The word has become game: researching religion in digital games
In this article, the author proposes a multi-layered methodology for researching religion in video games. The author differentiates between five levels at which religion can be encountered in video games and/or video game research: material, referential, reflexive, ritual and meta level. These level...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Heidelberg University Publishing
2016
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| In: |
Online - Heidelberg journal of religions on the internet
Year: 2016, Volume: 11, Pages: 28-45 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Computer game
/ Religion
/ Religiosity
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| Further subjects: | B
Theology
B Narratology B ludology B Methodology B Religion |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | In this article, the author proposes a multi-layered methodology for researching religion in video games. The author differentiates between five levels at which religion can be encountered in video games and/or video game research: material, referential, reflexive, ritual and meta level. These levels range from explicitly religious to implicitly religious, from game-immanent to game-transcendent, and from developer-intended to gamer-experienced. In this context, the author proposes a four-step methodology, which incorporates insights from both game-immanent and actor-centered approaches: internal reading (playing the game), internal research (collection of in-game information), external reading (mapping the intermedial relationships), and external research (gathering out-game information). Before doing so, the author proposes a new definition of video games as ‘digital, playable (narrative) texts’ that incorporate both ludological and narratological elements. |
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| ISSN: | 1861-5813 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Online - Heidelberg journal of religions on the internet
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.17885/heiup.rel.2016.0.23626 URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heiup-rel-236260 |