UC Berkeley Asks - Are You 'Serious'?

On June 6, 2006, members of the game industry, cultural institutions, academics and students will discuss what the future of serious games holds at Down With Serious Games, a day-long event sponsored by the UC Berkeley Center for New Media, according to a rather cryptic message posted on the university's website. While the website for the event is rather mysterious, it does indicate that when attendees register at the reception desk, they choose to join one of four teams, the Challengers, the Pretenders, the Whirlers or the High Rollers. They also submit a paper copy of their game autobiography that will detail their background, as well as what games they play and enjoy. From there, participants and their teammates will decide how to meet the challenges of the three conference levels, each representing a different perspective on and stake within serious game development. In Level One, they define their stakes in Serious Games. In Level Two, they share your best advice for serious game design. Finally, in Level Three, they demonstrate their game development know-how by creating a game for all conference participants. Interesting parties can visit the Down With Serious Games official website for some additional information, including the schedule for the all-day event.