The Critical Power of Virtual Dystopias

Bibliographic Data

ID2409520
AuthorsMarcus Schulzke (0000-0002-5998-138X, University of Leeds, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume9
Issue5
Pages315-334
Publication date2014-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGames and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-4120 • E-ISSN: 1555-4139
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1555412014541694
OpenAlexW2316746373
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited20

This article explores the capacity of video games and virtual worlds to function as critical utopias or dystopias. A theme of utopian thinking over the past century has been that utopian fantasies offer a critical perspective on the real world. I argue that video games and virtual worlds have generally failed to offer utopian fantasies that can perform a critical function because of their tendency of mirroring the real world, but I show that dystopian video games tend to be very effective in presenting critical themes. Moreover, I argue that video games create critical dystopias in ways that display the unique strengths of the medium. Virtual dystopias rely on a combination of engaging narrative elements and gameplay mechanics, which come together to create dynamic worlds in which players are active participants

Aesthetics · Art · Dystopia · Epistemology · Function (biology · Human–computer interaction · Literature · Metaverse · Mirroring · Narrative · Perspective (graphical · Sociology · Theme (computing · Virtual reality · World Wide Web · Cinema and Media Studies · Communication · Computer Science · Digital Games and Media · Philosophy · Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction · Artificial Intelligence

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