Playing with Identity. Authors, Narrators, Avatars, and Players
 in The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide

Hans-Joachim Backe, Jan-Noël Thon

Publikation: Artikel i tidsskrift og konference artikel i tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

This article offers a comparative analysis of Davey Wreden’s The Stanley Parable (Wreden 2011 / Galactic Cafe 2013) and The Beginner’s Guide (Everything Unlimited Ltd. 2015) in order to explore the interrelation of authors, narrators, avatars, and players as four salient functions in the play with identity that videogames afford. Building on theories of collective and collaborative authorship, of narratives and narrators across media, and of the avatar-player relationship, the article reconstructs the similarities and differences between the way in which The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide position their players in relation to the two games’ avatars, narrators, and (main) author, while also underscoring how both The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide use metareferential strategies to undermine any overly rigid conceptualization of these functions and their interrelation.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftDIEGESIS. Interdisciplinary E-Journal for Narrative Research
Vol/bind8
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)1-25
ISSN2195-2116
StatusUdgivet - 2019

Emneord

  • Comparative analysis
  • Videogame identity
  • Authorship theories
  • Narrative strategies
  • Avatar-player relationship

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