Digital Games and Online Worlds
Digital games and online worlds are socially relevant in many respects. They offer the opportunity to compete against other people, but also to interact and communicate with them. Increasingly penetrating our everyday life, they influence our perception of reality.
With its corresponding research programme, the Institute is investigating the diffusion, the use and the functions of digital games and online worlds and their effects on society. Research results get transferred to politics, regulatory authorities, businesses and non-profit organisations by events and lecture series as well as by papers and presentations. The evaluation of the regulations for the protection of minors in the case of computer and video games or the analysis of “online games” are examples of these contributions.
Publications
Schulz, W.; Heilmann, S. (2009): Reales Recht und virtuelle Welten [Real Law and Virtual Worlds]. Berlin (pdf-file).
Lampert, C.; Schwinge, C.; Tolks, D. (2009): Der gespielte Ernst des Lebens: Bestandsaufnahme und Potenziale von Serious Games (for Health) [Playing Life Seriously: Inventory and Potential of Serious Games (for Health)]. In: MedienPädagogik. Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung (Themenheft 15/16: Computerspiele und Videogames in formellen und informellen Bildungskontexten) [Media Education. Magazine for Theory and Practice of Media Education (Issue 15/16: Computer Games and Video Games in Formal and Informal Contexts of Education] (pdf-file).
Schmidt, J.; Dreyer, S.; Lampert, C. (2008): Spielen im Netz. Zur Systematisierung des Phänomens “Online-Games” [Playing on the Net. Systematising the Phenomenon of Online-Games”]. Hamburg (Working papers of the Hans Bredow Institute No. 19, pdf-file).
Brunn, I.; Dreyer, S. (2008): Jugendschutz für Spiele – ein Spiel für den Jugendschutz? Was die Novellierung des Jugendmedienschutzes dem Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele gebracht hat [The Protection of Minors and Games – A Game for the Protection of Minors? What the Amendment of the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media has achieved]. In: O. Zimmermann, T. Geißler (Eds.), Streitfall Computerspiele: Computerspiele zwischen kultureller Bildung, Kunstfreiheit und Jugendschutz. 2nd Edition, Berlin, pp. 70-73.
Brunn, I.; Dreier, H.; Dreyer, S.; Hasebrink, U.; Held, T.; Lampert, C.; Schulz, W. (2007): Das deutsche Jugendschutzsystem im Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele [The German System for the Protection of Minors in the Area of Video and Computer Games]. Hamburg (pdf-file).
Brunn, I.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Jugendschutz für Spiele – ein Spiel für den Jugendschutz? Was die Novellierung des Jugendmedienschutzes dem Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele gebracht hat [The Protection of Minors and Games – A Game for the Protection of Minors? What the Amendment of the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media has achieved]. In: politik und kultur – Zeitung des Deutschen Kulturrates 1/2008, pp. 37-38.
Schulz, W.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Möglichkeiten und Grenzen gesetzlicher Jugendschutzvorgaben. Über das Verhältnis von Recht und Realität im Jugendmedienschutz. Artikel im Dossier “Verbotene Spiele?” der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung [Possibilities and Limits of Legal Provisions for the Protection of Minors. On the Relationship of Law to Reality in the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media. Article in the Dossier ‘Forbidden Games?’ from the Federal Centre for Civic Education] (available).
Schulz, W.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Verfassungsrecht und Jugendmedienschutz. Staatlicher Schutzauftrag und entgegenstehende Grundrechte. Artikel im Dossier “Verbotene Spiele?” der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung [Constitutional Law and the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media. Article in the Dossier ‚Forbidden Games?’ from the Federal Centre for Civic Education] (available).
Events
As a pre-conference to the ECREA 2010, the Hans Bredow Institute, the Hamburg Media School, and the Ilmenau University of Technology host a symposium in Hamburg on 12 October 2010, in order to discuss and analyse the complex relationships between users and “avatars” – computer generated visual representations of users.
"More Fun, More Risk? Video- und Computerspiele als Herausforderung für den Jugendschutz" [More Fun, More Risk? Video and Computer Games as Challenge for the Protection of Minors], international interdisciplinary conference in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the State Ministries for Youth in Berlin on 16 and 17 October 2008. (further information)
“Online Communities und kommerzielle Kommunikation” [Online Communities and commercial Communication], lecture by H. Dreier in the context of the lecture series “Games online” in the winter semester 2007/08 at the HAW Hamburg on 27 November 2007.
“Digitale Spiele und ihre Plattformen I: PC” [Digital Games and their Platforms I: PC], lecture by H. Dreier in the context of the lecture series “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 25 April 2007.
“Games – ein kulturelles, gesellschaftliches und ökonomisches Phänomen” [Games – a Cultural, Social and Economic Phenomenon], lecture by U. Hasebrink and H. Dreier to introduce the lecture series, “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 4 April 2007.
Lectures
"Spielend gesund? - Games für die Medizin" [Playing Healthy? - Games for Medicine], lecture by C. Lampert at the 11th German Games Tage in Berlin on 4 May 2011.
“Oh no, that hurts! – Categorization of Sanctions Against Avatars”, lecture by S. Dreyer at the ECREA Pre-Conference “Avatars and Humans” in Hamburg on 12 October 2010.
“Youth Protection Overload. Dystopie eines falsch verstandenen Games-Jugendschutzes” [Youth Protection Overload. Dystopia of a Misunderstood Youth Protection in Games], lecture by S. Dreyer at the F.R.O.G. Conference “Future and Reality of Gaming (F.R.O.G.) 2010” in Vienna on 24 September 2010.
“Klassifizierungssysteme für die Anbieterkennzeichnung im JMStV 2011” [Classification Systems for Provider Identification in JMStV 2011], lecture by S. Dreyer at the event “Wie klassifiziert man Online-Spiele und andere Inhalte selbst?” [How Can Online Games and Other Contents be Classified?] at the Games Convention Online in Leipzig on 9 July 2010.
"Jugendmedienschutz zwischen Recht und Nationalgesellschaften: Über die Fülle der kulturellen Hintergründe und regulatorischen Entwicklungspfade in den EU-Staaten" [Media Protection of Minors between Law and National Societies: On the Abundance of Cultural Backgrounds and Regulatory Paths in EU Countries], lecture by S. Dreyer in the context of the event "Jugendmedienschutz bei Onlinespielen: Zwischen kultureller Vielfalt und nationalen Besonderheiten" at the Medientreffpunkt Mitteldeutschland on 4 May 2010.
"There‘s a Train A-coming: Challenges in Implementing a Global Rating System", lecture by S. Dreyer at the 19th Transatlantic Dialogue during the medienforum.nrw in Cologne on 23 June 2009.
"Zum Abhängigkeits- und Suchtpotential von Computerspielen" [On the Addiction Potential of Computer Games], participation of U. Hasebrink in an expert hearing of the federal states Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia in Hanover on 8 June 2009.
"Der informierte Verbraucher als Leitbild. Ziele, Prozeduren und Grenzen von Verbraucherinformationssystemen in Europa" [The Informed Consumer as a Model. Objectives, Procedures and Limits of Consumer Information Systems in Europe], lecture by S. Dreyer at the 18th Transatlantic Dialogue of the State Media Authorities (LfM) - "Kennzeichnung von Online-Inhalten" [Labelling of Online Content] in Düsseldorf on 3 March 2009.
"Rechtsprobleme in virtuellen Welten - Erscheinungsformen virtueller Welten, Rechtsprobleme im Bereich des Zivil-, Persönlichkeits-, Urheber- und Strafrechts und Regulierungsbedarf" [Legal Issues in Virtual Worlds - Appearances of Virtual Worlds, Legal Issues in the Areas of Civil, Personal, Copyright and Criminal Law and Demand for Regulation], lecture by F. Zimmermann at the seminar of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung "Neue Medien - Neue Herausforderungen" [New Media - New Challenges] in Hamburg on 30 November 2008.
„Faszination Computerspiele: Was wissen wir und was können wir tun?“ [Fascination Computer Games: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?], seminar and lecture by C. Lampert at the annual conference of the Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS) [German Central Office for Questions Regarding Addiction] in Bielefeld on 11 November 2008 (with M. Große-Loheide und J. Sleegers).
"Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice und Entscheidungspfade" [Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice and Pathways for Decisions], lecture by Stephan Dreyer at the 16th Transatlantic Dialogue - "Labeling for Online-Games in the Web 2.0" in Cologne on 7 November 2008. (presentation available here)
"Do we need an Online Game-Specific Youth Protection?", participation by W. Schulz in panel at the European conference "More Fun, More Risk? Digital Games as a Challenge for the Protection of Minors" in Berlin on 16 and 17 October 2008.
„Exzessive Computerspielenutzung - Was lässt sich präventiv tun?“ [Excessive Use of Computer Games – What can be done preemptively?], lecture by C. Lampert at the annual conference of the technical committee for addiction prevention „Enter – Control – Escape“ in Hamburg on 1 November 2008 (with M. Große-Loheide).
“Gemeinschaftsbildung durch Computerspiele” [Forming Communities through Computer Games], lecture by J.-H. Schmidt at the seminar “Jugend und elektronische Medien” of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Eichholz on 24 July 2008.
"Beziehung zwischen dem virtuellen und realem Recht" [Relationship Between Virtual and Real Law], lecture by W. Schulz at the workshop "Reales Recht für virtuelle Welten" [Real Law for Virtual Worlds], hosted by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Hans Bredow Institute in Berlin on 28 May 2008.
“‘Killer’-Spiele: Wegsehen? Verbieten? Verharmlosen?” [‘Killer’ Games: Ignore? Forbid? Play Down?], participation in podium discussion by S. Dreyer at the symposium of the working group for the protection of minors Hamburg and the North Elbe Evangelical Office for Young People in Hamburg on 7 December 2007.
“In-Game Advertising und die rechtlichen Implikationen” [In–Game Advertising and the Legal Implications], pariticipation in a podium discussion by S. Dreyer in the context of the 4. GfM (eGame Marketing) World Congress on 28 March 2007 in Berlin.
"Spielerisch regeln – Virtuelle Regulierungsformen als Alternative zum Real-Life-Recht" [Regulating Playfully – Virtual Forms of Regulation as an Alternative to Real-Life-Law], lecture by S. Dreyer at the Computerspiele Camp(us) Cologne on 6 November 2008.
Contact person
Hans-Bredow-Institut
Dependance
Warburgstraße 8-10
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Tel. +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 83
Fax +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 99