CogNovo fellow Michael Straeubig gave two presentations at the Philosophy of Computer Games conference that took place in Malta during the first week of November. In his paper "Do Playful Systems Know That They Play?", he applied systems-theoretic thinking to a speculative epistemological question using the example of Nathan Drake, protagonist of the action adventure game series "Uncharted". Michael is working on the theoretical foundations and practical applications of this approach in his forthcoming thesis. His PhD project was subject of the second presentation "Concept and Design of Playful Systems", through which Michael contributed to the PhD consortium at the conference.
The tenth Philosophy of Computer Games conference was hosted by University of Malta's Institute of Digital Games during the first week of November 2016. The conference is described as an "annual, international academic event where scholars, students and game designers engage in philosophical discussions concerning issues raised by and with computer games". The conference featured panel discussions on game design as a critical reflexive practice and the meaning of game philosophy, paper presentations on a wide range of philosophical issues and three keynotes by Jos De Mul, Dan Pinchbeck and Katja Kwastek. For the first time, it also included a PhD consortium, making it possible for students to receive feedback and suggestions from a panel of selected mentors and from other PhD students.
CogNovo is an innovative doctoral program, funded by the EU Marie Curie initiative and Plymouth University, to foster research training in the emerging field of Cognitive Innovation. CogNovo offers transdisciplinary training that combines scientific studies of the neural correlates and mechanisms of creativity, with investigations into the role of creativity in human cognition, and their application in sustainable technological and social innovation.