by the way, this is the biggest single wiki on the web second only to Wikipedia)

67. Computer Skills … new computer-related skills and knowledge within or because of playing the game? Agreed: 66.6% Computer Skills … new computer-related skills and knowledge taken to other areas of your real life? Agreed: 43.1%

68. Cooperation … worked with others in the game? Agreed: 89.3% Cooperation … worked with people you know because of the game but on real life matters outside of the game? Agreed: 50.3%

69. 1. Sharing knowledge 2. Problem solving 6. Cooperation

70. 1. Sharing knowledge 2. Problem solving 6. Cooperation 39.7% strongly agreed that there was transference 17.5% strongly felt that way about their problem solving skills 19% strongly agreed that experiences within the game led to cooperative efforts outside the game

71. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY !

72. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists

73. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators

74. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators Consumers

75. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators Consumers Creators

76. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators Consumers Creators Curious

77. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators Consumers Creators Curious Career

78. Epic Geeks: Friends I met in World of Warcraft by dissonance http://bit.ly/1NkjaI COMMUNITY ! Convivialists Communicators Consumers Creators Curious Career Cultural

79. "Games are the most elevated form of investigation." - Albert Einstein

81. [email_address] Twitter: @LizDanforth Slideshare: Liz Danforth Azeroth: Winterice of Alleria Dannu of Kilrogg