Game Studies... pt002

So, in my last blog I mentioned my struggle to make a research upon gaming.

In me, I've found a surmountable difficulty in deciding what to study eventually. There were a lot of facets in this sub-culture.

During my research seminar (a class that prepares us for our thesis) I finalized my grade on a research titled 'Penelitian tentang Need for Achievement pada Professional Gamers'. A Eenglish translation of that title would 'A Research on The Need for Achievemens of Professional Gamers'. I chose that title because I was running out of time and I had to complete the pre-thesis paper or else I won't start my thesis the next semester.
My pre-thesis counselor namely Eric Mulyadi said, "you can focus on the motivational aspects of the gamers," and later "Vin, concentrate on graduating from the seminar first..."

Afterwards, my pre-thesis title was inadequate for my final thesis. Why? Because in my understanding and perception, there is no professional gamers here in Indonesia.
Why? Because the only gamers who compete professionally here, do not make a living out of it. Yes they do play serious, and yes they play in the cyber Olympics, but they don't compete in games as a I primary source of income.

I had to find something else!

What I found, took me 11 months of searching, peer-to-peer counseling, guidance and the occassional luck.

I searched from various sources: game forums, game academics, online news (yes, yes,yes.. most of them are found in the World Wide Web), magazines and the occasional conversations with people.

And you know my vision was during the whole study? I want to make a research upon computer/video gaming from a psychological and social perspective, that is objective and not condemning. Why did I mention the word condemning? Because in my literary search through two Indonesian universities, three of them used a title that was rather judgmental.
'A study on the relationship of hostile attribution bias and violent content games';
'A Study about the Addiction of Ragnarok Online Players'
'A research on the hostile aggresivity of violent video gamers'

Just by reading the title one can get the idea that, "Oh my, games can be dangerous."

I didn't want to judge games as being bad or dangerous. I've played many kinds of games and I consider many of them being immersive and thought provoking. Some games like Civilization and Wing Commander sparked my interests toward social sciences. And it was also Wing Commander that taught me lessons about sacrifice, patriotism and love. Those two games were also violent, but I learned from them.

So, where did my attitude towards games lead me to?

I decided to investigate the motivational aspects of people playing games.

My working research title is: Penelitian tentang Hubungan Motivasi Bermain Games dengan Perilaku Bermain Games.

The English translation would be: a study on the relationship of the motivations of playing games with the gaming behavior.

Later

Game studies... pt 001

From the desktop of Arvin Nathanael Chandra

In my first post in this humble blogspot of mine, I mentioned my study regarding computer games.

For those who don't know my current field of study is Psychology, which is basically the study of human (and animal) behavior. I'm in my final year (read: I only need to finish this thesis so I can graduate) and I've seen many of my friends who were once fellow students are now beginning to experience work... a full time job, the harsh and matter-of-fact realities of life.

It is funny that many people... significant people in my life has told me about how much potential I actually have. I know that. But I think it's a sad truth to say that my academic records doesn't seem to reflect so. I'm not sure I could be categorized as underachievers (read Halim, 2004) but I can state I'm not too proud of what I've been achieving these past 16 years of my life.

I've never achieved a high rank, nor a straight A's in my report card... and I thought university life would be better. So far I've been scoring above average which isn't much to say for a guy with a GPA of 2.56.

Although my performance isn't a huge success, I wanted to give my best for my final work... my coup de grace.

A study regarding computer (and video) games from a psychological standpoint that can be significantly useful for my country Indonesia.

Here's an issue:
Electronic games have been a rather new form of art and entertainment. When I say new I say it has been around for about three decades and the form haven't been firmly established compared to other media like books and films.

Now, the thing is a lot people been playing games. To some their lives revolves around these game playing. Well, perhaps the word revolves is a word too strong, but I can say that many kids, teenagers and adults have been willing to spend a lot of time (and money) to seek entertainment from this medium.

The market has made a huge profit numbering to billions of dollars around the world.

One of the problem regarding the young age of game studies and media is, 'how do we make out of this?'


huh... I'm a bit tired tonight so I'll continue this some other time.

Sidetracked...

I went to a bible study a few hours ago which was been led by Dad.It was about keteraturan... or the translation would be 'order' or being organized, tidied. It was one of the many things I still need to work out.

Have you ever thought that squirrels are very neat animals?

Here's a bunch of things I need to do:

• .) finish my thesis
• .) practise my guitar playing
• .) maintain and update YLI's website
• .) pay my Starone phone bills
• .) cancel my Kabelvision subscription
• .) have my car checked up
  

Here's a list of things I'm doing right now:

• downloading huge amount of files (of what time I can't say)
• posting a blog (that obvious, huh?)
• staying up all late
  -and that's because I was playing Star Wars Battlefront on my X-Box.

If Only You Knew

From the favorite love songs of Arvin Nathanael Chandra

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IF ONLY YOU KNEW
from the YES album 'The Ladder' (1999)
a love song dedicated the lead singer's
wife in their 30th anniversary of marriage
---------------------------------------------
I can lift you with my heart
Give you meaning every day
Cannot live without your truth
And be the true me
To be the true you

Pick the flowers from your floor
Put them in your arms for you my love
Realise my life and more

Say you will 'n' then

Take me home
Make me clear
It feels so much better
Take me home
To this heart of hearts

If only you knew
You caught me when I was falling
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast

And only you knew
You answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you
Into my life



Everyone who looks at you
Sees the loving in your every move
You're the healing of the soul
To be the true you
To be the true me

I will be your strength all time
Ever wishing you this love and more
Forever be your guiding song
Say you will and then
Take me home
Make me clear
To feel so much better
In this life
In your heart of hearts

If only you knew
How you caught me when I was falling
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast
And only you knew
You answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you
Into my life

When I feel the hurt in so many people's lives
I take a deep breath and think of your smile your eyes

When I hear the sadness of this earthtime
Then I take a deep breath
And I know that you understand

And only you knew
How you caught me when I was falling fast
Caught me when I was falling fast

If only you knew
How you answered me when I was calling you
You saw me when I was dreaming you

If only you knew
Yes you caught me when I was falling fast
You caught me when I was fallingInto your life