research_goals

Research goals

My research in communications began with study of the evolution of home computer networks as personal bulletin boards and commercial services during the early 1980s. Those studies (1984-90) isolated the peculiar phenomena of play as a driving force behind many activities conducted over computer networks -- activities adapted for group and commercial goals only after their origin in individual play.

I then sought to analyze in more detail technological forms specifically designed to elicit play: computer bulletin boards promoting hacking activities and computer games. These structural studies (early 1990s) led me to conceive human play as a cognitive and symbolic act fundamental to the human representational process.

I have since become less interested in describing the manner in which specific hardware and software toys reflect human cognitive play and more interested in developing a generic semiotic model -- or models -- of that play. My more recent papers and work attempt to unify existing theories of play within a semiotic framework. These attempts draw heavily on the work of earlier semioticians, as well as representational theories of mind, and concepts and ideas within evolutionary biology.

These questions interest me:

* What are the mechanics of human cognitive play? Can these mechanics be modeled?
* What are the outcomes of cognitive play? To what extent are these random?
* What is the evolutionary function of cognitive play? Is it, in other words, a good thing?

I give my best answers to these questions in The nature of computer games: Play as semiosis (2003), published as a part of the Digital Formations (Peter Lang) series. This book describes a universal mechanic of cognitive play and lies counter to those cultural studies that subsume the study of games and play within the study of society. I argue that the most fundamental qualities of human cognitive play originate in natural causes beyond influence of social discourse.

Currently (post-Katrina), I am working on an extension to The nature of computer games that describes and analyzes the aesthetic pleasures of video game play with reference to early 20th-century formalist models of literature. "The aesthetics of the anti-aesthetics" (2005, linked below) gives an overview of this argument.

Studies and analyses of digital media and play

Myers, D. (2008). Generic rules in generic games. [in progress]

Myers, D. (2008). Play and punishment: The sad and curious case of Twixt. in review. DRAFT

Myers, D. (2007). The videogame aesthetic: Play as form. in review. DRAFT

Myers, D. (2007). Self and selfishness in online social play. In Baba, Akira (Ed.), Situated Play, Digital Games Research Association Conference Proceedings (pp. 226-234). Tokyo: University of Tokyo.

Myers, D. (2007). Plays of destruction. In B. Perron (Ed.), Intermédialités, 9. DRAFT

Myers, D. & Colwell, J. (Eds.) (2005, December; 2006, March). Video games: Issues in research and learning (Part 1 and Part 2). Simulation & Gaming.

Myers, D. (2005). Guest editorial: Issues in research and learning. Simulation & Gaming, 36, 442-446.

Myers, D. (2005). Bombs, barbarians, and backstories: Meaning-making within Sid Meier's Civilization. In M. Bittanti (Ed.), Civilization. Vitual history, real fantasies. Milan, Italy: Costa & Nolan.

Myers, D. (2005). What's good about bad play? In Y. Pisan (Ed.), IEC2005 Conference Proceedings. Sydney, Australia: University of Technology.

Myers, D. (2005). The aesthetics of the anti-aesthetics. In R. Klevjer (Ed.), Aesthetics of Play Conference Proceedings (Online). Bergen, Norway: University of Bergen.

Myers, D. (2005). Signs, symbols, games, and play. Games and Culture, 1, 47-51.

Myers, D. (2005). /hide: The aesthetics of group and solo play. In Changing Views: Worlds in Play, Digital Games Research Association Conference Proceedings (CD-ROM). Vancouver, British Columbia.

Myers, D. (2004). Comments on media aesthetics and media policy. A discussion paper presented at State of Play II: Reloaded, New York Law School, New York, New York. October 28-30, 2004.

Myers, D. (2004). The anti-poetic: Interactivity, immersion, and other semiotic functions of digital play. In A. Clarke (Ed.), COSIGN 2004 Conference Proceedings. Split, Croatia: Art Academy, University of Split.

Myers, D. (2003). The attack of the backstories (and why they won’t win). In M. Copier and J. Raessens (Eds.), Level Up: Digital Games Research Conference Proceedings (CD-ROM). Utrecht, the Netherlands: Faculty of the Arts, University of Utrecht.

Myers, D. (1999). Simulation, gaming, and the simulative. Simulation & Gaming, 30, 482-489.

Myers, D. (1999). Simulation as play: A semiotic analysis. Simulation & Gaming, 30, 147-162.

Myers, D. (1999). Play and paradox: How to build a semiotic machine. Semiotica, 123(3/4, 211-230.

Myers, D. (1998). Playing against the self: Representation and evolution. In Duncan, M. C., Chick, G. & Aycock, A. (Eds.), Play and Culture Studies, Vol. 1: Diversions and Divergences in Fields of Play (pp. 31-46). Greenwich, CT: Ablex.

Myers, D. (1992). Time, symbol manipulation, and computer games. Play & Culture, 5, 441-457.

Myers, D. (1992). Simulating the self. Play & Culture, 5, 420-440.

Myers, D. (1991). Computer game semiotics. Play & Culture, 4, 334-345.

Myers, D. (1990). A Q-study of computer game players. Simulation & Gaming, 21, 375-396.

Myers, D. (1990). Chris Crawford and computer game aesthetics. Journal of Popular Culture, 24(2), 17-28.

Myers, D. (1990). Computer game genres. Play & Culture, 3, 286-301.

Myers, D. (1988). An argument for the study of play. Issues in Integrative Studies, 6, 126-138.

Myers, D. (1987). 'Anonymity is part of the magic': Individual manipulation of computer-mediated communication contexts. Qualitative Sociology, 10(3), 251-266.

Myers, D. (1987). A new environment for communication play: Online play. In G. A. Fine (Ed.), Meaningful Play, Playful Meaning (pp. 231-245). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Press.

Myers, D. (1984). The pattern of player-game relationships. Simulation & Games, 15, 159-185.