Sketch for a model of four epistemological positions toward computer game play

Olli Leino

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

    Abstract

    The paper attempts to sketch out four distinct epistemological positions toward the player, who is understood as derived from play and game. To map out the problem field, two equally challenged positions toward computer game play are observed, emerging from inadequate treatment of the differences between play and game. The analysis starts out by postulating two parallel but fundamentally different views regarding play; the subjectivist viewpoint, from which the essence of playing a game depends on the mental state of the playing subject, and, the non-subjectivist viewpoint, from which the essence of playing a game is seen as independent of what goes on in the player’s mind (actually, the player might not even be the true subject of the game). Similar polarities are postulated regarding a game; from an exclusive viewpoint .game. is a signifying shorthand for objects, which, when observed from an external viewpoint, appear as fulfilling a set criteria, while from an inclusive viewpoint, every object which affords being played is counted as a game. These polarities are combined on a two-dimensional plane in order to arrive at a four epistemological positions toward computer game play, which are then discussed in terms of what kind of insights they offer onto the player’s experience.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationIkke angivet
    PublisherUniversität Potsdam
    Publication date2008
    Publication statusPublished - 2008
    Eventthe philosophy of computer games conference 2008 - Postdam, Germany
    Duration: 8 May 200810 May 2008

    Conference

    Conferencethe philosophy of computer games conference 2008
    Country/TerritoryGermany
    CityPostdam
    Period08/05/200810/05/2008

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