Archive for game studies

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Ludology Meets Narratology

Posted in Online papers with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

This is the article that is one of the key documents for establishment of ‘ludology’ as a ‘discipline that studies game and play activities’. The early ludology was particularly defined by its counter-reaction against narratology (or rather any ‘narrativizing’ of games), later game studies have adopted much of ludology’s key agenda.

Frasca, Gonzalo (1999) ‘Ludology Meets Narratology. Similitude and Differences between (Video)games and Narrative’. Originally published in Finnish in Parnasso 1999: 3, 365–71. Online: http://www.ludology.org/articles/ludology.htm

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The Gaming Situation

Posted in Online papers with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

In this interesting article Markku Eskelinen argues that while the dominant user function in literature, theatre and film is interpretative, in games it is the configurative one.

Eskelinen, Markku (2001) ‘The Gaming Situation’. Game Studies, 1(1). Online: http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/eskelinen/

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Closing Remarks of Richard Duke, ISAGA 2003

Posted in Online papers with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

This talk (closing remarks in a conference, recorded in an association newsletter) captures some interesting pieces of historical information regarding gaming and simulation field, and how the early academic associations in games research were formed. Richard D. Duke has served as the president of ISAGA and is one of the pioneers of the field.

Duke, Richard (2003) ‘Closing Remarks of Richard Duke, ISAGA 2003, Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan’. ISAGA Newsletter 1. Online: http://moodle.isaga.info/file.php/1/downloads/newsletters/newsletter1.pdf

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Game Cultures: Computer Games as New Media

Posted in Books with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

Many of the key analyses of contemporary games are based on cultural studies and media studies approaches; this book by Dovey and Kennedy is one of the more interesting ones.

Dovey, Jon and Helen W. Kennedy (2006) Game Cultures: Computer Games as New Media. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Preview available from Amazon.co.uk.

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Gamers in the UK

Posted in Online papers with tags , , on March 19, 2008 by frans

This is an interesting study that BBC commissioned from a couple of market research companies (something that you should take into account while looking at its focus and approach), and is packed with interesting glimpses into the role of games in different people’s lives. If only someone would fund academic games research with similar scope! 

BBC (2005) ‘Gamers in the UK: Digital Play, Digital Lifestyles’. Commissioned by BBC Creative Research and Development, authored by Rhianna Pratchett. Online: http://crystaltips.typepad.com/wonderland/files/bbc_uk_games_research_2005.pdf

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Playing Research

Posted in Online papers with tags , , , on March 18, 2008 by frans

An article that is important in discussing the methodological role playing games has or should have for game studies:

Aarseth, Espen (2003) ‘Playing Research: Methodological Approaches to Game Analysis’. Proceedings of DAC 2003. Melbourne: RMIT University. Online: http://hypertext.rmit.edu.au/dac/papers/Aarseth.pdf

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Eludamos

Posted in Journals with tags , on March 10, 2008 by frans

Eludamos — Journal for Computer Game Culture was established in 2007. It includes introductory articles, academic peer-reviewed game studies articles and reviews of games and books. The journal is interdisciplinary by character. See:
http://eludamos.org

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SPACEWAR: Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death Among the Computer Bums

Posted in Online papers with tags , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

This is an interesting early account of the creation of Spacewar!, one of the earliest digital games:

Brand, Stewart (1972) ‘SPACEWAR: Fanatic Life and Symbolic Death among the Computer Bums’. Rolling Stone, 7 December 1972. Online: http://www.wheels.org/spacewar/stone/rolling_stone.html

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Game Design Patterns

Posted in Online papers with tags , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

This paper presents a ‘semi-structured’ approach into analysing and designing games starting from patterns, basic games’ building blocks:

Björk, Staffan, Sus Lundgren & Jussi Holopainen (2003) ‘Game Design Patterns’. In: Marinka Copier and Joost Raessens (eds), Level Up: Digital Games Research Conference Proceedings. Utrecht: DiGRA and University of Utrecht. Online:
http://www.digra.org/dl/db/05163.15303.pdf

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Wikipedia

Posted in Online resources with tags , , on March 9, 2008 by frans

A collaboratively edited encyclopedia, Wikipedia includes several interesting entries that relate to game studies. These include:

Note that the Wikipedia articles might include unverified claims and tilted argumentation, so be cautious, and practice a fair deal of source criticism.

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