In the heart of Eugene, Maxwell Foxman, a 41‑year‑old associate professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, is turning the world of video games into a laboratory for understanding how play influences media, journalism and new technologies.
From a love of games to a scholarly career
Foxman’s path began in a graduate class at New York University, where a video‑game theory course sparked the idea that the concepts he was studying could apply far beyond the gaming console. “I was obsessed with Foursquare, checking in everywhere,” he recalled, noting that the app’s playful elements inspired his master’s thesis and later his Ph.D. research.
Today, his work at the University of Oregon examines how games and play intersect with non‑game industries, from news reporting to artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and game production. He describes his research as “a classic academic story,” but adds that the interdisciplinary nature of his department lets him collaborate across journalism, communication and technology.
Games as a testing ground for emerging tech
Foxman is currently writing a book that argues games act as a “canary in the coal mine” for new technologies. Whether it’s AI, immersive media or other innovations, games allow people to experiment early, revealing how joy and experimentation can surface breakthroughs before they reach the broader market.
He also teaches a course called Game Journalism and News Games, where students first learn to write about games and then transform real news topics into interactive experiences. “A game is only good if people want to play it,” he says, emphasizing the importance of audience engagement.
Ensuring image fidelity in the age of AI
Beyond gaming, Foxman has turned his attention to the growing challenge of computer‑generated images. He argues that journalists must rethink the traditional notion of objectivity, recognizing that modern visual media can be both truthful and fabricated. To help readers assess authenticity, he developed a six‑question checklist for judging the fidelity of images, encouraging a simple yet powerful heuristic: “To what degree is the thing you are seeing approximating reality?”
Life off campus
When he isn’t lecturing or researching, Foxman spends his time cycling up to 90 miles a week, practicing archery with his wife Gloria, and unwinding with video games like Hades II and Slay the Spire. He believes that “play can be a very valuable waste of time,” a sentiment that underscores his belief in the educational power of leisure.
Foxman’s blend of scholarly inquiry, practical teaching and personal passion highlights how a local university can contribute to national conversations about media, technology and truth, all while keeping his feet firmly planted in the Eugene community.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
