2024
Maletska, Mark
Queer Gender Identities and Videogames Literature Review Journal Article
In: ELUDAMOS, vol. 15, iss. 1, pp. 125-150, 2024, ISSN: 1866-6124.
Abstract | Links | Tags: Gender, Literature review, Queer
@article{nokey,
title = {Queer Gender Identities and Videogames Literature Review},
author = {Mark Maletska},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7557/23.7432},
doi = {10.7557/23.7432},
issn = {1866-6124},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-12-31},
journal = {ELUDAMOS},
volume = {15},
issue = {1},
pages = {125-150},
abstract = {This narrative literature review discusses peer-reviewed research articles connecting queer gender identities and videogames. Its main purpose is to describe directions of research on connections between queer gender identities and videogames, and to indicate gaps and missing connections in existing studies. The analysed material was collected in April–August 2023 using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Three major thematic categories were identified in the publications: representation of queer gender identities in videogames; player–avatar connections and gender dysphoria; and queer gender identities in game-related spaces. The main finding of the review is that articles focused on queer people do not tend to address the inherent queerness of videogames. Queer temporality and spatiality are not sufficiently studied in interaction with queer players, and narrative and/or visual elements remain in focus, even when potentially interactive activities like avatar creation are being researched.},
keywords = {Gender, Literature review, Queer},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This narrative literature review discusses peer-reviewed research articles connecting queer gender identities and videogames. Its main purpose is to describe directions of research on connections between queer gender identities and videogames, and to indicate gaps and missing connections in existing studies. The analysed material was collected in April–August 2023 using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Three major thematic categories were identified in the publications: representation of queer gender identities in videogames; player–avatar connections and gender dysphoria; and queer gender identities in game-related spaces. The main finding of the review is that articles focused on queer people do not tend to address the inherent queerness of videogames. Queer temporality and spatiality are not sufficiently studied in interaction with queer players, and narrative and/or visual elements remain in focus, even when potentially interactive activities like avatar creation are being researched.
Maletska, Mark
Queer Players' Strategies for Queering Character Interactions Proceedings Article
In: Conference Proceedings of DiGRA 2024 Conference: Playgrounds, 2024, ISSN: 2342-9666.
Abstract | Links | Tags: Game mechanics, Gender, Queer
@inproceedings{nokey,
title = {Queer Players' Strategies for Queering Character Interactions},
author = {Mark Maletska},
url = {https://doi.org/10.26503/dl.v2024i1.2239},
doi = {10.26503/dl.v2024i1.2239},
issn = {2342-9666},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-09-30},
booktitle = {Conference Proceedings of DiGRA 2024 Conference: Playgrounds},
abstract = {This article presents the strategies that queer players use for queering character interactions in digital games, based on a reflexive thematic analysis of survey responses from international and Ukrainian gender-diverse players. The research questions addressed are: What are queer players' strategies for queering in-game interactions; What video game mechanics are used to employ these strategies; What are the differences between queering strategies utilized by Ukrainians and international participants? The article reveals three themes with several sub-themes around playable character-focused interactions at the stage of character creation and in the process of playing. The results of the international survey give insights into the main mechanics and interactions that are queered by players to accommodate themselves in game worlds. Most mechanics are focused on playable characters that are particularly important for many queer players. The analysis of Ukrainian players' responses shows environment-determined differences in their approach to queering. Notably, Ukrainian players seek for more explicit queerness and do not apply queer readings to video games, detaching themselves from the game characters. },
keywords = {Game mechanics, Gender, Queer},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This article presents the strategies that queer players use for queering character interactions in digital games, based on a reflexive thematic analysis of survey responses from international and Ukrainian gender-diverse players. The research questions addressed are: What are queer players' strategies for queering in-game interactions; What video game mechanics are used to employ these strategies; What are the differences between queering strategies utilized by Ukrainians and international participants? The article reveals three themes with several sub-themes around playable character-focused interactions at the stage of character creation and in the process of playing. The results of the international survey give insights into the main mechanics and interactions that are queered by players to accommodate themselves in game worlds. Most mechanics are focused on playable characters that are particularly important for many queer players. The analysis of Ukrainian players' responses shows environment-determined differences in their approach to queering. Notably, Ukrainian players seek for more explicit queerness and do not apply queer readings to video games, detaching themselves from the game characters.
2019
Stenros, Jaakko; Sihvonen, Tanja
Queer while Larping: Community, Identity, and Affective Labor in Nordic Live Action Role-Playing Journal Article
In: Analog Game Studies, vol. 4, iss. 4, 2019, ISSN: 2643-7112.
Links | Tags: Finland, Identity, Larp, Live-action role playing, Queer
@article{Stenros2019b,
title = {Queer while Larping: Community, Identity, and Affective Labor in Nordic Live Action Role-Playing},
author = {Jaakko Stenros and Tanja Sihvonen},
url = {https://analoggamestudies.org/2019/12/queer-while-larping-community-identity-and-affective-labor-in-nordic-live-action-role-playing/},
issn = {2643-7112},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-12-23},
urldate = {2019-12-23},
journal = {Analog Game Studies},
volume = {4},
issue = {4},
keywords = {Finland, Identity, Larp, Live-action role playing, Queer},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sihvonen, Tanja; Stenros, Jaakko
On the Importance of Queer Romances - Role-play as Exploration and Performance of Sexuality Journal Article
In: WiderScreen, vol. 22, iss. 1-2, 2019, ISSN: 1795-6161.
Abstract | Links | Tags: Analog game, Digital games, Queer, Role-play, Role-playing games, Romance, RPG, Sexuality
@article{Sihvonen2019,
title = {On the Importance of Queer Romances - Role-play as Exploration and Performance of Sexuality},
author = {Tanja Sihvonen and Jaakko Stenros},
url = {http://widerscreen.fi/numerot/2019-1-2/on-the-importance-of-queer-romances-role-play-as-exploration-and-performance-of-sexuality/},
issn = {1795-6161},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-11-07},
journal = {WiderScreen},
volume = {22},
issue = {1-2},
abstract = {This article investigates various kinds of analog and digital role-playing games (RPG) from the perspective of queer romance. We are interested in finding out how ‘queer’ appears in the composition of role-playing games through analysing players’ explorations and performances, as well as the options for romance in these games. We will look into a variety of role-playing games as research material in this study, from non-digital play – such as traditional tabletop role-playing games to live action role-play, or larp – to single-player digital RPGs. We ask how queerness affects the options for romance, whether localised in an event or in the composition of a single character, and what kind of exploration it serves. Is queerness to be found in the romance mechanic, or crunch, of RPGs, or is it part of the fluff: the setting and character descriptions? This article’s orientation is theoretical, and the main reference material here comes from RPG studies as well as queer game studies.},
keywords = {Analog game, Digital games, Queer, Role-play, Role-playing games, Romance, RPG, Sexuality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This article investigates various kinds of analog and digital role-playing games (RPG) from the perspective of queer romance. We are interested in finding out how ‘queer’ appears in the composition of role-playing games through analysing players’ explorations and performances, as well as the options for romance in these games. We will look into a variety of role-playing games as research material in this study, from non-digital play – such as traditional tabletop role-playing games to live action role-play, or larp – to single-player digital RPGs. We ask how queerness affects the options for romance, whether localised in an event or in the composition of a single character, and what kind of exploration it serves. Is queerness to be found in the romance mechanic, or crunch, of RPGs, or is it part of the fluff: the setting and character descriptions? This article’s orientation is theoretical, and the main reference material here comes from RPG studies as well as queer game studies.
Sihvonen, Tanja; Stenros, Jaakko
Queering Games, Play, and Culture through Transgressive Role-Playing Games Book Section
In: Jørgensen, Kristine; Karlsen, Faltin (Ed.): Transgression in Games and Play, pp. 115-129, The MIT Press, 2019, ISBN: 9780262038652.
Tags: Queer, Role-playing games, Transgressive play
@incollection{Sihvonen2019b,
title = {Queering Games, Play, and Culture through Transgressive Role-Playing Games},
author = {Tanja Sihvonen and Jaakko Stenros},
editor = {Kristine Jørgensen and Faltin Karlsen},
isbn = {9780262038652},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-02-05},
booktitle = {Transgression in Games and Play},
pages = {115-129},
publisher = {The MIT Press},
keywords = {Queer, Role-playing games, Transgressive play},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}