Digra 2013 - G|A|M|E on Games. The Meta Panel. Atlanta (GA, USA), August 29, 2013. This presentation was part of the panel about the Games on Game project (http://www.gamejournal.it/games-on-games-project-2/) held with Mauro Salvador (@Maurosalva), Riccardo Fassone (@doktorplirtz ), Gabriele Ferri (@g_ferri) and Stefano Gualeni (@Gua_Le_Ni). As part of the panel, don't miss to play Gualeni and Dini's critical game Necessary Evil (http://evil.gua-le-ni.com)

1. GoG.
The Meta-Panel
Giovanni Caruso
G|A|M|E - The Italian Journal of Game Studies
DiGRA Conference 2013, Atlanta (GA, USA), Aug. 29, 2013

2. Aug. 28, 2013
Me at the sea...
NOTE
TO
SELF
Don’t show
this pic

3. TO START
“The project originates from the hypothesis that it is possible to talk
about and critique video games and their related themes by adopting
their own forms, mechanics and languages.”

4. 1. RECURRING CONDITIONS
A meta
(self-
reflexive)
level
An
intended
critical aim
(certain degree of)
An
oppositional
level
(to recognize the
meta-level)
A parody
of game
mechanics
/dynamics

5. 2. THE CHALLENGE
CRITICAL
Any
declared
OPPOSITION
with the “real
practices” of a
game studio
management
OVER-
SIMPLIFICATION
of practices
META
A game made by
a game studio
that simulate the
management of
a game studio

6. THE MIMETIC CRITICAL LEVEL
No declared
critical aim
(apparently)
•Proceduralist Readings
•Intendend/Unintended
meanings
•The role of the player
Proceduralist Readings: How to find meaning in games with graphical logics
Mike Treanor, Bobby Schweizer, Ian Bogost, Michael Mateas

7. THE CENTRALITY OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
Encyclopedia or the
cultural values the game
carries on.
Player
contributions
MechanicsDynamics
ThemesAestetics
Encyclopedia or the cultural
values the player carries on
during the play session
Introduction to Game Studies
Frans Mayra

8. THE CORPUS
SIM
U
LATO
R

9. GameDev Story (Kairosoft, 2010, iOS)
Manage your own game company and try to create a
million-selling game in this unique simulation.
Features the ability to develop your company's own game
console, plus a system for changing your staff members'
professions.
Hire talented people and train them to develop their skills.
As your staff gets more experience, you will unlock a wider
array of game genres and content to develop. Try to find the
most popular combinations and develop for the latest
platform!
Your staff members can have a variety of game-related
professions, from programmer to sound engineer.
Work hard and you may reach the top of the video game
industry!

10. DESIGN (choices, costs and points)
‣new game, contract, sequel, console development (16 to 64bit)
‣platforms (market share / license fee): choose existing / buy new license
‣genres (skill, popularity, cost): table, rpg, sim rpg, adventure, trivia, puzzle,
educational, to be unlocked...
‣themes/type (skill, popularity, cost): pirate, animal, robot, historical, ninja, to be
unlocked...
‣directions (cost): normal, speed, quality, research, budget+
‣direction points: cuteness, realism, approachability, niche appeal, simplicity,
innovation, game world, polish
ALLOCATE / MANAGE RESOURCES (skill, costs and research data per time)
‣design: scenario, graphics, sounds
‣debug and deploy (fun, creativity, graphics, sounds, bugs)
‣reviews (videogames magazine): set popularity to sell copies
‣advertising (from magazines to the lunar surface)
EVENTS
‣ fiscal year and salary, new console presentation, gamedex, fan base growth /
decrease, game review, annual game awards.
‣ Special items offer (Fun boost, Creativity boost, Graphics boost, Sound boost,
Bug Spray, Self-help book, Dead Bull, Career Change Manual)
STAFF
Hire: word of mouth, magazine ad, online d, vocational
school, open house, hollywood agend)
Professionals: coder, writer, designer, sound engineer,
planner, gamer, director, producers, hardware engineer,
hacker
Skills: programming, scenario, graphics, sound
Train: paying for stroll, reading, movie, anime, game,
jogging, pinball, meditate, concert, net surf, museum,
college, lab study, short trips, long trip
Level-up (up to lv.5): using research data to boost skills and
salary
Fire
MARKET & ADVERTISING
Magazine Ads, Online Ads, Radio Ads, Demo Distribution, Marching Band, TV Ads, Animal
Costumes, TV Sponsorship, Racecar Sponsorship, Card Game Contest, Blimp Sponsorship,
Lunar Writing
GameDev Story
Production scheme

11. CRITICAL
Any
declared
OPPOSITION
with the “real
practices” of a
game studio
management
OVER-
SIMPLIFICATION
of practices
META
A game made by
a game studio
that simulates
the management
of a game studio
GameDev Story

12. GlobalGame Jam Simulator (Brace Yourself Games!, 2013)
This game simulates being the organizer of a local instance
of the Global Game Jam! As the organizer becomes
overworked, his/her heart rate rises, which has
repercussions. Make your jam the biggest in the world to
win! Fastest win I've heard of so far is 2018. Can you do
better?

13. IT’S TIME TO PREPARE FOR GCJ 2013!
YOU HAVE 10 MONTHS REMAINING.
CHOOSE AN ACTION:
1) Improver your social Networking
2) Improve your Industry Contacts
3) Improve your Charisma
4) Round up some volunteers
5) Find sponsors with money
6) Find sponsor with swag
7) Buy food
8) Buy coffee
9) Buy equipment
0) Buy promotional materials
A) Work on the jam’s theme
B) Secure a venue
CURRENT STATUS
Volunteers:
Money:
Swag:
Food:
Coffee:
Equipment:
Jam Awareness:
Theme Awesomenewss:
Venue:
THE ORGANIZER
Hero:
Location:
Social Networking:
Industry Contacts:
Charisma:
1) Reroll!
2) Accept this HERO
GLOBAL GAME JAM 2013 IS UNDERWAY HERE IN MILWAUKEE WITH
ORGANIZER ...! The theme of this jam is ... The crowd roars with
unanimous approval!
YOU HAVE 10 TIME UNITS REMAINING. CHOOSE AN ACTION:
1) Rest!
2) Distribute 0 swag
3) Ask a volunteers to distribute ... swag
4) Inject coffee into 0 team
5) Ask volunteers to inject coffee into 0 team(s)
6) Deploy 0 food
7) Ask volunteers to deploy 0 food
8) Deal with a broken chair
9) Deal with a broken table
0) Get wifi back online!
A) Get power back online!
B) Save your swag from the flood!
CURRENT STATUS
Organizer heart rate: 70bpm:
Games completed so far this jam:
Volunteers remaining:
Swag remaining:
Coffee remaining:
Food remaining:
Deployed food:
Equipment: [type]:
Attendance:
Global Game Jam
Organization scheme

14. Global Game Jam Simulator
CRITICAL
Any declared
(even if in this case
elements such the
context of production
could led to a some
degree of critical
intention)
OPPOSITION
with the “real
practices” of
running a GGJ
local section
(less about coding...more
about the panic)
OVER-
SIMPLIFICATION
of practices via
choices and
(stressful) events
META
A game made
during the
GGJ2013 to
simulate the
experience of
running a GGJ
local section

15. 3. FINDINGS
Always has
a meta
(self-
reflexive)
level
May have
not a
declared
critical aim
May rely on
parody of
practices
(rather than just game
conventions)
May have an
oppositional
level built in
contrast with
practices
(rather than just game
conventions)
Could leave to the player the production of critical messages

16. QUESTION
Do GoGs really exist?

17. Thanks.
Giovanni Caruso*
G|A|M|E - The Italian Journal of Game Studies
t. : @nrgiga
e. : nrgiga@gmail.com
DiGRA Conference 2013, Atlanta (GA, USA), Aug. 29, 2013
*No professional audio device has been used to record the voice of the panelist.