Assignment 1-3 Journal Article Analysis

This article talks about the different research done on fantasy gaming. The researchers are from many different fields and have come together to analyze fantasy gaming, the players, and their social interactions from a social constructivist perspective.

            Fantasy gaming has many different genres and styles. Fantasy gaming it not comprised of just the games themselves but also a gaming culture. The gaming culture consists of many things just as any other culture does. Culture is comprised of language, relationships, common views, along with lifestyles. When playing these fantasy games people become involved in this culture by their characters. Those involved in this culture are immersed in their imaginations, reality of their daily lives, as well as the fantasy aspect of the game. These people interact with others through the fantasy game by using their imaginations to be a certain character.

            Language is an important aspect of the fantasy gaming culture. Language, whether verbal or nonverbal, through the characters is essential to communicating with other characters. There is a blended identity of a person in fantasy gaming. The character has many mental states along with the person controlling the character. Thus, there is a blending of the character and the player.

            Fantasy gaming is a world in which the player gets to display any aspect of himself that he wishes while also allowing unconscious desired to be fulfilled. The player may have wishes and desires but is unable to display them in his everyday life because they may be inappropriate, embarrassing, or not socially accepted. The fantasy games lets the player fulfill these desires or wishes without be judged or criticized.

            Today, more and more disciplines are studying the fantasy gaming culture. These disciplines include linguistics, sociology, cultural studies, and communication studies. The study of gaming is referred to as ludology. Because fantasy gaming has become so popular and there is a gaming culture imbedded in it, scholars have felt the need to study gaming to better understand its culture. 

Gaming as Culture: Essays on Reality, Identity and Experience in  Fantasy Games. Eds. J. Patrick Williams, Sean Q. Hendricks and  W. Keith Winkler. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2006. (February, 2008). Journal of Popular Culture. Retrieved December 18, 2008 from OhioLink.  

Weekly Analysis 5: What is a Bluetooth

Has this ever happened to you? It can definitely be an embarrassing moment. Although this popular commercial is comical, situations like this occur all of the time. Bluetooth headsets have been the new must have accessory for cell phones. These trendy add-ons are all the rage for teens and people in the business world alike. 

With several states adding "hands-free" laws, these bluetooth headsets are becoming a necessity. California adopted such a law beginning July 1, 2008. The law prohibits anyone from holding a wireless device while driving. If caught, a motorist can be pulled over and will be assessed a minimum penalty of $20. The purpose of this law is to prevent motorists from being distracted by a phone call. In addition, the hands-free law makes sure a driver has both hands, well... free for maneuverability purposes.

There are many people out there who own one or more bluetooth headsets and they aren't required by law to wear them. The variety of designs that are available have helped this trend to become popular. Because some of them can exceed $150, some wear these headsets as a status symbol while others despise how they look and feel.

Besides the look and the laws set in place, many people find these gadgets to be very convenient. For those who are always on the go and literally have their hands full, bluetooths can prove to be beneficial.  People who are at the computer all day and have to type reports all day at work can easily multi-task with one of these simple devices in their ear. If a someone is exercising, said person can engage in conversation without interrupting their workout.

The convenience of bluetooth hands-free devices can increase safety, free up a hand for typing, or even look cool. To each his own. Many people enjoy the convenience of being able to talk on the phone without having to hold it. Others think that bluetooth headsets are an excessive and unnecessary accessory. It works for some and not others so the best advice I can give is simply: Do you.

Weekly Analysis 4

Remember when shoes with a price tag over $25 were considered outrageously expensive? I don't either but, according to my elders, their was once a time. What would happen if you saw a pair of nice sneakers for $25 in the mall today? It would almost be second nature to snatch them up because it would most likely be a rare bargain. Now take the same scenario but add a zero on the end of the price tag. Would you still buy them? Many sneaker freaks out there would not have to think twice before pulling out the credit card as long as the right name is associated with the shoe.

The evolution of the sneaker in the last few decades is a very interesting one. You were the envy of the town if you owned a pair of Chuck Taylor All-Star basketball shoes. At an average price of $25 a pair, these simple sneakers were made of canvas and rubber and were only available in a few colors but usually the most privileged of children could boast about having a pair. Many people would agree that this was the first notable "name brand" shoe in existence. For that reason, Chuck Taylor's, or Chuck's as they are commonly referred to today, are deemed the most popular shoe in history are still in production today (albeit a little more stylish and more color choices).

Fast forward to present day. The type of tennis shoes worn today would be unheard of back in the glory days of the Chuck Taylor All-Star shoe. There are hundreds of variations of shoes readily available for purchase. In today's society, it is not uncommon to see someone walking down the street in a pair of $150-$200 tennis shoes. In my opinion, if I had a pair of shoes that expensive, I would not be walking anywhere. 

The heir to the Chuck Taylor throne is undoubtedly Mr. Air himself. Michael Jordan revolutionized the entire tennis shoe market. In 1984 he came out with his first pair of "Air Jordans" breaking down the plain white shoe barrier in the NBA. This started a tidal wave of a trend. Although the MJ has retired his signature "Js" are still THE shoe to have whenever a new pair is released. Children and adults of all ages and backgrounds flock to retail stores on these occasions to be the first to sport a pair of these sacred shoes. It is a rare occasion when a new pair of Js debuts at less than $150. 

Assignment 3-1: The Blog Frenzy

Nowadays, everyone has a blog. Blogs are an important part of our daily lives. There is so much information on the web, many writers/reporters have turned to blogs to deliver their news. Some might say that this web site format has been overused but it is definitely one of the primary designs today. Droves of people have replaced personal paper journals with online blogs. After creating one, the author has the ability to restrict who sees the contents. This keeps information as personal or as public as desired.

Many websites, like Gizmodo and BuyMeAniPhone, are used to distribute the latest tech news, releases, and tips. Blogs are efficient in this scenario because it allows multiple writers to post short articles as they please. This also permits web sites to publish scores of information at a fast pace, thus keeping their readers coming back while attracting new readers. When a new phone, computer, or video game console is released, sites like these can quickly publish all of the breaking news. Some tech blogs are so popular, numerous companies, like Apple, Microsoft, and Sony, jump to donate their new products to them. Because of the amount of readers they attract, these blogs will get tons of free gear to review. Writers report their findings and this gains reader interest in the product which helps the company's profits tremendously. It is a win-win situation for both parties.

Blogs are not limited to strictly media types. Everyday average Joes keep blogs of their own so their friends and family can keep up with their lives. This prevents the blogger from having to repeat stories from every family member and friend. Some personal blogs will never be read by anyone other than the author. In many situations, these personal blogs are used for reflection.

In today's day and age, blogs are an impersonal but convenient way of communicating with family, friends, or the general public. With the massive amounts of information floating around, blogs are an effective way to compile it all. For those who like to reflect on events in their lives, keeping an online blog proves to be an efficient way to do this.

Contemporary Icons

The three contemporary icons that have affected my life are the Nintendo Entertainment System, Apple, and the television show, Real World. These three icons have each carved their own niche into the hearts of society. The Nintendo helped jump start the video game craze in the 1980s. Apple has taken the world by storm with the diversity and success of its products. MTV’s “The Real World” paved the way for all of the reality shows that are so popular today.

In the early 1980s, the Nintendo began to enter the homes of children all around the world. Because of the system’s simplicity, users were able to pick it up and play with ease. The controller consisted of a four way directional pad and two buttons. With the

 games being so inexpensive, I was able to own a deep library of software. This was my first experience with video games and I have been hooked since. Nintendo has been such a big factor in the video games industry that company won an Emmy for the controller’s D-Pad shape. This design has been used on every home console since the Nintendo’s debut.

Apple Inc., the rival of Bill Gates’ Microsoft, has changed the way we listen to music, talk on the phone, as well as use our computers. According to Macworld.com, around 22 million American adults owned iPods in 2005. Now, Apple has broken into the mobile phone industry by creating the infamous iPhone and iPhone 3G. Tech gurus and gadget nerds like myself worship these trendy gadgets. You can rarely go downtown in any city without seeing someone walking and bopping his or her head with earphones plugged into one of these two devices. The “iWave” of products has helped pushed other companies to be more creative with their products.

Turn on the T.V. tonight and tell me what you see. Chances are the majority of the channels will be showing some sort of reality show. This onslaught of reality shows has

been brought to us thanks to MTV’s The Real World. Reality shows have virtually made traditional sitcoms obsolete. Reality shows have ranging from the Bachelor to Flavor of Love to Super Nanny have the world captivated. We no longer watch shows like The Cosby’s or Full House. We now watch Wife Swap, Big Brother, and My New BFF…and for some reason we love it.

Social Networking

With all of the new technology that is available today, it is easy for the world to stay connected. Although communication has become as informal as ever, the new ways of staying in touch have been all about convenience. Family is always only an email or text message away. Cell phones have reached the pockets of everyone ranging from elementary and middle school students to the elderly. Instant messaging clients, such as AOL, Yahoo, and MSN Messenger, are also convenient ways of saying hello to friends.

Although these methods of communication have been proven to be handy, they have actually been popular for a while. Today, people of all walks of life have been jumping on the bandwagon of social networking sites (also known as online communities). Websites like Facebook and Myspace have people of all ages that can create pages, or public profiles, on these trendy sites. Members are able to put information about their personal life on their page including where they are from, their relationship status, favorite books, as well as their schools. After creating a profile, members are able to upload pictures of themselves, friends, and family for the world to see. Those that are affiliated with the site can view each other’s page, add each other as friends, and send messages back and forth.

On the flip side, these social networking sites have constantly been in the middle of controversy. Online predators sift through the millions of opportune members. Many of these victims have been minors. Because many minors are equipped with personal computers in their bedrooms, many hide their affiliations with these sites from their parents. This allows them to talk to virtually anyone without being monitored. Predators can also talk to these naïve victims and gain their trust without interference. Online communities have taken several measures to ensure the safety and privacy of other users by keeping information private unless you are friends or family of that person.

Assignment 1-4

In today's society video games are very much a part of today's popular culture. Video games are created for the casual gamer as well as the hardcore crowd. The diverse selection of platforms and games make for a diverse demographic of users. With the current generation of consoles (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii), console games have made a debut in neighborhood bars, nursing homes, as well as hospitals.

Video games have become such an integral part of our society that there are professional leagues setup where people literally make a living by doing what they love. There are easily accessible tournaments for many popular games for the competitive spirits. Many of these tournaments do not require gamers to even get off of the couch because of the popular online experience. Playing online allows the user(s) to connect to millions of other gamers around the world playing the same game and console. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are typically purchased and played by the hardcore gamers.

For a more casual experience, consumers usually stick to the Nintendo Wii. This system has a tendency to be geared more towards the leisure gamers. Many games on this system can be enjoyed by the entire family. Video games have been used for purposes other than fun. In fact, in order to keep the elderly active, Wii systems were installed in several nursing homes. Also, video games have been prescribed as a form of rehabilitation by hospitals.

Although one may hear or see young children and teens talk about video games, this popular culture artifact is not limited to today's youth. According to the ESA, the average gamer is 35 years of age with a surprising 26% of gamers reaching the 50 year mark. Out of all of the homes in the U.S., 38% have at least one video game console installed. 

With that said, this established piece of popular culture has proven to be almost as important as cellular phones. Many of the youth today either own a console of their own or know a friend who has one, but many people forget that the age demographic for gamers is spread among several generations. The appeal of video games reach people of all walks of life so it is definitely a part of today's popular culture.