Social game studies at CHI 2011

Abstract

"Social games", defined as games played and distributed on Social Networks, have become a digital gaming phenomenon. The most popular games boast tens of millions of users each month, employing simple mechanics to reach a vast new audience that was apparently under-served by traditional digital games. Their enormous success raises important academic questions about game design, interface design, psychology and the social power of online networks. Social Game Studies at CHI 2011 is a one-day workshop at CHI 2011 that will bring together the CHI community with an inter-disciplinary mix of researchers and practitioners to share findings and explore the issues surrounding this emerging area of research into social games, and highlight the key questions, opportunities and challenges for future academic study.