Emergent Gameplay: The Limits of Ludology and Narratology in Analyzing Video Game Narrative
Year: 2005
Type: dissertation
Abstract: My thesis seeks to analyze the intended and unintended gameplay modes present in the two video games in the Halo series from a ludological and narratological perspective. In doing so, I hope to show the strengths and, more importantly, the shortcomings of these two approaches. I then suggest a new method for analyzing video games, by situating each gameplay mode present in a game on a spectrum ranging from completely narrative and non-interactive texts (like film, novels, television) to completely game-like and interactive texts. The most accurate analysis of gameplay and narrative in a video game comes from looking at all possible gameplay modes and comparing them to each other.
Author: Benjamin Nanamaker
Language: English
Topic: Digital Games and Media
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2298460795