This research seminar aims to gather faculty members at UT who are interested in conducting research in game studies and about digital games, gaming industry, game production, gamification, etc. with the eventual goal of launching a Research Center for Digital Games (or GameLab) at UT. Inviting guest speakers from similar research centers and labs around the U.S. and abroad, and sharing resources, the seminar’s goal is to bring faculty and students interested in gaming research together, while working on the best possible format and funding opportunities for starting a sustainable hub at UT that would focus on pathways between academia and the gaming industry. Centered around research and public engagement, the eventual center will develop connections to and will supply the gaming industry with expertise in the humanities and beyond to create content for games that have responsibility to liberal arts.

Events

• FALL 2024 Schedule

  • August 21 (Wed.) at 3:30pm, the Denbo Center: the first meeting for the seminar members. Discussion on the goals of the seminar; reality and challenges of building a research center focused on digital games.

   

  • Sept. 11 (Wed.) at 4pm, Zoom: Baro Hyun (Founder & CEO, LunaTone Inc.), will be presenting on “Esports & Gaming: How we got here and where we are heading.” Open to the public.

   

  • Sept. 26 (Thu.) at 3:30pm, Student Union 377: Nick Fortugno’s (Playmatics) talk on diversifying the game industry (sponsored by CAS). Open to the public.

   

  • Oct. 11. (Fri.) at 3:30, via Zoom: Richard Eberhardt (Program Manager at MIT Game Lab) will share his experiences launching and sustaining the MIT Game Lab

   

  • Oct. 23 (Wed.) at 4pm, in person, Nielsen 415: “AI and the Future of Video Games: An Actor’s View,” Noshir Dalal (a performance-capture actor in high-profile video games, such as Red Dead Redemption II, Horizon Forbidden West, Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Ghost of Tsushima). Open to the public.

   

  • Nov. 8 (Fri.) at 3:00pm, at the Denbo Center: Lessons Learned (discussion among the members of the seminar about what we have learned from the events of fall 2024)

   

  SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE

   

  • January 29 (Wed.) at 3pm, in person, Denbo Center: goals for spring 2025 (Why build a GameLab at UTK?)

   

  • February 5 (Wed.) at 3:30pm (Zoom): guest speaker from the UCLA Game Lab (director, Eddo Stern)

   

  • February 26 (Wed.) at 3:30pm (Zoom): guest speaker from UT Austin’s JapanLab (outreach & curriculum development, Jessa Dahl)

   

  • March 7 (Fri.) at 3:30pm (Zoom): guest speaker from the University of Virginia’s Games Lab (founding director, Jack Chen)

   

  • April 11 (Fri.) at 3pm, in person, Denbo Center: Brian Stevens, Haslam College of Business (Why Gamify? Gamification of the Curriculum and the Student Experience)

   

  • April 25 (Fri.) at 3pm, in person, Denbo Center: Summary of Spring 2025 + ideas for the center (names, structure, budget, grants, donors, industry partners), ideas for research (projects/topics) + new hires