UNLVirtual
Spring 2011 Vol. 1 Issue 4
UNIVERSAL NEWSLETTER FOR VIRTUAL & DIGITAL MEDIA
this issue Minecraft: Computerized Legos P.1 Graduate Research Presentations P.2
Upcoming Events Minecraft GPSA Research Forum Paper and poster research presentations will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding student work. Date: Sat., March 26 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Location: Student Union room # 208
Digitizing the Death of Print? By Zeenath Haniff
The traditional print magazine has begun to make a noticeable shift into the digital world. Digital magazines on the Internet serve as an online version of the print issue, a marketing tool or an extension of the print publication. The question is whether simply adding a dot com to an existing
business would run the risk of competing with a company’s own existing print publication, considering a declining market for magazines. The study of the development in digital magazines within the last decade is still a fairly new phenomenon and lacks detailed research. Death of Print? Pg. 2
Minecraft: Computerized Legos Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Research Symposium Students from all departments of the College of Urban Affairs exhibit ongoing research with poster presentations. Open to the public. Date: Wed., April 20 Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Location: GUA Lobby, First and Second floors
By Zeenath Haniff
Developed by former game developer Markus Persson in 2009, Minecraft is a simple game consisting of building blocks in a variety of colors and surface textures. The game features avatars that have full capability to build architectural constructions and natural landscaping. Essentially, it is a “21st century online Legos” as one instructor points out. Known as the Minecraft Teacher, a computer teacher at a private lower school in New York City uses the game to teach geography to first and second grade students.
The students are able to construct buildings using basic blocks with few limitations. Teachers could easily customize activities to match the curriculum as the game does not have set boundaries or agendas for players. Furthermore, the Minecraft Teacher found that his students enjoyed the game enough to sign up for after-school courses outside his designated class time. The overwhelming success of Minecraft continues to grow as creator Persson develops the game into a fully downloadable client for public release.
UNLV College of Urban Affairs . Virtual & Digital Media . | Pg. 1
Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
Thoughts or Questions?
Upcoming Events Graduate and professional
Feel free to share your virtual or digital experiences and research findings. Need to find out more about virtual reality or e-newspapers? Ask us! Submit articles and questions to the Virtual & Digital Media office via email: haniffz@ unlv.nevada.edu.
Contact Info UNLV College of Urban Affairs Virtual & Digital Media 4505 Maryland Pkwy Box 455007 Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-5007 Lawrence Mullen, Ph.D. Director Phone: 702-895-4491 Email: lawrence.mullen@ unlv.edu Zeenath Haniff Research Assistant Phone 702-895-0035 Email: haniffz@ unlv.nevada.edu
students present ongoing research and studies
Graduate presenters This year’s graduate participants in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Research Symposium from the School of Journalism and Media Studies:
“Second Life Virtual Universities: A Visual Analysis” by Zeenath Haniff and Professor Lawrence Mullen
“Is New Media Changing the Message? An Analysis of the Effect of Online News Consumption of Public Knowledge” by Jessica Wheeler
“Effects of Viral Marketing and Social Media on Low Budget Documentary Distribution” by Robert Cochrane
“The Relationship Between Integrated Marketing Communications and Brand Authenticity” by Sullivan Charles
“Fan Fiction and Roleplaying: How Twilight Fans are Using Social Media” by Nichole Kazimirovicz
Death of Print? cont. pg. 1
The recent trend in print magazines is diminished proceeds from their usual customers – advertisers who typically bought space between the pages. Advertisers are leaving print magazines, partially explaining the overall decreased circulation and revenues in the industry. A look at magazine advertisements in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2008 showed a 17.1% drop in sales from the previous year. At the same time, average monthly unique visitors to 476 online magazine sites totaled 75 million, or an 11% increase over 2007 statistics. Despite an increasing interest in online versions of print publications, digital magazines may not be able to profit independently and narrowly compete with their print predecessors. It is suggested that an online version of a print magazine may be able to complement the traditional publication rather than replace it. This niche industry remains unexplored and is undergoing closer scrutiny by media researchers. UNLV College of Urban Affairs . Virtual & Digital Media . | Pg. 2