Bernie DeKoven
Encyclopedia
Bernard Louis "Bernie" De Koven (born October 15, 1941) is an American
game designer, author
, lecturer
and fun theorist. He is most notable for his book The Well Played Game, for his contributions to the New Games Foundation
, his pioneering work in computer game design, and for his long-running web site, deepFUN.com.
magazine concerning the future of computer gaming; he accurately predicted the advent of games using motion control similar to the Kinect, as well as app store
and related game distribution systems, stating that networking "will greatly increase the availability of games. Instead of having to buy each game, users will be able to download more and more complex games as networks become more popular."
In 1999 De Koven coined the term coworking
to describe computer-supported collaborative work.
Katie Salen
and Eric Zimmerman
, in their 2003 game design textbook Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals
, extensively reference De Koven's The Well-Played Game.
Christopher Noxon
's interview of De Koven was featured in the 2006 book Rejuvenile
. His role as a professional "fun coach" is emphasized, as is De Koven's involvement with the New Games Movement of the mid 1970s, and his later work with the Esalen Institute
in California
.
De Koven has worked with major toy and game manufacturers to design and develop new products. Notably, he has partnered with LEGO on the development of their LEGO Game System
. Additionally, De Koven has designed award-winning games for Ideal Toy Company
, Children's Television Workshop, CBS Software and Mattel
Toys.
In September 2011, De Koven was a keynote
speaker at the 2011 DiGRA
Conference ("Think Design Play"). His talk, "Playing Well Together," described some of the underlying principles of New Games and his book, The Well-Played Game.
De Koven is a lifetime member of The Association for the Study of Play.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game designer, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
and fun theorist. He is most notable for his book The Well Played Game, for his contributions to the New Games Foundation
New Games Book
The New Games Book and its companion, More New Games, were resources developed for the "New Games" movement which began in the late 60s to encourage people to play non-competitive or friendlier games...
, his pioneering work in computer game design, and for his long-running web site, deepFUN.com.
Career
In 1982, De Koven was interviewed by InfoWorldInfoWorld
InfoWorld is an information technology online media and events business operating under the umbrella of InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG...
magazine concerning the future of computer gaming; he accurately predicted the advent of games using motion control similar to the Kinect, as well as app store
App Store
The App Store is a digital application distribution platform for iOS developed and maintained by Apple Inc.The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with the iOS SDK or Mac SDK and published through Apple Inc.. Depending on the...
and related game distribution systems, stating that networking "will greatly increase the availability of games. Instead of having to buy each game, users will be able to download more and more complex games as networks become more popular."
In 1999 De Koven coined the term coworking
Coworking
Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office, yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent...
to describe computer-supported collaborative work.
Katie Salen
Katie Salen
Katie Salen is a game designer, animator, and design educator. She is a professor in the DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media. She has taught at Parsons The New School for Design the University of Texas at Austin, New York University, and the Rhode Island School of Design...
and Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman is a game designer and the co-founder and CEO of Gamelab, a computer game development company, which is known for the game Diner Dash. Each year Zimmerman hosts the Game Design Challenge at the Game Developers Conference...
, in their 2003 game design textbook Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals
Rules of Play
Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals is a book on game design by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman, published by MIT Press.-Structure:The book is divided into four units, first introducing core concepts, then expanding on these with a detailed discussion of rules, play and culture.-Unit 1: Core...
, extensively reference De Koven's The Well-Played Game.
Christopher Noxon
Christopher Noxon
Christopher Lane Noxon is an American writer and freelance journalist.His first book was Rejuvenile. The book, which grew out of a story he wrote for The New York Times, was reviewed in BusinessWeek, The New York Sun and covered by The Today Show, Good Morning America and NPR...
's interview of De Koven was featured in the 2006 book Rejuvenile
Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up
Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up is a non-fiction book written by author Christopher Noxon and published by Crown Publishing in 2006...
. His role as a professional "fun coach" is emphasized, as is De Koven's involvement with the New Games Movement of the mid 1970s, and his later work with the Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute is a residential community and retreat in Big Sur, California, which focuses upon humanistic alternative education. Esalen is a nonprofit organization devoted to activites such as meditation, massage, Gestalt, yoga, psychology, ecology, and spirituality...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
De Koven has worked with major toy and game manufacturers to design and develop new products. Notably, he has partnered with LEGO on the development of their LEGO Game System
Lego Games
Lego Games is a product range of the construction toy Lego, which focuses on a series of playable games of different types, all of which use Lego bricks, and use the Lego concept of building to encourage players to change adapt the rules of the games....
. Additionally, De Koven has designed award-winning games for Ideal Toy Company
Ideal Toy Company
Ideal Toy Company was founded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York in 1907 by Morris and Rose Michtom after they had invented the Teddy bear in 1903. The company changed its name to Ideal Toy Company in 1938...
, Children's Television Workshop, CBS Software and Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
Toys.
In September 2011, De Koven was a keynote
Keynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
speaker at the 2011 DiGRA
DiGRA
DiGRA is a non-profit, international association of academics and practitioners whose work focuses on digital games and associated activities. DiGRA was formally established in 2003 and continues to operate as a non-profit registered in Finland...
Conference ("Think Design Play"). His talk, "Playing Well Together," described some of the underlying principles of New Games and his book, The Well-Played Game.
De Koven is a lifetime member of The Association for the Study of Play.
Awards
- 2006 Iffil-Raynolds award for "outstanding achievement in the field of fun" from the North American Simulation and Gaming Association
Books / publications
- Interplay: a curriculum for elementary school children, Office of Policy Planning and Development, School District of Philadelphia, 1971
- The Well-Played Game, 1978, updated edition 2002 (ISBN 978-0595217908)
- Connected Executives: A Strategic Communications Plan, 1986 (ISBN 978-0962583407)
- Junkyard Sports, 2004 (ISBN 978-0736052078)
- Great Games for Big Activity Balls (with Todd Strong), 2009 (ISBN 978-0736074810)
Games and Interactive Media
- Ricochet (1982): computer game by Automated Simulations (designer)
- Alien GardenAlien GardenAlien Garden was one of the first non-game "software toys" released. It was designed in 1982 by Bernie DeKoven and programmed by virtual reality pioneer, Jaron Lanier, and it was designed with an emphasis on the need for experimentation....
(1982) computer game by Automated Simulations (designer; programmed by Jaron LanierJaron LanierJaron Zepel Lanier is an American computer scientist, best known for popularizing the term virtual reality .A pioneer in the field of VR, Lanier and Thomas G. Zimmerman left Atari in 1985 to found VPL Research, Inc., the first company to sell VR goggles and gloves...
) - Light Waves (1984): computer game by Children's Computer Workshop (designer; prototype by Dave WinerDave WinerDave Winer is an American software developer, entrepreneur and writer in New York City. Winer is noted for his contributions to outliners, scripting, content management, and web services, as well as blogging and podcasting...
) - Junkyard Games (2008) business simulation game published by HRDQ (co-developed w/Ron Roberts)