Critical Engagement with Video Games Set in Antiquity | Rita Zhang | CAAA2020

Описание: (Re)Constructions and Receptions: Critical Engagement with Video Games Set in Antiquity
Rita Zhang

In the last few decades, video games have become an increasingly mainstream mode of engagement with the ancient past. This has led to a shift in the (re)construction and reception of ancient worlds in the popular imagination. Using Ubisoft’s 2018 release ‘Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey’ as a case study, this paper identifies two aspects of video games that influence players’ tendency to critique historical representations – graphics and gameplay. The immersive nature of the photorealistic game graphics, and the illusion of choice provided by the role-play and open-world game mechanics, inadvertently suppress a player’s ability to remain critical towards the game’s highly immersive and convincing reconstructions. By elucidating the power relations between game designer, medium, and player, this paper demonstrates the significance of “playing critically”, particularly for popular or mainstream video game representations of antiquity. It highlights both the value of video games as an interactive medium through which audience members may engage closely with no-longer-accessible ancient sites and lives, as well as the importance of active and critical engagement with their content.

Presented on September 12 2020 as part of CAA Australasia Digital Archaeology Conference.

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