A MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF VIDEO GAMES: A LUDONARRATIVE MODEL

Abstract

THIS EXPLORATORY STUDY AIMS TO INVESTIGATE HOW PLAYERS UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NARRATIVE AND GAMEPLAY IN VIDEO GAMES AND MODIFIES DENA¿S (2010) MODEL. THE RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY OF THE LUDONARRATIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN VIDEO GAMES IS THAT PRIOR RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON LUDONARRATIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN VIDEO GAMES ARE PRIMARILY THEORETICAL (E.G. ESKELINEN, 2012 AND AARSETH, 2012). TO ADDRESS THE MAIN RESEARCH AIM, A LUDONARRATIVE MODEL IS FIRST CREATED FROM LITERATURE REVIEW AND INTEGRATES DIFFERENT THEORIES FROM BYCER (2013), PYNENBURG (2013), CALLEJA (2011), WATSSMAN (2012), O¿HALLORAN (2007, 2008), AND LIU AND O¿HALLORAN (2009). BASED ON THE RESEARCHER¿S GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE, THESE THEORIES ARE FURTHER MODIFIED TO ENABLE THEIR APPLICATION TO THE PROPOSED LUDONARRATIVE MODEL. THE PROPOSED MODEL IS FINALLY TESTED AND REFINED BASED ON AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF 11 GAMERS. THE PROPOSED LUDONARRATIVE MODEL IS IMPORTANT AS IT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND THE PLAYERS¿ SUBJ