In Medias Resolution

On Nov. 11th, 2014, I had the pleasure of visiting Ritsumeikan University (Kinugasa Campus) in Kyoto to meet with Professor Aki Nakamura to discuss potential research collaboration opportunities, and to get a copy of the book which he co-authored with Professor Shuji Watanabe entitled,「なぜ人はゲームにハマるのか：開発現場から得た『ゲーム生』の本質」("Why are people crazy about games? The essence of 'Game-ness' from the frontlines of development"). Since Prof. Nakamura and I are both working on Narrative phe

While pondering some new research avenues and delving into my past ramblings on Game Studies, I happened upon this blurb of frustration from summer of last year. Though it is merely me being exasperated with work, this still remains one of my favorite exchanges on the subject of -isms. Camaraderie can sometimes be more refreshing and necessary than the potential for validation. Muchas gracias, Shin. #japangamestudies #researchers

Here's a media article about my sempai at NAIST, Dr. Raula Kula (pictured here on the far left). I got to know him through many long and in-depth conversations, some while drunk, and others while highly caffeinated. All these discussions has helped me to become the researcher that I am today, and has enhanced my motivation to want to do great work. Thanks Raula, your new-found fame is well-deserved. I hope others can benefit from your expertise as much or even more than I hav

Going through my deck of collected business cards this morning to compose a shortlist of candidates to be my external advisor (for my Master's Thesis defense). Usually, the lab professors put together a panel of faculty from NAIST to act as the advisors, but in my case, the field is so weird that it requires at least one professor from the field itself, which is intrinsically located everywhere but this institute. Pleasantly surprised to find that as I look at each business c

"The non-scientists have a rooted impression that the scientists are shallowly optimistic, unaware of man's condition. On the other hand, the scientists believe that the literary intellectuals are totally lacking in foresight, peculiarly unconcerned with their brother men, in a deep sense anti-intellectual, anxious to restrict both art and thought to the existential moment. And so on. Anyone with a mild talent for invective could produce plenty of this kind of subterranean ba

#acecombatzero #conference #digrajapan #game #gamedesign #gamedevelopment #gamestudiescurrently #gradschoollife #japangamestudies #japanese #japanesegameindustry #masters #paper #research #researchers #trip

In my lab every graduating season, there appears to be a custom of placing the graduating PhD candidate's thesis near the daily newspaper for everyone to check out. This season is no different. I browsed the PhD thesis placed there, felt the negligible heft of it in my hands. To think, this was a person's life for several years, their every working thought bent towards the production of this binding of pages. I continued to silently regard the thesis this way for some moments

やっと、3月の学会の日本語の第一の原稿はとりあえず終了である。まだネイティブチェックされていないけど。先生に出した際にめっちゃ恥ずかしかったわ。「ちっちゃな子供っぽい日本語で書いたらしいと見えるかな」って怖い。10年前の教えた播南の生徒が英語のレポート、宿題などを出した気分と同じだろう。 My Japanese draft for my upcoming conference in Kyushu is finally done. I stress the word "draft" because it is a first effort and I am really afraid that it sounds like it was written by a little kid. This must be how all my Japanese students felt when they turned in their essays and assignments. #acecombatzero #conference #digrajap

Newly-noticed trend: Of course, it is always good practice to be present in one's own laboratory. But it is becoming gradually more apparent that it is particularly beneficial to be here on Fridays. This is the third time that providence has ambushed me on a Friday at the lab. Fridays--those most loathesome of days to be at a place of work, is slowly but surely evolving inversely into a day of surprise goodness. A month ago it was the boon of revelation gained from an intense

Accepted for presentation at the DiGRA Japan Conference to be held in Kyushu in March. This time around, my focus is frame narrative in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. What this means is that I will finally have the chance to try Hakata Ramen. #acecombatzero #accepted #conference #digrajapan #gradschoollife #institution #japangamestudies #masters #paper #research #researchers