The Extratextuals

I went to see the filming of the Martha Stewart Show this week. A former student was an intern there, and very kindly arranged for my wife and I to go. I can’t say I’m a fan, though I’m not an anti-fan either: Martha’s often surprised me by not being the stereotype she’s purported to be. She also has a reputation for giving away freebies, and I love seeing how shows happen, so I was keen to go. More after the fold …

Read more…

Uncategorized hyperreality, live audience, Martha Stewart

I’ve been playing quite a bit of GTA4 recently. Its graphics and world-building are remarkable, often beautiful, and really intricate. What I’m finding very interesting, though, is the experience of playing this game, ostensibly set in New York City (even if called Liberty City), while living in the city myself. I’ve got some observations about this, and then, towards the end of this post, I apply them to a consideration of spinoff and licensed games.

Read more…

videogames computer games, Grand Theft Auto, GTA, hyperreality, licensed games, videogames