Games @ Berkeley

A History and Theory of New Media conference co-sponsored by the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
with Jane McGonigal, Director of Game Research and Development, Institute for the Future; Greg Niemeyer, Data Artist and Professor of Media Innovation, UC Berkeley; Alex Leavitt, Principal Researcher, Roblox; Scotty Hoag, Interactive Software Engineer, Sphere Entertainment; Bo Ruberg, Professor, Film & Media Studies, School of Humanities, UC Irvine; Alenda Y. Chang, Associate Professor, Film & Media Studies, UC Santa Barbara; Christopher J. Goetz, Associate Professor, Cinematic Arts, University of Iowa; Rob Curl, Museum Historian and Research Manager at the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment; Phil Salvador, Library Director, Video Game History Foundation; Danny O'Dwyer, Founder, Noclip; Henry Lowood, Harold C. Hohbach Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections and Curator for Film & Media Collections, Stanford University Libraries
Video games are one of the most influential media technologies of the 21st century, and the Bay Area has long been a critical hub for game development, scholarship, and preservation. To celebrate BCNM's 20th anniversary, we're taking a look back to help us imagine what the future of game design and game studies can look like at UC Berkeley. This free day-long conference will explore the past, present, and future of video games, bringing together scholars, archivists, and industry-connected professionals to discuss their work and the unique role that UC Berkeley has played in it. We’re inviting you to the conversation - how can games and gaming be part of the next 20 years of BCNM?
Schedule
9:00-10:00 - Doors open, coffee and tea available
10:00-10:15 - Welcome from hosts
10:15-12:15 - Scholars Panel (Bo Ruberg, Alenda Y. Chang, Christopher J. Goetz)
12:15-1:30 - Lunch
1:30-3:00 - Archivists Panel (Rob Curl, Phil Salvador, Danny O'Dwyer, Henry Lowood)
3:00-3:15 - Break
3:15-4:45 - Industry Panel (Jane McGonigal, Greg Niemeyer, Alex Leavitt, Scotty Hoag)
4:45-5:00 - Wrap-up
More Info
Click here for the full 2024-25 History and Theory of New Media season.
Accessibility
BCNM events are free and open to the public. This event will be held in-person, on the UC Berkeley campus. We strive to meet all access and accommodation needs. Please contact info.bcnm [at] berkeley.edu with requests or questions.
We encourage attendees to take public transportation (BART, AC Transit) to Sutardja Dai Hall, as parking is extremely limited. We also invite attendees to visit restaurants on Euclid Ave, a couple blocks from Sutardja Dai Hall, for lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided.
BCNM is proud to make conversations with leading scholars, artists, and technologists freely available to the public. Please help us continue this tradition by making a tax-deductible donation today. If you are in the position to support the program, we suggest $5 per event, or $100 a year.