At last, a study on video games that is grounded in common sense. Two scientists say their results can best be summed up in one word: relax. It's okay for kids to play videogames. What's more, parents can enjoy gaming with their kids. The relationship between videogames and violence is anything but causal. One interesting finding: those middle school boys most likely to bully others are the ones who play no videogames at all.
posted to MetaFilter by misha at 1:28 PM on June 9, 2008 (52 comments)

What's the coolest non-traditional use of games (especially video games) that you have ever heard of?
posted to Ask Metafilter by blahblahblah at 11:34 AM on March 13, 2008 (25 comments)

Flow in Games: a Jenova Chen MFA thesis
'This site is currently focused on Jenova's MFA thesis research. It is about inventing new methodologies usable by the frontline game designers to help realizing dynamic flow experiences for different individuals and more importantly for potential gamers who are still out of the current video game market.'
Try the experimental game fl0w (instructions, more info, discussion). Learn more about the thesis methodology, or take a look at some further reading. [warning: site appears to be under development somewhat] (see also)

posted to MetaFilter by MetaMonkey at 9:21 PM on March 12, 2006 (24 comments)

How to deal with memories of long past embarrassments?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Riemann at 7:32 PM on March 4, 2008 (49 comments)

One Thousand Monkeys, One Thousand Typewriters is the largest online source of free role playing and story games. With so many choices, you may want to look at the winners of the 2006 Game Chef contest, with its interesting rules: Crime and Punishment, the RPG about being a writer for a crime procedural TV show; Liquid Crystal, about a robot with no memory; Time Traitor with its mysterious Factors; and the haunted house story Merryweather.
posted to MetaFilter by blahblahblah at 11:16 AM on February 15, 2008 (5 comments)

what's the secret handshake that gets me access to the interesting/unusual materials that designers and contractors can get ahold of?
posted to Ask Metafilter by phoeniciansailor at 11:11 PM on February 24, 2008 (17 comments)

Flirting with the Forbidden, for centuries, Romans and French have enjoyed the pleasures of a unique songbird. Once caught, this tiny bunting is kept in a small cage, where its eyes are poked out. It is then force fed oats, millet, and figs until it's plumped up to four times its size. It is subsequently drowned alive in cognac, roasted at high heat, then served as an exquisite - and illegal - meal. Traditionally the diner enjoys this delicacy - approximately the size of a human thumb - underneath an embroidered napkin. The head is bitten off, the entire body eaten in one crunchy bite. Said to embody the "soul of France," it was, reportedly, the last meal of Francois Mitterrand. Writer Michael Paterniti recreates the experience of dining on l'ortolan, superbly told in an episode of "This American Life."
posted to MetaFilter by Dr. Zira at 7:04 PM on February 20, 2008 (141 comments)

In 1996, Al Pope from the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturers announced "Our goal is to change the way schooling is done." And, with the School-to-Work program, corporate and educational interests became further intwined, a trend that now reaches every level and comes in many guises. The ever-present crisis of American education continues, but few ask: does it have to be this way, and just who benefits? [mostly via]
posted to MetaFilter by absalom at 1:53 PM on July 31, 2007 (45 comments)

Does anyone have a good cordial/liqueur recipe that uses fresh berries and everclear? If so, please share!
posted to Ask Metafilter by charlesroper at 2:09 PM on July 23, 2007 (8 comments)

The Digital Library of Appalachia presents an online collection of music files, images, literature, and scanned documents supplied by twelve regional college libraries.
posted to MetaFilter by Miko at 11:07 AM on June 22, 2006 (17 comments)

A few years ago I found an entertaining article online, where the author described playing Sims 2 to make life as difficult as possible for his main character. I seem to remember that he made the character colossally ugly, and that he made the house into a maze of twist little passages, all alike. I can't seem to find the article on the basis of these clues, though; does anyone remember this better than I do?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Johnny Assay at 9:35 PM on June 11, 2006 (11 comments)