The Rhetoric of Interactive and Digital Systems

Prof. Q

But first… announcements Turn in your final papers Remember the Course Surveys End of Class Activity Let’s play Multiplayer Thumb War!

Defining Terms Interactivity Digital Systems Procedure Rhetoric

Rhetoric of Underlying Values in SystemsRhetorical Purposes Keep users engaged Make an argument (often about ideas or systems)

Examples of Procedural Systems Education Youtube’s Comment System Games

Focus on The Rhetoric of Games

Procedural Rhetoric The art of persuasion through rule-based representations and interactions

rather than the spoken word, writing, images, or moving pictures.

– Ian Bogost

How do Games Make Arguments? Can games even make an argument or a point?

Mechanics as Argument Mechanics as Simulation and Argument Narrative and Mechanics as Argument Mechanics and Context as Argument Visuals as Argument

Mechanics as Simulation and Argument Game mechanics provide a space that simulates real life mechanics. The game is painted over with visuals depending on the argument the

designer wants to make. The game’s mechanics force the player to come to (1) see the text in a

certain way, (2) see the real life mechanic being simulated in the game space in a certain way, or (3) perform some sort of action.

Play and Discuss Every Day the Same Dream (http://www.molleindustria.org/everydaythesamedream/everydaythesamedream.html)

Narrative and Mechanics and Argument Mechanics simulate or make a satire of a real world mechanic or behavior. The purpose is to put the player in an uncomfortable place. The narrative provides a deeper understanding and fills in the blank that

mechanics don’t cover. The game forces the player to come to (1) see the text in a certain way, (2)

see the real life mechanic being simulated in the game space in a certain way, or (3) perform some sort of action.

Play and discuss Phone Story (http://phonestory.org/)

Mechanics and Context as Argument The game mechanics only make sense when taken in a certain context. The reader should understand the context in which the game was created. The purpose of the game is to provide criticism of specific real world

practices.

Play and Discuss TuboFlex (http://www.molleindustria.org/en/tuboflex/)

Visuals as Argument Visuals are used to contextualize visual representations. Vivid and colorful visuals intend to make represented systems approachable. Drab, ugly, or dead-looking visuals are meant to paint represented systems

as undesirable. Realistic visuals intend to immerse the viewer into a simulated reality.

All these approaches can be mixed in any way.

Mechanics + Simulation + Narrative + Context + Visual

Assignment Use your smartphone / tablet and download a free game from the

marketplace, or use your laptop to go to Newgrounds or another free flash games site. (Or use whatever game you like).

Think about and describe the mechanics. You may use gamification.org’s list of system mechanics as a reference.

State the arguments made by the game.