Topical game research articles picked up and referenced by PlayLab! writers.
400,000 players revolted against the game Maple Story, causing a new law to mandate that the probably of random systems to be disclosed in South Korea. In this research by Park and colleagues, they highlight the importance of player activism, reflecting on the Maple Refugee incident.
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery. Few manage to, and even more spend their entire lives trying. Now, gambling disguised as mechanics is getting increasingly normalized, and soon, gaming will be synonymous with taking a risk. This article is a critique of the current state of the industry.
What if the stories you live through in games were the myths of today? Ludomythologies is a fresh research publication that unpacks how games create and transform modern myths that shape culture and imagination. Ready to see your favorite games from a new, surprising perspective? #GameStudies #MythMaking #Ludomythologies
The game industry today is larger than it has ever been before. This also means that there is considerable money to be made in the video game industry. However, money begets money, and game development requires a lot of it. This is where “Get Funded!” comes in. #indie #funding #gamedevelopment
What makes a game world feel mysterious and unknowable? A ten-year-old game studies paper provides a compelling answer. #mystery #adventure
Can playing RPGs contribute positively to your wellbeing? A recent study aims to find out how RPGs are being used in therapeutic practises and what results they've yielded thus far. #MentalHealth #RPG
H.P. Lovecrafts legacy lives today in the shared world of Cthulhu Mythos and its iconic monsters. Prema Arasu defines the meaning of “Lovecraftian” and what it means to consumers through investigating Steam users applying the Lovecraftian tag. #Lovecraftian #Steam #Games #Culture
Dom Ford’s Approaching FromSoftware’s Souls Games as Myth reveals the Souls series as a modern mythology where gods fall, desires corrupt, and players become storytellers. #gameresearch #DarkSouls #EldenRing #Mythology
Cute, wholesome, safe....dark, heavy, violent? Let's talk about dark cozy games!
Game jams are a fun way to develop games as a hobby, but maybe there could be serious positive impacts of these game creation events.
Rolling dice and calculating distances that are required to plunge and arrow into a well poisoning madmen isn’t something people would expect happening in a formal education setting. However, a study shows that incorporating play behavior into curriculum has notable, yet understudied benefits in classrooms. #roleplayinggames #education #gameresearch
What if your game character could change who you are? Sounds dramatic, but Kjell Hedgard Hugaas explores this question through #bleed, the crossover between players and characters. As it turns out, #RPGs don’t just tell stories, they reshape #identity and unlock new dimensions of #self-discovery.
Turns out, that game industry professionals, video game enjoyers and creators of mods have different opinions about game modding
Why do people play games? Just because it's fun? This research doesn't think so.
Migrants in the gaming industry can face difficulties in acclimating to the host country’s culture and ways, and these concerns should be addressed for easier integration.
Discover how video games evoke memories, offer comfort, and transform loss into healing and meaning-making. #bereavement #meaning-making #videogames
A recent research article from the UK highlights the difficulties women face in board game spaces. But, there is hope because things are changing. #BoardGames #gender #culture #GeekMasculinity
Board games with colonialist themes as the focus of online discussions
Your choice of game can help develop soft skills related for your future profession.
We should (re)think about video game labels, and there is research to show us why.