This week's 'Sunday Papers' roundup features a diverse collection of articles touching on the intersection of gaming, technology, and media. Topics range from the intricate safety protocols in live-action role-playing games to the profound societal implications of generative artificial intelligence and a look back at the early days of game development.
LARP Safety and Troupe Play
Chloe Mashiter examines the complex question of safety protocols within live-action role-playing (LARP) games, particularly those set within other LARP environments. The article details how games like 'The Castle' operate, where players embody characters who, in turn, portray personas within a medieval court setting. Mashiter highlights the crucial distinction between a player's real-world actions and their character's in-game behavior, emphasizing that a game can maintain safety for participants while the in-world narrative may explore darker themes.
Thomas Manuel, writing for Rascal, explores a large-scale 'Band of Blades' game that involved 30-60 players across an entire school. The piece discusses how troupe play and shared character ownership can foster a form of institution-building. Manuel also touches upon the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and draws a parallel to the narrative complexity found in 'Game of Thrones,' noting how diverse perspectives within a story are essential for appreciating the nuances of characters who cannot be easily categorized as purely good or evil.
Generative AI's Disruption
Several articles delve into the controversial impact of generative AI. A report from Futurism by Maggie Harrison Dupré and Jon Christian details the practices of Brown Brothers Media, a firm that acquires established journalism outlets and transforms them into AI-generated content farms. The authors describe the company's success in attracting audience attention through conventional media platforms while publishing what they term "oceans of trash" that would disqualify a human journalist, often responding to criticism with vague statements about AI ethics.
Further exposing the critiques of AI, 404 Media reports on unredacted court filings where executives from Microsoft and OpenAI acknowledge the potentially devastating impact of generative AI. One executive described it as the "largest theft of labor in human history," while another document from Microsoft noted that generative AI could "significantly disrupt the employment of the very people who generated the data on which the foundation model was trained." OpenAI itself recognized its technology as an "existential threat" to news publishers, with a software engineer testifying that users are unlikely to click through to original sources even when prominently displayed.
Nostalgia and Jank
In a shift towards historical reflection, a piece from 'Where Were They Now' revisits the early offices of MicroProse, a foundational video game developer. The blog post includes anecdotes about early game journalists operating in a less comment-driven era of media. It also recounts the company's official launch at the American embassy, an event that reportedly evoked memories of past protests for some attendees.
Finally, an article from Jank.cool documents a zero-budget attempt to play the game 'Wardogs.' The write-up offers a humorous account of the challenges faced, including a lack of proper gear, low-value missions, and constant setbacks. The author describes trying to earn money through various in-game activities, from rescuing downed players to delivering passengers, ultimately succumbing to snipers and crashes, highlighting the chaotic and often unrewarding experience of playing with no resources.