Topical game research articles picked up and referenced by PlayLab! writers.
Value capture in gamification can help deal with addiction
In this article, Michael Ridge chooses gamification as the subject of analysis to develop one of the cases in which his recognized problem, Value Capture, can be useful in the long term
A Mind Game in Game – Creating ludic unreliability to challenge players’ inference of the designer’s intention.
Common practices of game artifacts are shifted by implied designers delivering thoughts to create ludic unreliability for players by inviting them to question and hesitate to develop game element relationships between players and designer
What is localization and how it has influenced in video games?
This research highlight explains what localization is in videogames, and how the industry manages it with its clientele, according to the study carried out by three experts: Marina Fontolan, James Wilson and Janaina Pamplona.
Who gets to decide? – Representation and inclusion in Overwatch community
When two Overwatch characters were revealed to be LGBTQ, discussions flared in the community. Tanja Välisalo and Maria Ruotsalainen ask: Who has the right to have a say in what kind of representation is included in a game?
Discovery of self through roleplay
How can RPGs and LARP help trans people to explore and develop their identity? Josephine Baird's research of self-expression, exploration and embodiment investigates this question.
In Search of the Camera: Selim Krichane’s article When Seeing is Playing: The History of the Videogame Camera
“What is a videogame camera”, asks Selim Krichane in his article When Seeing is Playing: The History of the Videogame Camera, which traces the first steps in the discourse revolving around the camera in videogames
An abject object: Gregory Blomquist’s article Postmodern Medusa: The Monstrous-Feminine in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
Gregory Blomquist analyzes the positive depiction of the monstrous-female protagonist in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
Underrepresented group – A content analysis of child characters in video games
How do video games portray children? Reay analyses a collection of 506 popular titles from the year 2009 to 2019 through an content analysis to find out representation.
Backseat Gaming: An Alternate Way into The Gaming Community
In their research article, Neta Yodovich and Jinju Kim explore how women can access the male-dominant Gaming Community through Backseat Gaming with a lower chance of being criticized.
How are Video Game Modders Viewed by Players?
Modders are often generalized as being either good or bad, but their diversity calls for more nuanced discussion.
Indie Developers as the Frontrunners of Female Representation in Narratives
Many AAA studios cater to the masses, but many indie developers are telling stories with strong female characters leading the narratives.
Trophy hunters participate not only in trophy-related talk but also in a wider range of discussions about games
Reddit discussion about achievement hunting can reveal the player’s feelings towards the game and the meta-game system surrounding it.
Educating Interactive Narrative Designers — Is it possible to teach Storytelling?
Students could benefit from interactive narrative design courses in video game education.
Being a strange stranger in animal mayhem games
Animal mayhem games provide an interesting ground to explore boundaries between the human and non-human world.
The Empathy Spectrum: Emotional Responses to Games and Narrative
How can emotional responses to games be effectively categorised for better distinction to improve narrative design and character development? The Empathy Spectrum provides a tool for an analytical approach to video game storytelling.
Little children, big anger – Understanding gamer rage in children
Children nowadays play a lot of games, and just like with everyone else, it can be quite a rough experience.
Finding structure and connections through Animal Crossing: Horizons – how games can help us cope with crises
This is an overview of a study on how Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Leaf has helped players cope with the isolation of COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020. The study centers around the routines and player identities that arise from the game.
Archaeological Approach to Catastrophe and Mass Migration in No Man’s Sky
An archaeologist used real-life methods to study an abandoned community of player settlements in No Man’s Sky.
More Queer Romances in Roleplay Games, Please
Not only is queer romance in RPG a good way to explore and and possibly self-discover, it can also be a way to fight against sexism and heteronormativity.