Narrative, Games, and Theory by Simons
The article Narrative, Games, and Theory by Simons reviews ludology–narrative debate and claims that Eskelinen’s, Aarseth’s, and Frasca’s anti-narrativist arguments are fallacious. In addition Simons looks game theory and makes comparisons between game theory and game studies approaches. The most interesting part for me is a section titled Players and characters, which takes Aareth’s claim that characters in games are purely a vehicle for the players’ action. Simons argues against that. He base his counterargument to Bordwell and Genette and notes:
the psychological traits of a character are part of the motivation and motivation is from this perspective a justification a posteriori that explains and naturalizes the character’s action.
This is one reason why ludological approach is not disjuctive with narratological.
Note for myself: read the article again and think if there is a use of the arguments in my thesis.
Simons, J. (2008) Narrative, Games, and Theory. Game Studies 7(1).
Petri Lankoski 