Title: Data Curation and Conflict Simulation: The Example of Harpoon

Author: Dr. Matthew Kirschenbaum, University of Maryland

Abstract: I will summarize research conducted by members of the Preserving Virtual Worlds project on the many versions and iterations of the Harpoon naval warfare simulation, ranging from the earliest set of tabletop rules published in 1981 to the current state of the computer game, including its various implementations and fractured player communities. Research has included extensive archival work with Larry Bond’s personal papers, as well as interviews with Bond, Chris Carlson, Don Gilman, and Gordan Walton. The single most consistent thread is the importance of data as the determinant element in the game, and the maintenance (curation) of the data sets that inform the game system. Predictably, these data sets are also a source of conflict and contestation among players and fans. This paper will thus advocate the importance of “data curation” in the long-term preservation of military simulations, using Harpoon as a case study.

Last Updated: 29 June 2012