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Exploring more-than-human worlds and becoming with living and non-living entities through play

First author: Pais
Year: 2024


Abstract

In recent years, we have observed the emergence of a variety of video games that allow their players to temporarily exist entangled in more-than-human worlds, becoming with other species and things. Informed and inspired by posthuman philosophies, this article examines three video games: Everything (2017), Stray (2022), and Endling - Extinction is Forever (2022). This analysis focuses on three key questions: 1) How are these games enabling players to become with non-human characters representing real-life organisms? 2) What kinds of knowledge do players gain about these worlds? 3) How to define a more-than-human playful experience? The article concludes by introducing an initial draft of guidelines intended to facilitate the development of more-than-human games.


Details

Language: English
Country of affiliation: France


Published in: DRS2024: Boston
Publication type: Conference proceeding


Source: https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.606


Games

No Results

Franchises

No Records




Studies

Description: Played games and analysed according to predetermined protocol

Research type: Non-experimental
Data type: Qualitative


Comparator: none
Control group: no
Pilot study: no
Pre/post measures used: no
Follow-up: no


Sample type: Game(s)
Sample size: 3
Power analysis: no
Sample countries: null


Games studied: Stray, Everything, Endling: Extinction is Forever


Franchises studied: null


Study outcomes: Connectedness to nature, Knowledge, Ingame interactions, Reflecting ecological issues, Representing nature