Understanding the Path from Real to Virtual Economy Adoption: The Unity Engine, Design Theory & Future Directions

This project examines virtual economy design practices within Unity Technologies Canada Company’s software engine/editor. Analysis of game design choices found within proprietary data from the company is used to determine the predominant design practices within the system and identify underlying ideological assumptions that affect the design, creation, and maintenance of virtual economies. Using a combination of this design data provided by Unity Technologies Canada Company and theory from the field of game studies, the goal of the project is to further understandings of how virtual economies interact with real economies in the present and to shape future virtual economy design within the Unity engine/editor.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mia Consalvo

Student:

Ryan Scheiding

Partner:

Unity Technologies

Discipline:

Journalism / Media studies and communication

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Concordia University