Overview: Implementing RPGs with Advanced Technologies
Unit 9 Overview
Welcome to our unit on implementation with advanced technologies! In this unit, you will learn about many of the newer technologies that have been developed recently and that will surely shape the future in important ways. While analog role-playing games usually aim to be as low tech as possible, there are examples of games that have integrated advanced technologies. In this unit, we will present materials from Taisto Suominen’s Erasmus+ EDGE Tech Toolkit.
In this Unit, we will cover:
- 3D modeling
- 3D scanning: Laser scanning and photogrammetry
- 3D character development (virtual clones)
- 3D printing for costumes, equipment, and props
- Mobile and computer applications
- NFC / RFID technology
- Audio technology
- Communication technology
- Extended reality
- GPS / Real-time location tracking
- Microcontrollers for tech enhancement
- Game engines
- AI and machine learning
* * *
Note: Some of the materials below may not be available outside of this course. We are providing them as part of your education within this course. Do not distribute PDFs.
Required materials:
- Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Angie Bandhoesingh, Simon Brind, Elektra Diakolambrianou, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Felipe García-Soriano, Alessandro Giovannucci, Josephine Rydberg, and Josefin Westborg. In review. “Chapter 4: Theory and Practice in Facilitating Transformative Role-playing Games.” In Implementing Transformative Role-playing Games, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, Simon Brind, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Transformative Play Research 2. Uppsala University Publications.
- Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Guus Quinten van Tilborg, Simon Brind, Alessandro Giovannucci, Nikola Sekulic, and Josephine Rydberg. In review. “Chapter 6: Theory and Practice in Playing for Transformation.” In Implementing Transformative Role-playing Games, edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman, Simon Brind, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Transformative Play Research 2. Uppsala University Publications.
Choose one (1) of the following:
- Suominen, Taisto. 2024. “Game Technologies in Larp and Tabletop RPGs — Taisto Suominen.” Transformative Play Initiative. YouTube, May 14.
- Suominen, Taisto. 2025. “Erasmus+ EDGE Tech Toolkit.” Erasmus EDGE.