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Swedish Tech Start-ups Outdoing European Rivals
I just tweeted this with the #ubcvgl tag but thought it worthwhile enough that I would post about it as well. The Globe and Mail has an article discussing how well Swedish tech start-ups (including specifically those related to gaming) are doing: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/european-business/swedish-tech-start-ups-outdoing-european-rivals/article8183599/. The article discusses various reasons why the Swedes may be doing so well: […]
News of the Week; Jan. 30, 2013
1. Virtual Superheroes Are More Heroic In Real Life: http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/virtual-superheroes-more-heroic-real-life-130130.htm#mkcpgn=twdsc2 2. One pilot’s mistake leads to massive battle in EVE Online: A misclick causes The Battle of Asakai: http://www.destructoid.com/one-pilot-s-mistake-leads-to-massive-battle-in-eve-online-243509.phtml 3. Five approaches to ‘good’ violence in games: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/185004/Five_approaches_to_good_violence_in_games.php#.UQ7iJKXUQco 4. Little Evidence Sandy Hook Shooter Was a Gamer: http://www.ign.com/blogs/andreweisen/2013/01/25/little-evidence-sandy-hook-shooter-was-a-gamer 5. The Journal News Fallout – Limiting the First Amendment to Protect the […]
Interesting Berkman Center Conference Live Webcast: Wednesday Feb. 6
Live Webcast: Social Media and Behavioral Economics Conference: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2013/02/social-media-and-behavioral-economics-conference.html And lucky you, it ends before class Wednesday if you are in the mood to get up at 6 AM. jon
Resale of used games – consumer protection issue?
Hot on the heals of yesterdays discussions (both Jas & I) regarding contractual prohibitions on the legalities/cases dealing with the re-sale of digital property (as well as Michela’s musings on digital property – scroll down under “What is Your Take”), check this out: German Consumer Advocacy Group Files Complaint Against Valve for Steam’s Used Games […]
False Dichotomy of Interactivity
I don’t see a categorical difference between the interactivity of video games and the interactivity of more traditional mediums like television/radio. On a long continuum of interactivity we could certainly place video games on a side of “direct-highly-interactive” and something like radio on the polar opposite; but we <i>do</i> interact with these apparent one directional […]
In the “Pass the Q-Tips, did I hear that right department?”
Sen. Lamar Alexander: “Games are a Bigger Problem Than Guns: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2013/01/30/sen-lamar-alexander-games-are-bigger-problem-guns
‘Gaymers’ petition USPTO
An important and interesting story about a group of Reddit users who are petitioning the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office claiming the term “gaymer” should remain in the public domain. “Reddit ‘Gaymers’ Fight Cease-and-Desist Letter claiming ‘gaymer’ is a word that should remain in the public domain”: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236068/Reddit_39_gaymer_39_group_fights_back_against_trademark Thoughts? jon
Wednesday’s Guest Speaker: Jas Purewal
Hello colleagues, Will and I wanted to give you a brief overview of Wednesday’s guest speaker. Jas Purewal is a lawyer at the London office of Osborne Clarke. He is a commercial and intellectual property lawyer with a focus on interactive entertainment and digital media. Jas is a regular commentator on recent developments in these […]
Swedish Innovative Culture
Found these sites in my research for today’s class. Would welcome any other interesting links you guys might have.. Sweden: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/111104/swedish-tech-has-its-abba-moment http://socialinnovation.se/en/finally-a-national-strategy-for-social-innovation/ http://www.euclidnetwork.eu/news-and-events/sector-news/840-swedish-innovation-strategy.html Link to actual Swedish Innovation Strategy Doc — http://www.government.se/content/1/c6/20/25/58/ace0cef0.pdf Also interesting and on topic. It’s a bit older, but gives a sense of the landscape in 2008http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/countryreports/sweden_en.pdf
Guest Speaker for 23 January 2013: Ian Verchere
Hello Colleagues, In preparation for our guest lecture on Wednesday, 23 January 2013, here is some information on our guest speaker: Ian Verchere is the co-founder and Chief Creative of the Vancouver-based video game production and development company Roadhouse Interactive. Founded in 2009, Roadhouse specializes in games developed for browsers, social media, and mobile platforms […]