Awakenings - Eric Zimmerman's Talk

Eric Zimmerman is a game designer, artist and academic and is one of the co-founders of the computer game development company called Gamelab. Zimmerman addressed the conference via a web cam link from Gamelab which is based in Manhattan New York. He started his talk by discussing the idea that game design can be used as a model for literacy in the 21^st Century. He proposed that there is a new emerging form of media literacy which he called ‘game literacy’. Zimmerman describes gaming literacy as designing, creating and managing digital information, and being able to understand and utilize complex systems and social networks using digital technology. Increasingly, this new form of literacy will be crucial in the workplace and in our social lives. Zimmerman believes that the process of game design, which combines logic, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and storytelling among other elements, is one of the best ways of engaging with this new form of media literacy. He outlined how gaming literacy is centered on systems, play and design. He went on to describe how games are systems which are defined by rules and play is rules set into motion.

Following this he gave the audience a sneak preview of his latest project called “Gamestar Mechanic” which is a game designed to teach people about game design. Its emphasis is on game design rather than programming and requires the designer to successful put together a rich array of knowledge and skills in order to create a game that people will interact with and play. Zimmermann concluded by stating that games and play present a wonderful challenge to us all and that although games may not be wonderful bearers of information they are a primary form of play and through play we learn. He considers that we have moved from the information age into the entertainment era and that in fact the 21st Century is the centruy of play. It is no longer about just having information; its about designing for oursleves and taking control.