Barbara Starrett
SaddleBrooke Freethinkers are proud to have Ken S. McAllister, PhD, speak on “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Video Games But Were Afraid to Ask (Your Grandkids)” on Sunday, Dec. 8. The meeting is held at the SaddleBrooke One clubhouse Vermillion Room, with a coffee social at 9:15 a.m., and the program begins at 9:45 a.m.
Believe it or not, computer games have been around for more than half a century. What started as a novel way to occupy tourists at Brookhaven National Labs has become a $200 billion global industry that employs half a million people. And while the industry began in the U.S., computer games are now produced in virtually every country of the world, often reflecting the unique cultures of their developers.
I found out that I am a gamer, since I play ACBL-sanctioned competitive bridge on my computer. Prof. McAllister will tell us about different kinds of video games played, as well as how they have been used in business for developing strategies and in education for teaching math and history. He will also discuss how participating in gaming can help your brain stay active.
Prof. McAllister will also tell us about the Learning Games Initiative Research Archive (LGIRA), which he and his colleagues have run since 1999. It’s one of the largest computer game archives in the world. Today, the LGIRA is an international resource for media scholars, museum curators, industry historians, and filmmakers, and it employs a small army of volunteers and interns at its eight international locations to transform throwaway culture into an enduring memory institution. There will be plenty of time at the end of the presentation for questions, and gamers and non-gamers alike are encouraged to attend!
Prof. McAllister received his BS, MA, and PhD at the University of Illinois. He is a professor of Public and Applied Humanities at the University of Arizona. In addition, he has authored or co-authored six books and has edited three collections and dozens of articles and book chapters on media history, theory, and analysis. Currently, he is Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation at the UA College of Humanities.
SaddleBrooke Freethinkers provides a forum for the responsible search for truth and meaning in understanding and solving human problems by applying science and reason. We believe that tolerance, compassion, equity, and civility should characterize interactions among people and organizations. We strive to achieve these goals through meetings, lectures, and discussions.
You can become a member of the SaddleBrooke Freethinkers for $15 per calendar year. This fee includes all lectures and other Freethinkers events, like the book club and social events. The lecture program runs January through April and October through December. Lectures are open to all SaddleBrooke residents and their guests as space is available. Non-members are encouraged to make a $5 donation to defray costs.
Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items and/or cash donations for the Tri-Community Food Bank.
For dates of future programs, go to our website SBFreethinkers.wordpress.com.
For questions or to be added to the email list, please send your contact information to [email protected].