Exploiting the “video game craze”: A case study of the tobacco industry’s use of video games as a marketing tool

Alongside their material dimensions, video game arcades were simultaneously metaphysical spaces where participants negotiated social and cultural convention, thus contributing to identity formation and performance within game culture. While physical arcade spaces have receded in number, the metaphysical elements of the arcades persist. We examine the historical conditions around the establishment of so-called arcade culture, taking into account the history of public entertainment spaces, such as pool halls, coin-operated entertainment technologies, video games, and the demographic and economic conditions during the arcade’s peak popularity, which are historically connected to the advent of bachelor subculture. Drawing on these complementary histories, we examine the social and historical movement of arcades and arcade culture, focusing upon the Street Fighter series and the fighting game community (FGC). Through this case study, we argue that moral panics concerning arcades, processes of cultural norm selection, technological shifts, and the demographic peculiarities of arcade culture all contributed to its current decline and discuss how they affect the contemporary FGC.

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Waltzing on Rooftops and Cobblestones

Journal of Sound and Music in Games ◽

10.1525/jsmg.2021.2.3.34 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 34-55

Author(s):

Ailbhe Warde-Brown

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Real World ◽

World History ◽

Interaction Model ◽

Virtual Space ◽

Open World ◽

Integrated Approaches ◽

The Relationship

The relationship between music, sound, space, and time plays a crucial role in attempts to define the concept of “immersion” in video games. Isabella van Elferen’s ALI (affect-literacy-interaction) model for video game musical immersion offers one of the most integrated approaches to reading connections between sonic cues and the “magic circle” of gameplay. There are challenges, however, in systematically applying this primarily event-focused model to particular aspects of the “open-world” genre. Most notable is the dampening of narrative and ludic restrictions afforded by more intricately layered textual elements, alongside open-ended in-game environments that allow for instances of more nonlinear, exploratory gameplay. This article addresses these challenges through synthesizing the ALI model with more spatially focused elements of Gordon Calleja’s player involvement model, exploring sonic immersion in greater depth via the notion of spatiotemporal involvement. This presents a theoretical framework that broadens analysis beyond a simple focus on the immediate narrative or ludic sequence. Ubisoft’s open-world action-adventure franchise Assassin’s Creed is a particularly useful case study for the application of this concept. This is primarily because of its characteristic focus on blending elements of the historical game and the open-world game through its use of real-world history and geography. Together, the series’s various diegetic and nondiegetic sonic elements invite variable degrees of participation in “historical experiences of virtual space.” The outcome of this research intends to put such intermingled expressions of space, place, and time at the forefront of a ludomusicological approach to immersion in the open-world genre.

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A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/b83s44 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 68 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Edward Francis Schneider

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

New Media ◽

Video Game ◽

Adult Literacy ◽

Public Libraries ◽

Graphic Novels ◽

Comic Book ◽

Public Library ◽

Similar Data ◽

Marketing Tool

Abstract Objective – The objective of this study was to survey American public libraries about their collection and use of graphic novels and compare their use to similar data collected about video games. Methods – Public libraries were identified and contacted electronically for participation through an open US government database of public library systems. The libraries contacted were asked to participate voluntarily. Results – The results indicated that both graphic novels and video games have become a common part of library collections, and both media can have high levels of impact on circulation. Results indicated that while almost all libraries surveyed had some graphic novels in their collections, those serving larger populations were much more likely to use graphic novels in patron outreach. Similarly, video game collection was also more commonly found in libraries serving larger populations. Results also showed that young readers were the primary users of graphic novels. Conclusion – Responses provided a clear indicator that graphic novels are a near-ubiquitous part of public libraries today. The results on readership bolster the concept of graphic novels as a gateway to adult literacy. The results also highlight differences between larger and smaller libraries in terms of resource allocations towards new media. The patron demographics associated with comics show that library cooperation could be a potential marketing tool for comic book companies.

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“Now They’re Playing with Power!”: Nintendo’s Classics and Franchise Legacy Management

The Franchise Era ◽

10.3366/edinburgh/9781474419222.003.0005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 105-118

Author(s):

Matthew Thomas Payne

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Software And Hardware

Matthew Thomas Payne’s chapter considers the role of franchise management through video games. He uses the case study of Nintendo’s NES and SNES micro-consoles. His essay posits that franchises can refer to both software and hardware, as the built-in games on Nintendo’s mini-consoles function as a form of franchise management and corporate canonizing by privileging certain video game texts over others.

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Soaring Through the Sky

Music Theory Online ◽

10.30535/mto.25.2.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sean Atkinson

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Video Game Music ◽

Analytical Potential

In this article, I explore the analytical potential of musical topics and tropes in the study of video game music. Following Neumeyer (2015), Almén (2008), and Hatten (1994), I establish a methodology with which to approach musical topics in video game music. By way of a case study, I begin by defining the soaring topic through a historical and cultural examination of flying in cinema and video games. Flying, and more specifically soaring, has been a staple in film from the earliest days of cinema, and the music that accompanies it is also found in video games that prominently feature flying. I then engage the music of flying sequences in two specific video games, Final Fantasy IV (1991) and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011). The resulting analyses demonstrate that this approach helps to unpack the complex narratives found in video games.

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A Data-Driven Approach for Video Game Playability Analysis Based on Players’ Reviews

Information ◽

10.3390/info12030129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

Xiaozhou Li ◽

Zheying Zhang ◽

Kostas Stefanidis

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Binary Classification ◽

Game Studies ◽

Data Driven ◽

Software Products ◽

Data Driven Approach ◽

Definition Of

Playability is a key concept in game studies defining the overall quality of video games. Although its definition and frameworks are widely studied, methods to analyze and evaluate the playability of video games are still limited. Using heuristics for playability evaluation has long been the mainstream with its usefulness in detecting playability issues during game development well acknowledged. However, such a method falls short in evaluating the overall playability of video games as published software products and understanding the genuine needs of players. Thus, this paper proposes an approach to analyze the playability of video games by mining a large number of players’ opinions from their reviews. Guided by the game-as-system definition of playability, the approach is a data mining pipeline where sentiment analysis, binary classification, multi-label text classification, and topic modeling are sequentially performed. We also conducted a case study on a particular video game product with its 99,993 player reviews on the Steam platform. The results show that such a review-data-driven method can effectively evaluate the perceived quality of video games and enumerate their merits and defects in terms of playability.

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Towards a “Filipino” Video Game: Teaching Filipino Culture and Identity for Video Game Development

Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association ◽

10.26503/todigra.v5i3.122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Christoffer Mitch C. Cerda

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

The Philippines ◽

Game Development ◽

Video Game Development ◽

Game Industry ◽

Filipino Culture ◽

Definition Of ◽

Game Developers

This paper uses the author’s experiences of teaching the Filipino module of a multidisciplinary video game development class as a case study in teaching Filipino culture and identity as an element of video game development. A preliminary definition of “Filipino video game” as having Filipino narratives and subject matter, made by Filipino video game developers, and catering to a Filipino audience, is proposed. The realities and limitations of video game development and the video game market in the Philippines is also discussed to show how the dominance of Western video game industry, in terms of the dominance of outsource work for Filipino video game developers and the dominance of non-Filipino video games played by Filipino players, has hindered the development of original Filipino video games. Using four Filipino video games as primary texts discussed in class, students were exposed to Filipinomade video games, and shown how these games use Filipino history, culture, and politics as source material for their narrative and design. Issues of how video games can be used to selfexoticization, and the use of propaganda is discussed, and also how video games can be used to confront and reimagine Filipinoness. The paper ends with a discussion of a student-made game titled Alibatas, a game that aims to teach baybayin, a neglected native writing system in the Philippines as a demonstration of how students can make a Filipino video game. The paper then shows the importance of student-made games, and the role that the academe plays in the critical understanding of Filipino video games, and in defining Filipino culture and identity.

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Horizon Zero Dawn: The Educational Influence of Video Games in Counteracting Gender Stereotypes

Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association ◽

10.26503/todigra.v5i1.111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dalila Forni

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Gender Equality ◽

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Video Game ◽

Gender Norms ◽

Potential Influence ◽

Educational Benefit ◽

Gender Ideals ◽

Femininity And Masculinity

This paper argues that narrative video games have a potential educational benefit in counteracting stereotypes and promoting gender equality. In particular, the study focuses on a specific video game, Horizon Zero Dawn (2017). Firstly, this paper analyses the traditional female models promoted in video games and their influence on the construction of gender ideals. Then, Horizon Zero Dawn is explored, paying attention to the representation of femininity and masculinity within the game, as it emerges through its main characters and their interactions within the narrative. Thecontribution analyses a specific case study in order to investigate the potential influence of non-stereotyped narrative video games on the perception of gender norms.

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Art and technology: archiving video games for humanities research in university libraries

Art Libraries Journal ◽

10.1017/alj.2018.29 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 185-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kelli Wood ◽

David S. Carter

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Film Studies ◽

Game Studies ◽

Cultural Objects ◽

Art And Technology ◽

Past Half Century ◽

Critical Issues ◽

The University

AbstractOver the past half-century video games have become a significant part of our cultural environment, in part, by leading advances in both technology and artistic innovation. In recent years librarians and researchers have recognized these games as cultural objects that require collection and curation. Developing and maintaining collections of this fast moving and somewhat ephemeral media, however, poses challenges due to constantly advancing technology and a corresponding lack of consistent terminology. This article addresses the literature and critical issues surrounding collections of video games within libraries and presents a case study of the University of Michigan’s Computer and Video Game Archive (CVGA), one of the largest academic archives of its kind. Moreover, video games are situated in a humanistic approach to the field of game studies as the article draws on the relevance of methods from art history and film studies.

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The Haunting Aesthetics of Tacoma

Games and Culture ◽

10.1177/1555412019894400 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 155541201989440

Author(s):

Ashley P. Jones

Keyword(s):

Video Games ◽

Video Game ◽

Game Design ◽

Visual Analysis ◽

Life And Death ◽

Video Game Design ◽

Complex Forms ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Relationship

Video games are well suited to exploring questions of philosophical intent through their construction and design. Exploring the layered and complex forms of video game design and aesthetics is a growing area of gaming studies that is pointing toward these larger and important questions, even changing the way gaming studies is being approached by scholars. This article examines the relationship between video games’ design and aesthetics and Derrida’s conceptual framework of hauntology. Using Mannon and Temkin’s definition of glitch aesthetics, I conduct a close visual analysis of Tacoma as a case study in how Derrida’s hauntology is present within video games. Tacoma’s aesthetic choices bring to light how video games play with Western understandings of presence, life, and death.

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