make more mistakes

Make More Mistakes:Lessons Learned from Synthetic

World Construction

Mark BellIndiana University

Mark BellPhD Student

Indiana University

Social Networks Virtual World

Experimentation

15 Years Software Industry

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Virtual Congress

dusk

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A new tool for research

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The real world is not as real as you think

The virtual world is more real than you think

For research, virtuality or “gameness” does not matter

The idea is not radical

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Our experience

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Arden

Commercial-grade virtual world Data consciousness

MacArthur Foundation seed grant for 100 hours of game play by 500 people

Multiverse engineMedieval Somerset, History,

Shakespeare

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Transforming linear storylines into a non-linear world experience

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Create environment

Create things to do

Create systems by which to do them

Gather data & analyze results

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Result

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Some obstacles…

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No tried and true platform for creating a world

MultiverseNeverWinter Nights

Second LifeMetaplace

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Financial Resources

Labor Resources

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Academic investigator vs.

Fulltime development team

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Our approach was not feasible

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What would be the minimal conditions needed for a specific question?

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“Little Experiments”Need smaller-scale experiment tools

Each finely tailored for a specific questionInclude core elements of:

PersistenceCommunity

Space

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Arden 2

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Arden 2Neverwinter Nights

Based on D&D economyAllows us to fulfill obligation to MacArthur

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Conclusions

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Where to go from here?

Make More Mistakes

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Four approaches for researchLittle Experiments

Creation of New, Vast WorldsObservation of Natural ExperimentsCo-creation with Commercial Sector

Mark Belltypewritermark@gmail.comSL: Typewriter TackleberryFacebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

www.storygeek.com

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