Ben Hourigan Writer and editor.

14Oct/0511

An article and an interview

About two weeks I had my first ever paid-for article published. “Are Videogames Conservative?” appeared in the September edition of The IPA Review (57:3).

Today, Libby Price, a presenter on Melbourne radio station 3LO, got in contact with me to do a radio interview. I managed to schedule a break in my Berlitz training so I could do the interview live from Ôsaka at about 16:40 Australian time. Thanks for the opportunity, Libby: it was great fun. Dad managed to tape the interview for me, and played it back to me over Skype tonight. It sounded really nice: a good, relaxed interview. Not bad for a first try.

First article, first radio interview. What a couple of weeks it’s been… And that’s even without considering my move to Ôsaka, and my new job.

2Jul/050

MIT Blog Survey

Today I did a survey that MIT is carrying out. The questions focus on what your blogging practice is like, and on what kinds of people you know personally. If you read this and keep a blog, give it a go. Hell, there sure are stupider internet surveys you could do. Thanks to dogpossum for the link.

Take the MIT Weblog Survey

20Mar/053

Thesis: Ch. 1–Introduction

Today I’ve posted the frontmatter and introduction of my PhD thesis on role-playing videogames, which now has its own page here.

I’m really hoping to get some feedback on this, especially from gamers. Some reasons why you should read the thesis as I serialise it, so you can give me comments:

  • It’s the only book-length work in English on (videogame) RPGs, so if you’ve ever wanted to read one, this is your only option.
  • It features me being pugnacious.
  • Reading it won’t make your mind contort painfully in an effort to decipher incomprehensible nonsense.

So get to it! Further chapters will appear as I finish editing them. Post comments for discussion on the relevant blog entry, or email them to me directly.