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How AI is Helping in Preserving and Restoring Classic Games

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the preservation and restoration of classic video games, addressing challenges such as low-resolution graphics, poor audio quality, and outdated hardware. AI enhances visual fidelity through upscaling techniques, restores audio by removing noise and recreating lost elements, and improves game emulation accuracy.

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Functional play in the abstract: an interview with game studies author Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald, UW–Madison Assistant Professor, explores the evolution and cultural significance of 2D platformers in his book Run And Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer. Focusing on the genre's history from Super Mario Bros. to modern indie games, McDonald examines how platformers foster a unique connection between generations of players.

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Players, creators, and AI collaborate to build and expand rich game narratives

In the paper "Player-Driven Emergence in LLM-Driven Game Narrative," the authors explore how large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 can enhance game narratives by empowering players to contribute creatively. Instead of replacing designers, LLMs enable dynamic interactions with nonplayer characters (NPCs), offering designers valuable feedback.

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Pattern Recognition and Predictive Thinking: A Gamer’s Guide to Smarter Play

Pattern recognition and predictive thinking are key skills for smarter play in online casino games. Players analyze patterns in games like baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and poker to make informed decisions. Recognizing trends, such as repeating sequences in roulette or behavioral cues in poker, can provide a strategic advantage.

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GENEVA uses large language models for interactive game narrative design

Mastering storytelling is essential in various media, and recent advancements in AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), have sparked interest in their ability to generate engaging narratives. This research introduces GENEVA, a tool that utilizes GPT-4 for creating and visualizing branching narratives in graph format.

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Functional play in the abstract: an interview with game studies author Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald, an assistant professor at UW–Madison, explores the philosophies of 2D platformers in his book Run And Jump: The Meaning Of The 2D Platformer. He highlights how indie developers, free from corporate constraints, have revived the intimate spirit of these games, which originated in the 1980s with titles like Super Mario Bros.

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America’s First Board Game Was an Idealized ‘Travellers’ Tour’ Through a Young Nation

In 2023, the board game industry reached $16.8 billion, projected to hit $40.1 billion by 2032, with classics being revitalized and new games gaining popularity. A visit to the American Antiquarian Society revealed “The Travellers’ Tour Through the United States,” the first board game printed in the U.S. in 1822, which utilized a map of the country.

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