Ludo-Lit
This author discusses audiovisual media in their "Sound Play":
A) Flanagan
B) Gottschall
C) Cheng
D) Milgram
E) Bissel
F) Huizinga
A) Flanagan
B) Gottschall
C) Cheng
D) Milgram
E) Bissel
F) Huizinga
Answer - C) Cheng
Reason: Sound Play: Video Games and the Musical Imagination, William Cheng
Play Portal "Still Alive" music clip
A) Bioshock Infinite "You Belong To Me"
B) Bioshock Infinite "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"
C) Portal "Still Alive"
D) Super Mario Odyssey " Jump Up, Super Star!"
E) Bastion "Build That Wall - Mother, Im here - Setting Sail, Coming Home"
Correct Answer: C
In TV shows like Survivor and Big Brother, what disincentivies players from lying to each other?
A) It's against the rules
B) If the host finds out the audience gets to throw rotten tomatoes at you
C) Other players can vote you out/off
D) Jury members can vote against you
E) Personal morality and societal expectations
F) C, D, and E
Correct Answer: F
Reason: A is not correct because there are rules that prevent violence and theft, but both shows are clear that there are no rules governing lying/interpersonal relations more broadly. B is not correct because we no longer liver in medival England. C is correct because as we saw in the examples shown in class, other contestants don't like to be lied to and can turn on a contestant and vote them off the island if they find out. D is correct because although some lying is often considered as good gamesmanship, excessive lying is looked down upon by the jury, and lies to the individuals in the jury can make them less likely to vote for you. E is correct because this is the question we grappled with in week 2, and a question these contestants also have to face. How far is too far? What lies are acceptable because they are within the "magic circle" or the context of a game, and what lies are never morally acceptable. Because C, D, and E are all correct, F is the correct answer.
Which of these games best fits Caillois' description of a Ludus Agôn game?
A) Competitive Skydiving
B) League of Legends
C) Undertale
D) Roulette
E) Snowball Fight
F) Hamlet
Answer: B) League of Legends
League of Legends is a competitive game against other players with very strictly defined rules literally hard-coded into the fabric of the competition. The rules cannot be violated, and the competition against other players is central to the enjoyment of and participation within the game. Competitive skydiving may have rules like League of Legends, but the rules are not as firmly defined as a physical sport compared to a digital game which is composed of precoded mathematical calculations. It is also less directly antagonistic and competitive as one player’s efforts are not as directly antagonistic to another player’s efforts in competitive skydiving. It is also closer to Caillois' description of Ilinx. Undertale is a singleplayer game that does not always incorporate direct competition; although there is a combat component to the game, much of it revolves around cooperation and friendship. Roulette is an extremely luck based game, making it much more akin to Caillois’ description of Alea rather than Agon. Snowball fights are typically less structured than League of Legends, much better fighting Caillois’ description of Paidia. Hamlet is a play, and partaking in it would fight Caillois’ description of mimicry rather than agon.
a) Portal - Still Alive
b) BioShock Infinite - You Belong to Me
c) BioShock Infinite - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
d) Bastion - "Build That Wall / Mother, I'm Here / Setting Sail, Coming Home"
e) Super Mario Odyssey - "Jump Up, Super Star!"
Correct Answer: C