The game itself?: Towards a Hermeneutics of Computer Games

Espen J. Aarseth; Sebastian Martin Möring

doi:10.1145/3402942.3402978

The game itself? Towards a Hermeneutics of Computer Games

Espen J. Aarseth
, Sebastian Martin Möring

Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapter › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper we reassess the notion and current state of ludo-hermeneutics in game studies, and propose a more solid foundation for how to conduct hermeneutic game analysis. We argue that there can be no ludo-hermeneutics as such, and that every game interpretation rests in a particular game ontology, whether implicit or explicit. The quality of this ontology then, determines a vital aspect of the quality of the analysis.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	FDG '20: International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Publication date	2020
Pages	1-8
Article number	36
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3402942.3402978
Publication status	Published - 2020
Event	International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games - Malta, Bugibba, Malta Duration: 16 Sept 2020 → 18 Sept 2020 Conference number: 2020 http://fdg2020.org/ http://fdg2020.org

Conference

Conference	International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games
Number	2020
Location	Malta
Country/Territory	Malta
City	Bugibba
Period	16/09/2020 → 18/09/2020
Internet address	http://fdg2020.org/ http://fdg2020.org

Keywords

Game analysis
game ontology
ludo-hermeneutics
game hermeneutics

Access to Document

10.1145/3402942.3402978

The game itselfFinal published version, 425 KB

Cite this

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abstract = "In this paper we reassess the notion and current state of ludo-hermeneutics in game studies, and propose a more solid foundation for how to conduct hermeneutic game analysis. We argue that there can be no ludo-hermeneutics as such, and that every game interpretation rests in a particular game ontology, whether implicit or explicit. The quality of this ontology then, determines a vital aspect of the quality of the analysis.",

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