偶然のフロンティア -格闘ゲームは研究できるｰ The unexpectedly Frontier | Wakana Hirai | TEDxUTokyo

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of becoming the world's first researcher of the fighting game 'Tekken', inspired by a tweet asking if anyone would write about the correlation between the game's player style and lifestyle. Despite initial plans to have a more accomplished individual write the paper, the speaker found themselves taking on the task after failed attempts to engage both academics and players. The speaker's research delves into why fighting games are engaging and why certain players excel, drawing on a wide range of disciplines from advanced mathematics to analytical philosophy. They also explore the concept of 'mimesis' from Aristotle, applying ancient concepts to modern media. The talk highlights the potential for academic research in the field of eSports and digital games, emphasizing the importance of continuous thinking and the ability to view problems from different angles to achieve unique and impactful results.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The speaker discovered a tweet requesting a paper on the correlation between Tekken players' playstyles and lifestyles, which inspired them to write about it, leading to their role as the world's first Tekken researcher.
• 🧐 The speaker believes that researchers are always thinking and seeking knowledge, which led to the opportunity to study Tekken from an academic perspective.
• 📈 E-sports, including fighting games like Tekken, are gaining popularity worldwide, yet there is still room for academic research in this field.
• 🤔 The speaker questions why fighting games are interesting and why certain players are strong, aiming to clarify these questions through research.
• 📚 The research spans various disciplines, from advanced mathematics to analytical philosophy, indicating a comprehensive approach to understanding the game.
• 🎨 The speaker is a researcher of Aristotle, particularly focusing on the concept of 'mimesis', which suggests that all art works are imitations of some form.
• 📖 Tekken is considered an artistic work with realistic fighting scenes, and the speaker attempts to apply ancient concepts to modern media.
• 🕹️ The unique feature of the Tekken system is the联动 (linkage) between the controller buttons and the in-game actions, which was a deliberate effort to make commands and character actions as consistent as possible.
• 📊 The speaker's research approach includes trying to get researchers to play the game and attempting to turn players into researchers, but both attempts faced challenges due to differing interests and values.
• 📝 Despite the lack of others willing to write the academic paper, the speaker decided to write it themselves, becoming an unintentional pioneer in the field.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuously thinking from different perspectives, which can lead to unique and valuable insights.
• 🚀 The speaker encourages the audience to think beyond conventional wisdom and to consider that even seemingly impossible ideas can lead to significant achievements.

Q & A

What did the speaker discover on SNS that inspired them to become a researcher?

The speaker discovered a tweet asking if anyone could write a paper on the correlation between Tekken players' playstyles and lifestyles, which inspired them to take up the challenge and become the world's first Tekken researcher.

Why did the speaker decide to write a paper on Tekken playstyles and lifestyles?

The speaker felt a strong conviction that they could write the paper, turning a professional player's joke into a reality and becoming a pioneer in Tekken research.

What is the significance of the speaker's research in the context of eSports?

The speaker's research is significant because it explores the academic side of eSports, particularly in the popular genre of fighting games like Tekken, which are gaining popularity worldwide as a new form of competition.

What philosophical concept does the speaker reference in their research?

The speaker references the concept of 'mimesis' from Aristotle's philosophy, which posits that all artistic works are imitations in some way, and applies this ancient concept to modern media like digital games.

How does the speaker describe the Tekken game system's unique feature?

The speaker describes the Tekken game system's unique feature as the synchronization between the controller buttons and the in-game character actions, with an effort to make the commands and the character's physical actions on screen as consistent as possible.

What challenges did the speaker face when trying to get others to write the Tekken paper?

The speaker faced challenges such as a lack of interest from researchers and players, with the former not showing up and the latter preferring in-game victories over academic praise.

Why did the speaker decide to write the paper themselves after their initial attempts failed?

After realizing that they couldn't find someone else to write the paper, the speaker decided to take on the task themselves, becoming a frontier in the field unintentionally.

What does the speaker suggest as a key to their success in becoming a Tekken researcher?

The speaker suggests that their success is due to their continuous thinking about how to apply ancient concepts to modern media, which led to the idea of writing a paper on Tekken.

How does the speaker view the role of chance in their journey as a Tekken researcher?

The speaker views chance as a significant factor, acknowledging the role of fortunate and accidental encounters in their journey, such as the initial tweet that sparked their interest.

What message does the speaker convey about the potential for innovation in the world of fighting games?

The speaker conveys that even though they have not yet made a groundbreaking invention in the world of fighting games, they continue to challenge conventional wisdom and believe in the power of continuous thinking to bring about change.

What advice does the speaker give to others about achieving unique results?

The speaker advises others to think from different perspectives and not to dismiss ideas that may seem impossible, as this approach can lead to unique and unprecedented results.