Academics Can Be Fun and Games: These guys are the perfect candidates to design those games ripped from the headlines. You gotta know the plotline first.
Once dismissed as the pastime of geeks hunkered down in their dorm rooms, gaming has evolved into such a strong cultural and economic force in the United States that one school believes it’s worthy of academic study.The University of Southern California is planning to offer a minor degree in the topic in the fall of 2004, and it is believed to be the first major research university to do so.
War Games: Ripping stuff from the headlines works great for Law and Order, why not video games? Early next year, Kuma Reality Games plans to launch a service that will allow players to re-enact contemporary news events. Kuma's first product — centered on the war in Iraq — will brief players…