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The form of game formalism
[journal article]
Abstract
This article explores how the concept of formalism and the resulting method of formal analysis have been used and applied in the study of digital games. Three types of formalism in game studies are identified based on a review of their uses in the literature, particularly the discussion of essential... view more
This article explores how the concept of formalism and the resulting method of formal analysis have been used and applied in the study of digital games. Three types of formalism in game studies are identified based on a review of their uses in the literature, particularly the discussion of essentialism and form that resulted from the narratology-ludology debate: 1) formalism focused on the aesthetic form of the game artifact, 2) formalism as game essentialism, and 3) formalism as a level of abstraction, related to formal language and ontology-like reasoning. These three are discussed in relation to the distinctions between form and matter, in the Aristotelian tradition, to highlight how the method of formal analysis of games appears to be dealing with matter rather than form, on a specific fundamental level of abstraction, and in turn how formal analysis becomes a misleading concept that leads to unnecessary confusion. Finally, the relationship between game essentialism and the more computer science-centric approach to ontology is studied, to account for the contemporary trend of identifying the unique properties of games and opposing them with properties of, e.g., traditional storytelling media like literature and film, explored through their aesthetic form.... view less
Keywords
digitalization; playing; computer game; formalization; aesthetics; Russia; research; method; ideology; ontology
Classification
Basic Research, General Concepts and History of the Science of Communication
Interactive, electronic Media
Free Keywords
Essentialismus
Document language
English
Publication Year
2018
Page/Pages
p. 137-144
Journal
Media and Communication, 6 (2018) 2
Issue topic
Games matter?: current theories and studies on digital games
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v6i2.1321
ISSN
2183-2439
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed