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In order to investigate and challenge a normative liberal democratic view of participation, we propose an experimental system based on differences in reputation and user activity. Based on democratic meeting techniques and social media, basic principles for a groupware are formulated containing typical democratic features such as voting and discussion, but taking reputation into account and clarifying the individual's activities in relation to the group. The prototype stands in contrast to commonly used internet forums by highlighting differences in reputation and activity and making these visible and changeable by its users thus shedding some light on status and reputation issues in internet forums and groupware.

In this article we discuss the sensory experiences of playing computer games by exploring the sight, the sound, the taste, smell, and touch of games. We reflect on how senses and the social atmosphere gives meaning to players’ experiences of playing computer games in two co-located public settings, a game café and a mass LAN party. This discussion is related to a more general discussion concerning what it means to participate and play online and network games in a game café and a mass LAN party. The discussion is based on a field study in Sweden. We conclude by highlighting the different experiences of playing computer games and participating in those colocated game settings. In the game café playing computer games is a rather ordinary and mundane activity while playing games in the mass LAN party is to a large extent a sensational and extra ordinary event.

Online worlds are complex places, where we have to know some of the rules of play to engage in the interaction. These worlds are both inhabited by human players and artificial agents called “non player characters” (NPCs). This is an article about how online worlds can contain a new level of interaction using more humanlike NPCs. We propose a new way to describe social interaction in online worlds, where NPCs are modelled to incorporate some of the traits that are more common to man. We also propose a way of analysing current NPCs and a way to create more humanlike NPCs that can contribute to a more unpredictable gaming experience, which seems to be the most promising aspect in the development of online worlds.

A pre-conference event to ECREA’s fourth European Communication Conference. The title of the published conference paper differs from the title of the presentation. The paper has only been published electronically.

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 15131 “Normative Multi-Agent Systems”. Normative systems are systems in the behavior of which norms play a role and which need normative concepts in order to be described or specified. A normative multi-agent system combines models for normative systems (dealing for example with obligations, permissions and prohibitions) with models for multi-agent systems. Normative multi-agent systems provide a promising model for human and artificial agent coordination because they integrate norms and individual intelligence. They are a prime example of the use of sociological theories in multi- agent systems, and therefore of the relation between agent theory—both multi-agent systems and autonomous agents—and the social sciences—sociology, philosophy, economics, legal science, etc. The aim of this Dagstuhl Seminar was to feature two fresh themes in broader computing and software engineering: social computing and governance. These themes are highly interdis- ciplinary, bringing together research strands from computing, information sciences, economics, sociology, and psychology. Further there is considerable excitement about these areas in aca- demia, industry, and public policy organizations. Our third theme was agreement technologies, a more traditional topic but nonetheless relevant for the NorMAS community. A norm is a fun- damental social construct. Norms define the essential fabric of a society. Our purpose in this seminar was to explore the connections of norms to each of the themes, especially from a com- putational perspective. Moreover, the seminar has been conceived for the writing of a volume titled “Handbook of Normative Multi Agent Systems” aimed to become a standard reference in the field and to provide guidelines for future research in normative multi-agent systems.

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 15131 “Normative Multi-Agent Systems”. Normative systems are systems in the behavior of which norms play a role and which need normative concepts in order to be described or specified. A normative multi-agent system combines models for normative systems (dealing for example with obligations, permissions and prohibitions) with models for multi-agent systems. Normative multi-agent systems provide a promising model for human and artificial agent coordination because they integrate norms and individual intelligence. They are a prime example of the use of sociological theories in multi- agent systems, and therefore of the relation between agent theory—both multi-agent systems and autonomous agents—and the social sciences—sociology, philosophy, economics, legal science, etc. The aim of this Dagstuhl Seminar was to feature two fresh themes in broader computing and software engineering: social computing and governance. These themes are highly interdis- ciplinary, bringing together research strands from computing, information sciences, economics, sociology, and psychology. Further there is considerable excitement about these areas in aca- demia, industry, and public policy organizations. Our third theme was agreement technologies, a more traditional topic but nonetheless relevant for the NorMAS community. A norm is a fun- damental social construct. Norms define the essential fabric of a society. Our purpose in this seminar was to explore the connections of norms to each of the themes, especially from a com- putational perspective. Moreover, the seminar has been conceived for the writing of a volume titled “Handbook of Normative Multi Agent Systems” aimed to become a standard reference in the field and to provide guidelines for future research in normative multi-agent systems.