NewsGames: Applied General Theory of Games Based News: creating the foundations narratives of a new Online Journalism Model

By Geraldo A. Seabra and Luciene A. Santos

This e-book is the second of four volumes of the series Theories of NewsGames authored by journalist Geraldo A. Seabra and Luciene A. Santos. The didactic title, the material was subdivided into four parts - research, narrative, mechanics and social impact. In 2012 it was released the 1st volume of research: 'The Odyssey 100 to NewsGames - A genealogy of the games as information', where the authors draw a timeline on the history of the games as information and news. As the first publication almost all the material used is based on the master's dissertation the journalist Geraldo Seabra and searches made by Luciene Santos, as well as original Blog of NewsGames material. In the 2nd volume of the series, the 3D News is presented as a narrative model of news production recommended for ludic-informational platforms - giving rise to the call NewNews. From the structure of the theoretical foundations of a new Online Journalism model, the advent of 'Drones NewsGames' anticipates the ‘Age of planetary games’ based on news.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geraldo A. Seabra
• Release date: Aug 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310890741

Geraldo A. Seabra

It's a professor, journalist and master in media, web journalism and games emulators news. The market worked on Radio Alvorada, Itatiaia Radio, Television Minas Network and Gazette of Belo Horizonte. In the academic sphere taught at the Funorte College, Unipac and UniBH. Yet it was a partner of Millennium Communications Agency. He is currently a professional writer and editor of the Blog of NewsGames. Born in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) is based in Treviso (Italy).

Book preview

NewsGames

Applied general theory 

of games based news 

Creating the basis narratives of 

a new online journalism model

By Geraldo A. Seabra

Luciene A. Santos

digital edition - Aug/2015

updated version – oct/2015

e-mails og authors

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

Volume II

Italy-Brazil

Favcon

Authors

Geraldo A. Seabra

Foto_Geraldo_Mac

It is a professor, journalist and master in Communication and Technology, Games and Web journalism as information and news by Unipac (2009 - campus Juiz de Fora - Brazil). Since 2012 produces articles for Webinsider site. It graduated in Journalism (1997 - UniBH) and a specialization in Communication and Visual Information (2004 - PUC-Minas). It taught at the University Funorte, Unipac Lafaiete and Unicentro (UniBH). It also worked at Radio Itatiaia, TV Mines Net, Radio Dawn of CMK3 Communication Agency, AMIRT Magazine, Daily Journal and Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais Sabara. Born in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), is currently based in Treviso (Italy), where he worked at Benetton.

Luciene A. Santos

Foto_Luciene_Mac

It is a journalist and expert on Games as Information and News. Since 2012 produces articles about the world of games as information and news for the Webinsider site. She graduated in Journalism (1997 - UniBH). In the communication market worked as a reporter and editor of the Journal Sabará in Minas and in the press office of Holos Associates and Sabará Prefecture (MG). It is currently editor of the Blog of NewsGames, a post from publications related to news-based games. In the fashion world performs work in the field of product development. Born in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), is currently based in Treviso (Italy).

Preface

We are in 2015 and still live emergency by changes in media interfaces and content publishing formats. In the 2nd volume of the series 'Theories of NewsGames' 3D News it is presented as a more appropriate model to narrate news ludic-informational platforms, without losing cognitive consonance, one of the main problems encountered in published news in hypertext environment. While traditional news is edited, even cyberspace, in only two dimensions (2D), the news in NewsGames is produced, consumed and reproduced three-dimensionally (3D) - the call NewNews. In NewsGames: Applied General Theory of Games Based News - Creating the foundations narratives of a new Online Journalism model, we present an outline of this new news format.

The didactic title, the NewsGames Theories series was subdivided into four parts: research, narrative, mechanics and social impact of news-based games. In subsequent publications we address these last two, since the publication of research was launched in 2012. Entitled 'The Odyssey 100 to NewsGames - A Genealogy of the Games as information', sought to draw a timeline of the games as information and news, leaving the Odyssey 100 to get to the Galaxy of NewsGames. This break is necessary to facilitate the understanding of this new media content publishing format. Thus, as in the first publication, most of the material used in the 2nd volume of the series is based on the master's thesis of the journalist Geraldo Seabra and editing work and research aids conducted by journalist Luciene Santos, publishing house of the Blog of NewsGames.

Besides the content generated by the master's research (2009), this publication also contains articles published by the authors in Webinsider site. In addition, they used original texts available on the blog maintained by the authors, in operation since 2009. In many respects, the Applied Theory of Games Based on media news breaking paradigms and revolutionize the field of traditional news story by allowing the players themselves also participate in the production of news information. To structure the NewsGames as a new Online Journalism model, the narrative of Role-Playing Game has inspired because they are one of the best game genres learning task any kind of knowledge. Not only that, some RPG games allow players to write their own plot as the story unfolds. However, due to the complexity of NewsGames, this new model is constantly formatting.

For your basic structure still lacked a descriptive interface that is compatible with your three-dimensional narrative. Social networks fit perfectly, because create the possibility of producing news content through communities that interact around common themes. So, ordinary citizens can propose co-solutions to the problems of cities where they live. Perhaps this explains the presence on Facebook Zynga, the largest social gaming company in the world. But still lack the social networks dynamics visual of commercial games interfaces. As proposed, the interchangeable interface geolocation map applications can run, as the data allow viewers to transform texts and games and animation, this turn in game mode. But the advantage of using app's open is the possibility to modify them. This way can be performed updates on usability of the game board.

After all, interface geoprocessed maps allow the creation of interchangeable tools, which enable hypertext manipulation mapped images, multicognitive a platform that allows anyone to play on a board with multiple interfaces (text-mode, infographic-mode, animation-mode and game-mode). In this new scenery opens up interesting possibilities to insert and change descriptive data in animated images. All in real time. For those who still lay in the subject and want to know more, the narrative of NewsGames is quite different from the narratives of games that currently buy at the store. Even today, most games, even those focused on new media, uses old narratives. The goal is to attract new and old players with classical and ancient narratives with which they are more accustomed.

For the million dollar industry of games worth the same world football: will not move on team that is winning. However, games with news-based narratives are advancing due to the increasingly demanding profile of the new consumer information. Since 2000, news events began to be used as a narrative element in game plots. But the active principle of NewsGames began with infographics. In this regard, the pioneering fell to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo website. Then came the mashups¹ in the United States, in order to facilitate understanding of a dense mass of data. Incidentally, the Spanish newspaper El Pais was responsible for the publication of another emblematic newsgame - Play the Madrid also creating Frasca. Play with political charge at all and expensive addresses the terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spain, in 2004. Interestingly, days after the tragedy the game was already available online. This demonstrates the ease of creating news-based games.

In 2011, Brazil witnessed a growth boom that format in several online news sites, such as the Globe sites, ESP, Magazine Superinteressante and RBS Group. But this informative game's story is not new. The idea already existed in newspapers and magazines, with the enactment of sections of crossword puzzles, cartoons and informative cartoons. But the narrative of many published NewsGames not also differs from the format of the old crossword and traditional quiz published in print newspapers. Most of these games (including the United States where the format is more widespread) works only as an alternative form of publishing and news consumption. In the proposal defended by Geraldo Seabra, the NewsGames favor the three pillars of news: production, publishing and consumption.

Introduction

The year 2013 was an important milestone for the Galaxy of NewsGames. 10 years ago, the term appeared in the media backstage without much fanfare. Over time, the novelty was gaining deserved space to be able to cause a major revolution in the news universe. Despite the reasonable time, the few authors who venture to address the issue are still unable to reach a consensus on basic concepts. Some treat it without unlink the new concept of the old journalism guided by editorials. Some authors treat the news-based game compartmentalized form of media such as the new Online Journalism model was guided by old news production methods. We have to recognize that something has changed. At least have the humility to realize that the news emulated board games are different from those published in newsprint.

Different even those apathetic white screens of news portals. It is conceivable longer think the concept of newsgame looking in the rearview mirror of traditional media. In our way of thinking the future of games, any game proposal should consider least possible interference of its creators. Ultimately, the games based on news should run as autonomous as possible, from creation to the gaming itself. Through the prism of NewsGames, social networks plays a key role. Function as descriptive base of the game board, with which players can produce news from the information giving rise to the plot of the narrative. It sounds crazy, but the first step has been taken. As Google Maps is a global platform can function as the plot animation simulator.

Certainly, there are plenty of players around the world to help the people of Syria in the real work of rebuilding a country devastated by war. Although the real country is in ruinous, cities geoprocessed by Google are unharmed under the protection of the virtual cloud computing technology. So what remains to start a game of this magnitude? A story that will serve as a narrative basis. But what? It is not enough headlines announcing the fall of dictators in the four corners of the world? If you still think this is all too little, try searching on your street another better reason to play. Or wait as a hibernating bear in the room as the wi-fi from your neighbor does not fall and you lose the only link that still keeps you connected with something from the real world. Of course, this is just a provocation of those who still believe in true social change. Game over!

1-NewsGames a concept still in definition

Play games with news media as a means of social mobilization extrapolate the concept of looking at NewsGames just like games based on news or event in real time. This becomes even more evident when we realize the possibility of using media interactive maps coupled with geolocation and processing technologies. When we note that it is something more powerful medially talking. A platform that goes beyond the games produced only to entertain, an interface that works like a real instrument to discuss social and political position about events that happen in the sphere of public space. In our view, the definition of NewsGames goes beyond publish and consume news online games brackets.

Such derivation, informative recreational maps would then be created by the players themselves as a form of social mobilization through information that they are somehow personally involved. Generally speaking, it is good to be clear, that NewsGames is an online game genre quickly production in response to current events. However, some authors prefer to reduce their meaning to mere games of political cartoons fall into the trap of what we call Editorial Games. Such 'innocence' not also shares the author of NewsGames Theory and Design', released in 2008. Miguel Sicart, Games Development Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technologies (MIT), the NewsGames are in essence 'games using the medium with the intention of promoting participation in public debate'. Therefore, facing journalism from the cyberculture², is a mistake to think the games based on news compartmentalized way.

Or conceive them subdividing his narrative in editorials as if they were those old newspaper sections. When it comes to dynamic environment does not seem plausible to partition NewsGames into categories: current events, infographics, puzzle games, documentaries, or as mere platform games. Another incongruity would format them into subcategories: editorial newsgame, newsgame tabloid or newsgame report. Why? By Gestalt Theory can not have knowledge of the whole through its parts, because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That is A + B is not the same as (A + B), but a third element C with its own characteristics. The criterion of transferability, regardless of the elements that make up a particular object, the shape always stands out.

That is, the letters [n, o, t, i, c, i, a] are not just a word in our minds. Can evoke the very image of democracy, social responsibility and, above all, evoke freedom of expression, whose properties are not exactly related to their letters that make up words. Therefore, from the point of view of form, it seems incongruous to subdivide the narrative of NewsGames into categories and subcategories, Because it is a revolutionary narrative that breaks with all previous models of production, circulation and consumption of news. But from the point in content, it is a different story, since his narrative works with targeted information and news. Is the news theme calls that feed the news-based game. That is, each proposed newsgame plot must use a different social themes: politics, education, city, sport, science, technology, among others. The thematic mixture is possible? Whenever there is a synergy between them content of the composition.

1.1-Advent of galaxia of newsgames

The newsgame term appears in the media for the first time in 2003, credited to game designer, the Uruguayan Gonzalo Frasca, although Frasca himself has published his first newsgame (Kabul Kaboom - 2001). Wrongly, the concept is attributed to so-called Editoral Games a format adopted by US media as an alternative form of publication and consumption of news. This narrative has emerged to attract 'readers scattered' to the world of headlines produced by news portals. With application of expensive, new publishing platforms suggest a more streamlined experience for readers and content creators, without the need to install themes, adjusting settings, or download access to mobile applications. Basically, the new interfaces follow the trail left by the design and functionality of the social networks. Moreover, social networking plays a key role in the Applied Theory NewsGames, since the board function as descriptive narrative of news-based games.

Here it is worth to point out that it has already set in a small great democratic revolution. For the current democracies, citizens 'play' virtually 'unarmed' next to very powerful national state, 'armed' to the teeth. In this scenario of deep changes, the narrative of NewsGames emerges from its nearly Antarctic anonymity to bring about a revolution in the world not only of journalism. But above all, the social and political culture. In addition to proposing the production, circulation and consumption of information and news in the same game board, the new concept comes with a twist more, as carries with it the power to mobilize users around common everyday matters, in order to propose cossoluções to real problems of the cities where they live through games brackets. Unlike blogs and traditional websites, the idea behind the engine of NewsGames goes beyond pure and simple publication of texts, images and animations. Any publication generated from the game generates a proposal for social achievement to be considered throughout the society.

In the proposal of NewsGames, the idea is not 'kill the text', but just trying to promote a more equitable relationship between text and image in the universe online. In the experimental model of the Medium³. That is platform, user participation is done in two ways: passive (liked or disliked), or active (publish texts). In the game board based on information and news, participation is all, is not something fortuitous, published at random. On the platform of NewsGames, text publication is something sine qua non, that is, something inherent and targeted by the interface itself. Since the game's theme proposition for narrative development to the outcome of the plot, everything is done by the players themselves. They act as players and coauthors whole process of production and publication. Besides the fact being the first consumers of information generated and manipulated by them.

After all, the subject to be treated is always of interest to users. Thus, the simulation interface of NewsGames resembles a simple and functional design of the platforms of social networks, without the need to use functions that can not be its gameplay. We know it will not be an easy task to take the role of the project CityNews - City of News Based in NewsGames⁴. On the other hand, the market is witnessing the emergence of new and creative publishing interfaces. Os games media have proved an excellent cognitive interface for young people. Turbocharged by adding and editing news, these platforms tend to bring people together around common themes of public debate, rather than creating the diaspora because of the incompatibility of standards imposed by private technologies.

1.1.1 - Demonization of origin of videogames

Much of revulsion checked against the video games is housed in the negative perception widely held about the games, historically. The imagery of the games is linked to casinos and hazard games, where the possibility of winning or losing does not depend on the player's skill, but luck or bad luck. Here are the roots of the demonization of the word game. This story would have started with the dice. They originated in the Roman era and would have been one of the causes that led to the fall of Rome. One such game called hazard, a term in English and French means risk or danger, was introduced in Europe with the Third Crusade. The etymological root of the word comes from the Arabic word al-azar, which means given. When writing Germania work in the year 99 AD, Tacitus claimed that the Romans practiced dice games. But playing like a serious thing, they bet their own freedom at last fall's given when I had nothing else to put on the table. Losing resigned voluntarily to servitude. Even if he were younger and stronger than his opponent, he was allowed to be sold in public.

1.1.2 - About games, poker and the tour of the phenomenon

[... The boot wears his bare foot, the royal carpet is green, looking at ball I see the sun. Is rolling now, is a game of football ...] Despite the Brazilian swing in the verses of the mining band Skank, it's not really more of a football game. But it is true that the phenomenon returned to sumptuous green carpet? Yes! Ronaldo left the football, but continues to reign in the green royalty, alongside Buffon, Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal. Since April 2013, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is more a hired PokerStars - the largest site of the world's poker games. Launched in September 2001, the company has about 60 million subscribers. Headquartered in the Isle of Man, PokerStars is licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (IMGSC). In Italy, the site was authorized to operate by the Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS). Poker is a card game played by two or more players, but the PokerStars site play on average 40 000 people simultaneously, distributed in about 1,300 tournaments.

1.2 - Negative impact of hazard games

But what poker games have to do with football? Everything! At least Olympian for marketing. Inspired by the concept of olympianism proposed by Edgar Morin, the use of celebrities in advertising spots would merely serve as bait for the sale of products, services and entertainment. If you were not one of the thousands of spectators who watched live Brazil and England at the Maracanã, missed the world premiere of the new PokerStars TV ad starring none other than the phenomenon. Who Viewed may have estranged. However, when as soon as hung up his boots, Ronaldo began to devote himself solely to business ventures.

Always connected with the ball, he created the 9INE. The company is dedicated to the representation of athletes from various sports. One of them, Andre Akkari, a member of Team PokerStars Pro and considered the best Brazilian player today's poker. Still part of the team Olympic field hockey champion, the Portuguese-Dutch Fatima Moreira de Melo. It is true that in mass culture there is a strong tendency to olympianism. That is, the promotion of individuals heroes, vedetes, a mix of over-human and human. But what will be the impact on the country of corruption imaginary watch on TV and internet celebrities of the caliber of the phenomenon betting big on hazard games?

1.3 – Hazard games against the grain the informative games

Without getting into the social, economic and psychological ills caused by hazard games, the use of celebrities in commercials this game genre completely reverses the logic in favor of games as mere information. After all, the historical demonization of the word game comes just hazard games. Are games where the possibility of winning or losing does not depend on the player's