Photo: Jonne Renvall / Tampere University
In her doctoral dissertation, M.Sc. Elisa Wiik investigated Finnish lapsed players that have stopped playing games or reduced it. Playing was conceptualized as broadly as possible, including different types of digital and analog games. Lapsed players are in a state of liminality – a state that is not permanent and is mutable by the player themselves, game designers, game cultures, and wider cultures the player is part of. Despite dwindling play practices, some lapsed players still value and participate in game communities, frequent game events, read game related discussions and media, and play with their children or in work events. The reasons for dwindling practices can be found in the hectic everyday lives of adults, but also in the (game) cultural norms, and expectations related to adults and motherhood. The findings can help game researchers and game developers, teachers, game journalists, and players themselves to recognize the whole spectrum of different players.
The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. Elisa Wiik in the field of game studies, titled What Does It Mean to Be a Lapsed Player? Fragmented play practices, player identity, and liminality of Finnish lapsed players, will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences at Tampere University on 20 March 2026.
The Opponent will be Associate Professor Kelly Boudreau from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the United States of America. The Custos will be Professor Frans Mäyrä from Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences at Tampere University.