Archives: May 2006
Sun May 21, 2006
A virtual Skinner box?
Thanks to O'Reilly Radar for spotting this paper about MMOGs. It has a useful analysis of what these games need to succeed commercially. More...
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Sat May 20, 2006
DoD News: Media Availability at the Conclusion of the Multinational Experiment 4 Senior Leader Seminar in Brussels, Belgium
MNE 4 must be over because they've had the press conference. You tell me what it all means. More...
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Thu May 18, 2006
The role of art in society: a digression
Sitting in a client's office the other day, I noticed a print by Basil Beattie More...
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Sun May 14, 2006
What is the largest database in existence, and what might you do with it?
According to USA Today a database, collected by the NSA, of most telephone calls made in the USA since 2001, is the largest database in the world. A recent article on simulation demonstrates one more technique for getting useful information out of such huge piles of data. More...
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Outnumbered, ten to one.
The game America's Army currently claims 7,045,279 'total registered players'. The US Army currently has 'over 700,000' enlisted soldiers.
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The use of simulation by economists.
Interesting article in JASSS about the use of simulation in economics concludes that it is increasing, but the techniques are still not properly understood or used for what they are best at. More...
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Thu May 11, 2006
Teleconferences for the people
Just a comment on the 'democratisation' of software. Clickable Culture reports that the MMORPG Eve Online is now giving members real-time voice conferencing facilities. As I know from recent discussions in my day job, some of the world's largest companies still find quick and available conferencing a challenge.
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Sat May 06, 2006
Kirkyans - do they exist?
CSven described the 'Kirkyan', and Bruce Sterling (inventor of the spime) said: "How exhilirating to have practically no idea what this Second Life guy is talking about." As I like a challenge, I've been trying to understand the concept.
I conclude that Kirkyans, like unseen but dangerous aliens, already exist: they have been amongst us since at least 1986, slowly increasing their power, and we ought to know this.
More...
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Wed May 03, 2006
Oil spill response
In a comment on this blog, CSven askes for "any resources you could share that would further educate me to the oil spill containment problem". Here is a mini-essay I thought I might as well put on the blog, since it's partly about simulation. More...
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Contexts shape relationships
Fascintaing posting on John Hawks weblog argues that it is 'wrong' (but may be helpful) to talk in terms of human emotions like 'pride' - because pride (or dependency or aggresiveness) only really exists as an interaction between people. More...
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