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[Zack Bell]

I have to write an eight to ten page paper on something related to cyber-ethics...and I've been too busy making games and overcomplicating my Java programs for my other class  

So...help me choose my topic. Can be, but doesn't have to be game related.

 

EDIT: So far, the popular choices within the class are things like cloud computing and the FB privacy crap.

[leonelc29]

write about zynga. might be interesting.

[Zack Bell]

May actually do that. They've certainly had enough press about "copying" games and what not.

[rogerlevy]

write about E.A.

[Dacke]

You could write about the usage of free licenses (GPL, CreativeCommons, etc.) among indie game developers.

[Zack Bell]

I honestly don't know much about the different free licenses (other than seeing them mentioned here and there). That might be good for me to read up on either way...

And EA...

[theRayDog]

There's a lot of stuff to dig into with digital distribution and gaming. The effects (or non-effects, depending on your stance) of piracy on gaming and DRM for example. There's also the concerns over who really "owns" a steam or origin game, of the parent companies of those platforms have the right to shutdown access to all your games at any time (which they can and have done).

[Zack Bell]

The "who owns a Steam game" debate is actually one that I had originally be interested in. However, the only other "game person" in the class already decided on that topic 

So I'll have to go with another. I'm probably going to stay away from piracy and those topics because I figure they'll be more common.

Zynga sucks though, right? 

[theRayDog]

You could talk about the possible intentional or unintentional misuse of game mechanics and psychology that Zynga exploits to get people to open their wallets.

[Zack Bell]

I like that. That's kinda what I was leaning towards when I heard Zynga. The psychology behind addiction and how they exploit all of that.

[Tumetsu]

Talking about copycats, perhaps this is interesting read: http://www.i-programmer.info/news/112-theory/4102-the-artificial-life-of-the-app-store-the-best-strategy-to-succeed.html

[Zack Bell]

If I play my cards right...all of my research will come to me through tigs...

[Dacke]

I honestly don't know much about the different free licenses (other than seeing them mentioned here and there). That might be good for me to read up on either way...

I think you should read up on it either way!

GPL, the original copyleft license, focuses on freedom:

A program is free software if the program's users have the four essential freedoms:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
• The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.
• The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others

Creative Commons break it down to components that you can mix-and-match.

• Zero: do whatever you want
• Attribution: if you use it, you have to attribute the original creator
• Share Alike: you can reuse as you want, but you have to keep the license for the derivative work (copyleft)
• Non Commercial: you can't use it for commercial purposes (retarded, non-free limitation)
• No Derivative Works: you can share it but don't change it (non-free limitation)

[Superb Joe]

Rabbi, is it right to "choose" a perk?

[Blademasterbobo]

http://insertcredit.com/2011/09/22/who-killed-videogames-a-ghost-story/

(note that there is a next page button sorta hidden at the bottom of the article)