In defence of the n00b:Game analysis, ludic literacy and the novice player

In defence of the n00b:Game analysis, ludic literacy and the novice player

In defence of the n00b:Game analysis, ludic literacy and the novice player

René Glas, Jasper van Vught

Abstract

"In this paper, we share our experiences of teaching game (textual) analysis to classrooms with a mix of students considered expert players and large groups of novices. Rather than considering novice play as a problem to overcome, we consider the value of the novice point of view. We argue for embracing novice play within a classroom as a worthwhile, even essential, element of understanding games and play. Within the field of game studies, the novice player has a difficult position. The novice is often seen as a methodological challenge to overcome in reaching a competent degree of “ludoliteracy” (Zagal 2010). In order for us to make any sound claims about our research subjects, we need to be “well-played” (as in “well-read”) and we need to play well (Davidson 2009, 1). In many cases, it is also assumed game analysis is for students aiming for a career in games. As Bizzochi and Tanenbaum for instance point out in relation to close reading techniques, such in-depth approaches “reveal the poetics of the emergent medium to the students who will soon become the scholars and lead practitioners of the maturing medium” (2011, 312). However, as we’ve argued before ([anonymous]), such levels of mastery for a proper understanding of games is often difficult to achieve within an educational program not entirely dedicated to game studies/design - as is our case. As Zagal rightfully notes, novice players face issues of accessibility to the medium as well as “assumptions of prior gameplay experience on the part of course instructors” (2010, 58). Giving heed to Zagal’s call for further research on dealing with expert and novice players, we explore the value of novice play to question and critique the “hegemony of play” in our classroom, the industry (Fron et al., 2007) and our academic field (Vossen 2018)."

Reference

Glas, R. (2022, January). In defence of the n00b: Game analysis, ludic literacy and the novice player. In Abstract Proceedings of DiGRA 2022 Conference: Bringing Worlds Together 2022. https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/download/1314/1314

Keywords

Game analysis, teaching, novice play