Powering Up

They’re accused of triggering addiction, violence and obesity… but what benefits can computer games offer? Join author Rebecca Mileham to explore new ways that gaming can be used in society. Trial new games and chat to games designers in this interactive show-case at the Dana Centre

Teenagers spend too much time in front of the computer instead of doing their homework. But what if a computer game was their homework? Join Caroline Pelletier from the Institute of Education to try out MissionMaker, a piece of software developed for schools that allows you to create your own games…

Games can also be used to convey concepts, information and ideas. See for yourself with the games from Spiral Productions, explained by their creators Simon Lucas and Jonathan Gibbon.

Are there aspects of games that can affect what you get out of them…without you even realising? Discuss with Gianna Cassidy about her research on the way soundtracks affect your performance, using Project Gotham as a live example.

Driving games might be fun, but what if you wanted to develop more specialised skills? Mary Matthews from Blitz Games leads you through Triage, a training game for health professionals. Is computer-based training more effective than traditional methods?

And what can we expect from the future? Many of us spend more time than ever in front of a screen. But Tristam Sparks has a different approach… Join him for a chat on his prototype game xBlocks, which can be seen as a cross between a toy and a computer game, a three-dimensional videogame or simply as a way of getting us off our chairs.

And finally join us as we get personal and ask which computer game had the most impact on your own life, and why…

This event launches the Science Museum’s Dana book Powering Up by Rebecca Mileham.

Event organised by:
The Science Museum

Speakers

Caroline Pelletier, Lecturer, Institute of Education
Jonathan Gibbon, Director, and Simon Lucas, Games Designer, Spiral Productions
Gianna Cassidy, Lecturer in Interactive Entertainment Design, Glasgow Caledonian University
Mary Matthews, Director, Blitz Games
Tristam Sparks, Experience and Graphic Designer

Facilitator: Rebecca Mileham, author

Image:Emotiv Systems