hi everyone,

I'm a game studies professor, and I'm starting a study of fans of Japanese videogames (being one myself, especially of the Phoenix Wright games), and wanted to ask for your help. I need the perspectives of fans of different types of games. So far I have talked with folks who are mostly fans of RPGs like Final Fantasy, and also of rhythm games like DDR and Taiko games. I'd love to talk with some fans of PW in particular. Here's the blurb explaining my study:

"Japanese consoles and videogames have played a central role in the development and expansion of the digital game industry. Players globally have consumed and enjoyed Japanese games for many reasons, and in a variety of contexts. This study examines one particular subset of videogame players, for whom the consumption of Japanese videogames in particular is of great value, in addition to their related activities consuming anime and manga from Japan. Who are these players? What draws them to these videogames, and how does a game’s “Japaneseness” inform player understandings of the games through play? Through in-depth interviews with such players, this paper investigates how transnational fandom operates in the realm of videogame culture, and how a particular group of videogame players interprets their gameplay experience in terms of a global, if hybrid, industry."

If any of you are interested in participating in this study, please consider emailing me at:
consalvo (at) ohio.edu or
mconsalvo (at) gmail.com
with your contact information (or for more information about the study if you're not sure yet). I can do the interviews by phone, email, VoIP... whichever works best for you. To give you some perspective, I've also been investigating the history of Japan in the development of the games industry, and have talked with some Japanese game players about their own interests and play styles.

Thanks in advance for your help- I really appreciate it!

Mia