Gonzalo Frasca
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo Frasca is a game designer and academic researcher
focusing on serious and political videogames. His weblog
, Ludology.org, was an important publication during the early 2000s for academic researchers studying video games (see ludology for more information). For many years, Frasca also co-published Watercoolergames with Ian Bogost, a blog about serious games.
Frasca is originally from Uruguay
, where he established Powerful Robot Games
, a videogame studio in Montevideo
. In video game theory, Frasca belongs to the group of so called "ludologists", who consider video games to be simulations based on rules. They see video games as the first simulational media for the masses - which means a paradigm shift in media consumption and production.
Frasca's game studies are evolved from the work of Norwegian game academic Espen J. Aarseth
. Beginning in December 2004, Frasca has studied games at the Center for Computer Games Research at the IT University of Copenhagen
. He received his PhD
in Videogames studies on August 2007.
His most famous game is the art game
, September 12, a response to the 9/11 attacks. It's based on the political argument that a direct military response will only increase the likelihood of further terrorist attacks on the West. In spite of being controversial at its launch, it is now recognized as a notable early example of both political videogame and newsgame
. In 2009 it received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Knight Foundation. Frasca is also credited with coining the term Newsgame
to refer to a videogame based on real, newsworthy events.
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
focusing on serious and political videogames. His weblog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, Ludology.org, was an important publication during the early 2000s for academic researchers studying video games (see ludology for more information). For many years, Frasca also co-published Watercoolergames with Ian Bogost, a blog about serious games.
Frasca is originally from Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, where he established Powerful Robot Games
Powerful Robot Games
Powerful Robot Games is a game development studio based in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was founded in 2002 by game researcher Gonzalo Frasca and Sofía Battegazzore....
, a videogame studio in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. In video game theory, Frasca belongs to the group of so called "ludologists", who consider video games to be simulations based on rules. They see video games as the first simulational media for the masses - which means a paradigm shift in media consumption and production.
Frasca's game studies are evolved from the work of Norwegian game academic Espen J. Aarseth
Espen J. Aarseth
-External links:*...
. Beginning in December 2004, Frasca has studied games at the Center for Computer Games Research at the IT University of Copenhagen
IT University of Copenhagen
The IT University of Copenhagen is a Danish globally oriented, independent university.The IT University of Copenhagen was established in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1999. At that time, it was - in Danish - called "IT-højskolen"...
. He received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Videogames studies on August 2007.
His most famous game is the art game
Art game
An art game or arthouse game is a video game that is designed in such a way as to emphasize art or whose structure is intended to produce some kind of reaction in its audience. Art games typically go out of their way to have a unique, unconventional look, often standing out for aesthetic beauty or...
, September 12, a response to the 9/11 attacks. It's based on the political argument that a direct military response will only increase the likelihood of further terrorist attacks on the West. In spite of being controversial at its launch, it is now recognized as a notable early example of both political videogame and newsgame
Newsgame
Newsgames are a genre of video game defined by their rapid creation in response to current events. They can be thought of as the video game equivalent of political cartoons...
. In 2009 it received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Knight Foundation. Frasca is also credited with coining the term Newsgame
Newsgame
Newsgames are a genre of video game defined by their rapid creation in response to current events. They can be thought of as the video game equivalent of political cartoons...
to refer to a videogame based on real, newsworthy events.
External links
- Ludology.org - Gonzalo Frasca's homepage
- WaterCoolerGames.org - A blog on videogames with an agenda, written by both Frasca and Ian Bogost
- Powerful Robot Games, game development studio co-founded by Frasca
- Information, Design, and Technology - Frasca received his M.S. in Information, Design, and Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2001
- September 12th browser game