Mapping the game landscape: Locating genres using functional classification

Steve Dahlskog, Andreas Kamstrup, Espen J. Aarseth

Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapterArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Are typical computer game genres still valid descriptors and useful for describing game structure and game content? Games have changed from simple to complex and from single function to multi function. By identifying structural differences in game elements we develop a more nuanced model to categorized games and use cluster analysis as a descriptive tool in order to do so. The cluster analysis of 75 functionally different games shows that the two perspectives (omnipresent and vagrant), as well as challenges, mutability and savability are important functional categories to use in order to describe games.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication DiGRA '09 - Proceedings of the 2009 DiGRA International Conference: Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory
Place of PublicationBrunel University
Publication date2009
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventDiGRA 2009 – “Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory” - Stockholm, Sweden
Duration: 1 Sept 20094 Sept 2009

Conference

ConferenceDiGRA 2009 – “Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory”
Country/TerritorySweden
CityStockholm
Period01/09/200904/09/2009

Keywords

  • Game analysis
  • Game typology
  • Cluster analysis
  • Digital games

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