2. Analysing Games
Games and play carry meaning - even in their
pre-cultural form (e.g. puppies and kittens
playing).
In this sense, culture means ‘system of beliefs,
values, customs, behaviours and artefacts’ that are
shared by certain people and transmitted through
learning.
“DIALECTIC” in philosophy is “a method of
examining and discussing opposing ideas in order
to find the truth.”
3. Huizinga and the Magic Circle
Philosopher Johan Huizinga has argued that key
cultural characteristics of games include that games
are:
free and voluntary
separate from everyday reality
created and maintained by communities of players.
This separation (known as the ‘magic circle’ of
games) situates game activities within a world of
their own.
Chapter 2
4. The Core and the Shell
There is a dual structure of games: the ‘core’ (gameplay) and
‘shell’ (symbolic representation) both need to be taken into
account while analysing and understanding games.
Gameplay can be understood as non-linguistic performance
(eg. dance, music). The PHENOMENOLOGICAL
‘PERFORMANCE” of gameplay. (ie a Walkthrough).
Focuses on “narrative” of the experience. The CORE.
Yet, there are also signs and symbols in games, constructing
meaning through semiotics and representation systems. The
SHELL.
5. “PHENOMENOLOGICAL
‘PERFORMANCE”
Phenomenology is primarily concerned with the systematic
reflection on and study of the structures of consciousness
and the phenomena that appear in acts of consciousness.
This ontology (study of reality) can be clearly
differentiated from the Cartesian method of analysis which
sees the world as objects, sets of objects, and objects acting
and reacting upon one another.
6. What is “Gameplay”?
It is not the interface, not the graphics, it is
what you do, focusing on narrative (or what
your “character” does).
Good gameplay arises when choices are
non-obvious and play must explore different
tactics.
Gameplay embodies the rules of the game –
easiest described as a first-person
walkthrough.
7. The Dialectic of Core and Shell
(A magic circle)
Image credits: Frans Mäyrä
Walkthrough as a
“Phenomenological Performance”
8. Understanding the Core
A Walkthrough as Phenomenological Performance
Core gameplay is something that is born directly
from the rule set of game.
A walkthrough is your first-person account of
how to complete a game or a level of a game
The phenomenon of what you see, hear, feel –
Multimodality of: the words (literary text);
sounds (aural text); actions and
challenges/conflicts (physical text);
environment (visual text).
9. Understanding the Shell
Representation/ideology appears secondary to the
core of game but emerges through critical
thinking.
The images, characters, storylines, sounds and
music of games all contribute to the shell, or the
representational layer of games.
The shell is where games can be interpreted to
“carry a message”, and many players love or hate,
agree or disagree, with games on the basis of this
shell.
We can apply our Pressure Cooker of Semiotic
Codes!
10. Understanding the Shell
Representation/ideology appears secondary to the
core of game but emerges through critical
thinking.
The images, characters, storylines, sounds and
music of games all contribute to the shell, or the
representational layer of games.
The shell is where games can be interpreted to
“carry a message”, and many players love or hate,
agree or disagree, with games on the basis of this
shell.
We can apply our Pressure Cooker of Semiotic
Codes!
Notas del editor
on page 13, Mayra mentions 2 interesting points that help to situate games as a study and reasons or studying Game Culture
Games are not only cluttering kids rooms and arcade parlours, they are conquering the living rooms. Wii is changing interior design, Why? Need room – becomes social.
Field of science has also undergone change – even in science more acceptance is being given to the view that our perceptions of reality are socially and culturally produced, rather than independent and objective facts. Social construction theory says that our social existence affects what kind of meanings we are able to associate with phenomena. This attitude continues to gain popularity.
THIS IS WHERE YOUR WALKTHROUGH INTRO OF ASSIGNMENT ONE IS SUPER VALUABLE BECAUSE IT HELPS ME GET THE PERFORMATIVE FEEL OF YOUR GAME.
RITUAL – have added link to my dissertation – Potlatch of the West Coast First Nations.
on page 13, Mayra mentions 2 interesting points that help to situate games as a study and reasons or studying Game Culture
Games are not only cluttering kids rooms and arcade parlours, they are conquering the living rooms. Wii is changing interior design, Why? Need room – becomes social.
Field of science has also undergone change – even in science more acceptance is being given to the view that our perceptions of reality are socially and culturally produced, rather than independent and objective facts. Social construction theory says that our social existence affects what kind of meanings we are able to associate with phenomena. This attitude continues to gain popularity.
THIS IS WHERE YOUR WALKTHROUGH INTRO OF ASSIGNMENT ONE IS SUPER VALUABLE BECAUSE IT HELPS ME GET THE PERFORMATIVE FEEL OF YOUR GAME.
RITUAL – have added link to my dissertation – Potlatch of the West Coast First Nations.