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Public scholars

William Robinson

I explore the possibilities of peer-reviewed game design, producing research–creation in the form of rules and goals to transmit academic findings.

William Robinson is affiliated with the Centre for Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG). He has written on historical games, the art of code, and amateur game design. His dissertation argues that 'serious games' can explore social problems. Robinson has used the unique features of games to address a range of topics, including federal politics, high school suicide, and net neutrality. He is currently co-authoring a public game for the Place-des-Festivals.

Discipline

Humanities (Game Studies, Cultural Studies, Communication Studies)

Languages

English, French

Supervisors

Darren Wershler, Bart Simon and Mia Consalvo

William's blog posts

  • Ideologies of a Blockchain
    Posted on February 6, 2018 | By William Robinson
    Bitcoin started as a libertarian utopia, but you can never predict what procedures actually do in the wild. Today, we can see it morph ideologically to fit society's wants and needs. Read more
  • The Cultural Impact of Blockchain Technology
    Posted on December 19, 2017 | By William Robinson
    This past year, I stopped studying games to focus on different sets of rules. Those of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. Read more
  • A Serious Climate Change Game
    Posted on October 19, 2017 | By William Robinson
    For anyone looking to learn more about climate change, there is a game for that. Fate of the World is an ultra-complex and hyper-difficult simulator of the political action required to survive the next century. Read more
  • Place des Alts
    Posted on September 6, 2017 | By William Robinson
    Les Alts, a Concordian design team, made a public installation and puzzle game for Place des Arts. Read more
  • Playing with politics
    Posted on May 23, 2017 | By William Robinson
    The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) will elect a new leader at the end of the month. There are 13 candidates vying for votes. The process is complicated, but not to a citizen who understands games. Read more

In focus: William Robinson by Robin Pineda Gould

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