Author Archives: lankoski

Player Character Engagement in Computer Games

My paper Player Character Engagement in Computer Games was accepted to Games and Culture. Here is the abstract: This article argues how players can control a player character influence interpretation and facilitate engagement within a game. Engagement with player characters can be goal-related or empathic, where goal-related engagement depends on affects elicited by goal-status evaluationsContinue reading “Player Character Engagement in Computer Games”

The Art of Videogames (Grant Tavinor)

Tavinor, Grant (2009). The Art of Videogames. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Tavinor looks at games using tool-set from the analytical philosophy of art,using especially the philosophy of fiction. As the book is drawing on analytical philosophy, the discussion of the definition of videogame is inevitable. Fortunately, Tavinor does not just start a definition project, but discuss theContinue reading “The Art of Videogames (Grant Tavinor)”

Call for Papers: Games Research Methods seminar

Methods seminar at University of Tampere, 8-9 April, 2010: What are the approaches and methods that are useful while studying games, play and related phenomena? The dynamic nature of interactive game form, the changing strategies adopted during actual play, as well as the multiple research questions that surround the design, implementation, distribution as well asContinue reading “Call for Papers: Games Research Methods seminar”

Game Screenshots and Fair Use (or Dealing)

Many publishers ask researchers to secure copyright owners permissions for screenshots for academic works. However, typical academic use falls under fair use. Jesper Juul writes that following argument (that permissions is not needed) can and should be used when publishers ask the permissions: Precedent: Video game reviews, commentary, as well as a large body ofContinue reading “Game Screenshots and Fair Use (or Dealing)”