Technology Update & Initial Mii Materials

Although I have got the DV bridge to work the FCP software that I thought I had secured hasn't turned up. I have ordered FCE instead from the Apple Online Store for Education. Hopefully it will arrive in the next few days and I can start editing some of the Wii play/output footage together for analysis. Unfortunately iMovie doesn't provide me with the capability to use two video channels so I can make little progress, other than to import and view footage to highlight areas of interest.

I have included some images below that shows the Mii characters/avatars created by Becky and myself when the console was first played (displayed with images of our 'real' selves). I hope to provide further commentary on this process of creating an avatar using the tools and processes provided by the Wii interface at a later date:



The following images show two screen shots of the development of our Wii characters in progress with the third screen shot showing the final version decided upon.

Becky's Mii (creation and final version):



My Mii (creation and final version):



I recently purchased a book by Robbie Cooper entitled 'Alter Ego', (which can be purchased here). It offers contrasting photographs of game players and their digital avatars with examples from the original MUDS through to Second Life. The contrast between those who try to replicate their real selves in their avatar and those that create a fantasy version of themselves is very interesting. Further investigation into this area is required with regard to Mii creation on the Wii and the way in which avatars are used/what they represent for players and viewers of computer based games. See the following links for further details on the avatar work from Robbie Cooper:

http://www.confundo.net/AlterEgo/index.html

http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts/alterego_4620.jsp