Discourse Chronicle

[I recently contributed a literacy narrative to The Ohio State University’s Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives and now my story is available for viewing on its website. Any person may make a contribution at any time and researchers (undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate) will make use of them. From Cynthia. BK]

category: Gaming, Life, Literacy, Pedagogy, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

Whatever the revenue gap between RB and GH is now, expect it fluctuate as both titles release big-name versions this year: Guitar Hero: Metallica hits shelves March 29th (James Hetfield talks that game here) and The Beatles: Rock Band, perhaps the most-anticipated game in either franchise’s history, will be released on September 9th, 2009. To counter, Guitar Hero reportedly has a Van Halen-dedicated version on the way.

[I’m not a big fan of Metallica and playing “Enter Sandman” on Rock Band 2 is as tough (if not tougher) as playing “Green Grass and High Tides” on Rock Band. I am more impressed with Rock Band’s catalog compared with Guitar Hero and its securing The Beatles’ music (which is an important digital first for the band and its catalog) makes me feel better about being a Rock Band player. BK]

category: Gaming, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

If, when the device launches, the servers can still retain the lag-free instant-stream gameplay, then OnLive will have successfully redefined the video game industry. PC gamers will no longer have to spend thousands of dollars in order to play a game at maximum settings–they can simply stream it onto their screen. And there’s great potential for OnLive to be a serious contender in the console arena as well. –Michael Lee

[An interesting idea at least another year away, but if successful, might help programs like Second Life with its ridiculous system requirements. BK]

category: Gaming, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

Almost 40 years after the final Three Stooges movie, “Kook’s Tour,” was released, it appears the Farrelly brothers are finally on their way to bringing the slapstick trio back to the big screen.

As Variety reported earlier this week, Sean Penn has signed on to play Larry, negotiations are under way with Jim Carrey for the role of Curly, and Benicio del Toro is the top choice to become Moe. –Eric Ditzian

[Interesting casting choices toward a significant, but quiet, upcoming film slated for a 2010 release. BK]

category: Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics    

The new National Center for the History of Electronic Games houses a 15,000-item collection — one of the largest in the United States, it claims — including some 10,000 games as well as every major system released since the Magnavox Odyssey, recognized as the first video game console. –Chris Remo

category: Gaming, Pedagogy, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

The contest awards security researchers with hardware and cash prizes for finding efficient ways to trick browsers into executing arbitrary code. During the first day of the competition, the contestants are required to do this in default browser installations without plugins such as Flash or Java, which are commonly used as vectors for attacks. Researchers typically prepare for the event far in advance by finding zero-day exploits ahead of time. –Ryan Paul

[I find interesting that all three major browsers (Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer) fell first while Google’s Chrome withstood initial hacking attempts. BK]

category: Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

[Elizabeth and I made it back from San Francisco for a third time this year. Unfortunately, I do not have as many highlights because I spent most of the trip preparing my paper and presentation, which greeted me with poor attendance and one question from a BGSU colleague. BK]

Day 1-3

• SWAG! All conference attendees received a tote bag from Pearson and a water bottle from Cengage along with a nametag holder and a program.
• I finished placing orders on upcoming textbooks from publishers in the book room.
• Elizabeth and I caught up with Dennis G. Jerz again and ate dinner at Lori’s Diner (my favorite restaurant in San Francisco).
• I shared a narrative about learning how to read for The Ohio State University’s Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives.

category: Life    

[No blog this week. I’m presenting a paper titled “Composing in Castlevania: A Process Look at Playing Video Games” at the National C’s conference in San Francisco, CA. BK]

category: Life    

Microsoft has put up $1.5 million to start The Games for Learning Institute, a joint venture with New York University and other colleges. The goal of the research is to see whether video games — and not just software specifically designed to be educational — can draw students into math, science and technology-based programs. The institute has begun lining up middle school students to study. –Dave Kolpack

[Sources such as Linda Burch, chief program and strategy officer for Common Sense Media, claims that “There isn’t a lot of good research out there,” referring to shooter games. However, James Paul Gee’s What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and LIteracy is a book-length examination of the first-person-shooter video game genre, recently revised and updated in a new edition. BK]

category: Gaming, Literacy, Pedagogy, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

Fox has renewed The Simpsons for two additional seasons, which means that we will be treated to at least 493 episodes of Homer’s odysseys. […] Currently in its 20th season and averaging 8.7 million viewers, the animated series is already the longest-running prime-time comedy ever. And while The Simpsons no longer carries the must-see clout it did in the ’90s, it can still pack a punchline. –Dan Snierson

category: Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Television