A Gizmodo article describes the problem:
"The enzyme in question is the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus retroviral protease, and researchers have been seeking ways of deactivating it as a way of developing new anti-HIV drugs. Unfortunately, the conventional efforts of computers and scientists have come up short for years."
This is not the first problem of this type that Foldit users have solved - their website links to some other examples, as well as other current real world scientific problems Foldit players are working to solve (http://fold.it/portal/info/science)
The full citation to the article is:
Khatib, Firas, et al "Crystal structure of a monomeric retroviral protease solved by protein folding game players." Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 18 September 2011.
"Trash Tycoon has players collecting glass, organic, plastic, architectural elements, paper, and jewelry. By using other tools like worms for composting, players are shown the kinds of useful products that can be made from recyclable goods."
]]>Murder at Seibel Center - Efe Karakus, networking researcher and gentleman of fortune, was found dead at his computer while nearing the conclusion of his PHD thesis. His body showed no signs of struggle nor notable damage. He was simply found staring blankly at the unfinished sentence: "My results conclude that, soon, there will be an end to...". As a detective, you must solve this curious case. Designed by Thomas Loboda.
UIUC Engineering Quad Tour - An interactive and real time virtual tour guide of the UIUC engineering quad, designed by Nate Kemavaha.
For more information and screenshots of the games, see http://www.library.illinois.edu/gaming/aris.html
Make augmented reality games, stories, and activities for mobile phones. This event provides an opportunity to collaborate with creative programmers, storytellers, and others to design apps using the ARIS software, created at the University of Wisconsin. The goal is to design a game in 2 days, and share the games you create with others in the ARIS community. The ACM Gamebuilders and Undergraduate Library will host the event, and provide orientation to the software as well as iPads and iPod touches for event use.
Details: Monday, 4/18 from 7-9pm and Tuesday, 4/19 from 7-10pm in room 295 UGL.
More information on the ARIS software and the event is available here:
http://arisgames.org/global-game-jam-2011/
The goal of the project is to accelerate the tedious task of manually verifying millions of words to improve searching and recall of items from the library's digital archives. Read more about "Digitalkoot" (Digital Volunteers) here:
http://www.digitalkoot.fi/en/splash
They were competing in the American Library Association's annual online Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament, part of ALA's National Gaming Day. Each match pitted two players each from two libraries in a free-for-all brawl. In 10 preliminary matches, UIUC's players logged nine 1-2 finishes, good for fourth place among 50+ libraries, and one of eight spots in the direct elimination playoffs.
The problem with a winning streak, though, is it has to end some time. UIUC lost a squeaker in the first round of the playoffs and was eliminated.
Nonetheless, the merciless thrashings doled out by UIUC's team were impressive. Thanks, to "DW7," "ERJ," "Paco," and "Kevin" for representing the UGL!
]]>Students can represent the University of Illinois in a national Super Smash Bros Brawl tournament. Qualifying rounds start at 11am, and the top four brawlers will compete online against other libraries. The top four contestants also will win a gift card from the Undergraduate Library for Exile on Main Street.
During the day you can also take an OpenGL workshop to learn the basics of computer graphics, play selections from our vintage and modern gaming collections, and more. The schedule is as follows:
11:00 am - 4:00 pm: Open gaming with items from the UGL’s collection!
11:00 am: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament
2:00 pm: Video Game Graphics Workshop in room 295
For more information, see the event description at our Gaming Initiatives page: http://www.library.illinois.edu/gaming/events.html
You can also contact Joseph Roberts (robert52@illinois.edu) or David Ward (dh-ward@illinois.edu) for more information regarding the rules or events.
]]>The gam itself can be found at http://www.bibliobouts.org/ with username "demo@bibliobouts.org" and password "demo". There are also example videos of gameplay available at the bottom of the Instructor FAQ.
Funded in part by MacArthur and Gates' Foundation grants, the school is run by a combination of game designers and teachers, notably game designer Katie Salen. Their approach to learning is in part described by the article's author:
"Quest to Learn is organized specifically around the idea that digital games are central to the lives of today’s children and also increasingly, as their speed and capability grow, powerful tools for intellectual exploration."
"At its best, game design can be an interdisciplinary exercise involving math, writing, art, computer programming, deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills. If children can build, play and understand games that work, it’s possible that someday they will understand and design systems that work. And the world is full of complicated systems. "
For more details, see:
Corbett, Sara. "Learning to Play" New York Times Magazine, September 15th, 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/magazine/19video-t.html?_r=2&hp
The blog post goes into some detail about how Abbot worked with colleagues across campus to get the game added to the reading list, and also some of the technical details they are working through to make the game available to students in selected sections of the class.
]]>"The International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) collects, studies, and interprets electronic games and related materials and the ways in which electronic games are changing how people play, learn, and connect with each other, including across boundaries of culture and geography."
Their collection includes arcade games, consoles, game literature, and research no games. Browse their collections here:
http://www.museumofplay.org/collections/online/index.php?m=4
Manuals range from early gaming platforms like the Amiga, Atari 2600, Magnavox Odyssey, etc. to more modern titles. See http://www.replacementdocs.com/index.php for more details.
]]>Their results closely parallel other prime times for media (7pm-11pm). The study also analyzes how long the "1 vs 100" game was played, and by whom, and, according to Gerardo Guzman, from Nielsen Games, “What makes this pilot study so important is the potential for precise audience segmenting. As more game companies and advertisers participate in studies like these, we’re able to define and refine an efficient set of metrics for gaming that can be compared against other media.”
]]>Dinner is provided - how can you go wrong? More details and sign-up are available at:
https://agora.cs.illinois.edu/display/gamebuilders/Gamebuild-a-thon
The event takes place on Thursday, April 8 th from 7-10pm in room 291 of the Undergraduate Library.
For more information, contact David Ward (dh-ward@illinois.edu)
Check out our guide to gaming industry careers (including job descriptions, job hunting websites, and various insider tips) at: http://uiuc.libguides.com/gamingcareers
]]>