Mechanisms of World Creation in the American Video Game Industry

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Mehanizmi stvaranja svjetova u američkoj industriji videoigara
• Author: Matej Kovačević
• Mentor: Sven Cvek (mentor)
• Committee member: Jelena Šesnić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Stipe Grgas (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-05-14, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

This paper analyzes the structuring principles of video games. The methodological approach of the analysis relies on narratological, ludic, and cultural tools which are used in the investigation of the CRPG genre. The main contention is that the D&D based CRPGs represent an extension of cultural images of the American nation, which are sustained by storytelling devices. That is, video games represent a modern platform for narrating the mythology of America. Classical narrative aspects are reviewed by way of Seymour Chatman. Crucial adaptations of narrative principles to new digital spaces are encompassed by Espen J. Aarseth’s “Cybertext”. Lastly, the national imagery found in the medium is covered by way of Perry Miller and R. W. B. Lewis. To exemplify the argument, the paper relies on BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Dragon Age: Origins as pivotal video games of the genre.

Abstract (croatian)

U ovom se radu analiziraju principi strukturiranja videoigara. Metodološki pristup kojim se postiže analiza oslanja se na naratološke, ludološke, i kulturne alate uz pomoć kojih se proučava žanr CRPG ova. Glavna tvrdnja temelji se na ideji da CRPG igre D&D stila predstavljaju ekstenziju kulturnih predodžbi američke nacije, a ovise o pripovjedačkim alatima. Točnije, videoigre predstavljaju modernu platformu za pripovijedanje američke mitologije. Klasični narativni aspekti analiziraju se preko Seymoura Chatmana. Ključne adaptacije narativnih principa u novim digitalnim prostorima obuhvaćene su E. J. Aarsethovom idejom kiberteksta (eng. cybertext). Naposljetku nacionalna simbolika prepoznatljiva u mediju istražuje se preko djela Perrya Millera i R. W. B. Lewisa. Argument rada oprimjeren je igrama Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn te Dragon Age: Origins kao ključnim igrama žanra.

• Keywords: video games; structure; narratology; ludology; culture; nation; mythology
• Keywords (english): videoigre; struktura; naratologija; ludologija; kultura; nacija; mitologija
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:817502
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (single major); specializations in: TEFL, Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-05-19 11:33:55