Kestrell

Two lists, the first by Brenda Brathwait
http://bbrathwaite.wordpress.com/reading/
--note that if you know anyone who is looking for books on how to design games this is a great place to start--
and
the annual AbleGamers shopping guide for gamers with disabilities
http://www.ablegamers.com/game-news/ablegamers-2010-holiday-shopping-guide.html
although this last focuses strongly on games and devices for gamers with mobility impairments and is completely lacking anything which could be played by blind gamers--one more reason to love Echo Bazaar.

Please join us Thursday for this week's CMS Colloquium, with Richard Rouse speaking about "Cinematic Games".

When: Thursday 10/29, 5pm
Where: MIT Building 4, Room 231

Richard Rouse III is a game designer and writer, best known for The Suffering horror games and his book Game Design: Theory & Practice. He is currently the Lead Single Player Designer on the story-driven first-person shooter Homefront at Kaos Studios in New York City.

"Cinematic Games"
Many people talk about "cinematic" games, but what does this really mean? Over their century of existence, films have been using a range of techniques to create specific emotional responses in their audience. Instead of simply using more cut-scenes, better script writers, or making more heavily scripted game experiences, game designers can look to film techniques as an inspiration for new techniques that accentuate what games do well. This lecture will present film clips from a number of classic movies, analyze how they work from a cinematic standpoint, and then suggest ways these techniques can be used in gameplay to create even more stimulating experiences for gamers, including examples from games that have successfully bridged the gap.
The CMS Colloquium Series
Provides an intimate and informal exchange between a visiting speaker and CMS faculty, students, visiting scholars and friends. Each week during the term, we host a figure from academia, industry, or the art world to speak about their work and its relation to our studies. These sessions are free, open to the public, and serve as an excellent introduction to our program.

Podcasts are available following each event.