This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Nieborg, D. B. Articles by Hermes, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

What is game studies anyway?

University of Amsterdam, d.b.nieborg{at}uva.nl

Joke Hermes

InHolland University and University of Amsterdam, joke.hermes{at}inholland.nl

In this introduction, game studies is argued to be a force of innovation for cultural studies. While game studies, as it has developed over the last 10 years, fits well within cultural studies' methodology and theory, it does more than benefit from cultural studies as a 'mother discipline'. Game studies proves itself to be a strong force, especially in its productive use of political economy to analyse games and gaming as a (new) cultural form. Building on a descriptive taxonomy of games and gaming by both genre and 'platform', this is an introduction to games and gaming for those with a cultural studies background. While ideally, game studies will develop also as cultural critique, this is a far cry from dominant practice in the gamer community. Gamers tend to be 'hand-in-glove' with the industry. It is high time for game studies to turn a critical eye on itself.

Key Words: game genres • game studies • platforms • political economy • upgrade culture

European Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2, 131-147 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1367549407088328


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?