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

TEDx Talks

22 Apr 202413:58

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Birth of a Tekken Researcher

The speaker discovered a tweet asking for a study on the correlation between Tekken player's playstyle and lifestyle, which sparked their interest. They decided to turn a professional player's joke into a serious academic endeavor, becoming the world's first Tekken researcher. They do not see themselves as having done something extraordinary but rather as a researcher constantly thinking and guided by intellect. The chance encounter with this tweet was a fortunate accident. The speaker reflects on the popularity of eSports and fighting games, questioning why they are engaging and why some players are so strong. They are conducting research across various disciplines, from advanced mathematics to analytical philosophy, to understand the appeal and skill in fighting games. The speaker identifies as a researcher of Aristotle, particularly interested in the concept of 'mimesis', which suggests that all art is an imitation of reality. They see the realistic fighting scenes in Tekken as an example of this ancient concept applied to modern media.

05:02

🎮 Tekken as an Art Form and Academic Pursuit

The speaker discusses their attempt to apply the ancient concept of 'mimesis' to modern media, specifically digital games like Tekken. They view digital games as art forms and are conducting analysis and contemplation as the world's first Tekken researcher. They introduce the Tekken game system, emphasizing its unique feature where the controller's buttons are linked to the character's actions on screen, creating a realistic and immersive experience. The speaker believes that this alignment of commands and in-game actions makes Tekken a mimetic work, suggesting that even the newest media can apply the oldest concepts. This realization expands the possibilities for media studies. Despite their confidence in being able to write academic papers on Tekken, the speaker initially did not plan to write one themselves, thinking that someone more knowledgeable should undertake the task. However, after unsuccessful attempts to encourage both researchers and players to write the paper, they decided to write it themselves, thus becoming an unintentional pioneer in the field.

10:03

🚀 Becoming a Frontier in Unexpected Ways

The speaker shares their journey of becoming a frontier in an unexpected field. Despite believing that there are more talented and skilled individuals, the world has chosen them to be a pioneer. They attribute their success to their daily habits as a researcher, constantly pondering how to apply ancient concepts to modern media, which led to the serendipitous idea of academically analyzing Tekken. They did not set out to become a giant in the Tekken world, but their unique perspective and continuous thinking brought them results. The speaker encourages the audience to think from different angles and not to dismiss ideas that seem impossible at first, such as writing academic papers on video games. They believe that everyone has the potential to create unique results by freely manipulating their viewpoints, and they see themselves as proof of this, as they continue to challenge conventional wisdom and innovate in the world of fighting games.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡SNS

SNS stands for Social Networking Services, which are platforms that allow users to build social networks or social relationships with other users. In the context of the video, the speaker discovered a tweet on SNS that sparked the idea for researching the correlation between 'Tekken' players' playstyle and lifestyle. This discovery led to the speaker becoming a pioneer in 'Tekken' research.

💡Tekken

Tekken is a popular series of fighting video games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is known for its 3D graphics and complex fighting mechanics. In the video, the speaker's research focuses on the game 'Tekken', exploring the relationship between the game's players' styles and their lifestyles, as well as the academic aspects of the game.

💡Correlation

Correlation refers to a mutual relationship or connection between two or more variables. In the video, the speaker is interested in the correlation between the playstyle and lifestyle of 'Tekken' players, suggesting an academic exploration into how a player's personal habits and preferences might influence their in-game strategies and behaviors.

💡Esports

Esports is a form of competition using video games, which has gained significant popularity and is recognized as a legitimate sport in many parts of the world. The video discusses how 'Tekken', as a fighting game, is popular within the esports community, indicating the speaker's interest in the competitive and entertainment aspects of video gaming.

💡Academic

Academic refers to activities or achievements related to higher education and research. The speaker in the video mentions the academic aspect of 'Tekken', indicating a desire to study the game from a scholarly perspective, which is unusual given that video games are often viewed as entertainment rather than subjects of academic study.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The speaker mentions using concepts from philosophy, such as 'mimesis', to analyze 'Tekken'. This shows an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the game, applying philosophical theories to interpret its mechanics and player interactions.

💡Mimesis

Mimesis is a concept in the philosophy of art, referring to the imitation of reality in various forms of art. The speaker uses the concept of 'mimesis' to discuss the realistic portrayal of fighting in 'Tekken', suggesting that the game's design and mechanics aim to mimic real-life fighting techniques and scenarios.

💡Digital Games

Digital games are video games that are played on electronic devices such as computers, consoles, and handheld devices. The video script mentions digital games as a form of modern media, which the speaker is interested in studying as an art form, with 'Tekken' being one of the examples of such media.

💡Controller

A controller is a device used with computers and video games to provide input to the game. In the context of the video, the speaker refers to the 'Tekken' controller to explain the game's system, highlighting how the buttons and system are interconnected to allow players to execute moves that mimic real fighting actions.

💡Frontier

A frontier refers to the leading edge or the most advanced position in a field. The speaker describes themselves as a 'frontier' in the field of 'Tekken' research, indicating that they have pioneered an area of study that was previously unexplored. This term is used to convey the innovative and pioneering nature of the speaker's work.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The speaker mentions the potential for innovation in the world of fighting games, suggesting that their research could lead to new insights or changes in the way 'Tekken' and similar games are understood and played.

Highlights

Discovery of a tweet seeking someone to write about the correlation between Tekken player's playstyle and lifestyle.

The speaker's transformation into the world's first Tekken researcher after deciding to turn a professional player's joke into reality.

The speaker's belief in the academic potential of eSports and the lack of scholarly attention in the field.

The intriguing question of why fighting games are interesting and why strong players remain strong.

A comprehensive research approach that spans from advanced mathematics to analytical philosophy.

The concept of 'mimesis' from Aristotle, which the speaker applies to modern media, including Tekken.

Tekken's realistic and immersive gameplay that reflects the ancient concept of mimesis.

The unique feature of the Tekken system where button presses are directly linked to in-game character actions.

The speaker's role as a pioneer in applying ancient concepts to modern digital games.

The speaker's attempt to find someone to write an academic paper on Tekken, leading to their own involvement.

The challenges faced in getting both researchers and players interested in the academic study of Tekken.

The unexpected outcome of the speaker becoming a frontier in the field due to their persistent research.

The importance of continuous thinking and the ability to apply ancient concepts to modern media.

Encouragement for the audience to think from different perspectives and challenge conventional wisdom.

The potential for anyone to make unique contributions by manipulating their viewpoints and thinking creatively.

The speaker's commitment to continue updating common sense and pushing the boundaries of the fighting game world.