Making Sense of Genre: The Logic of Video Game Genre Organization

Abstract

Despite the importance that the dimension of genre holds in media studies, its very definition in the field of video games is still a matter without consensus. This study intends to outline the logic that lies within the constitution of videoludic genres, understanding them as formal devices configured as per the different thought functions stated by Piaget’s cognitive psychology theory. This project will propose a formalist approach from a cybersemiotic perspective. It seeks to establish a cardinal set of relations to understand the compatibilities and incompatibilities traceable in the syntactic functional order of the different video game genres. Furthermore, a corpus of 43 genres is used to prove the solidity of this theoretical approach, oriented to establish foundations for a praxis of the human–machine ludic relation in fields such as game design and media studies, with the performative character of function as a guiding principle.

Motivations for the Use of Video Game Streaming Platforms: The Moderating Effect of Sex, Age and Self-Perception of Level as a Player

“…Regarding the preferred video game genres, action/adventure video games stands out, followed by real-time strategy and sports; genres related to FPS (6.8%), survival horror (8.4%) or Japanese RPG (8.5%) were rarely chosen as favourites. A genre classification based on Vargas-Iglesias [ 64 ] was used, with the addition of some specific genres such as Japanese RPG.…”

Beyond Rules and Mechanics: A Different Approach for Ludology

“…Following the configurative model proposed by Vargas-Iglesias (2018) and the classification of functions done within it, the relation of the abductive function with all of the others was tested. In order to do so, a sample of video games of every elementary genre was taken, with varying degrees of difficulty, and the abductive function was analyzed, where appropriate, in each one of them.…”

“…In parallel to this, Vargas-Iglesias (2018) proposes a model based on the square of opposition (Béziau & Jacquette, 2012; Sullivan, 1967) and the development of the functions of the subject according to Piaget. This approach, based on the function as the unit of analysis, tries to establish the logical conditions that underlie the production of genres and simultaneously the compatibility regimes that enable them to exist.…”

Research Video Abstracts in the Making: A Revised Move Analysis

“…Maryl, Niewiadomski, and Kidawa (2016) adopt a typological approach to examine 287 categories of Polish blogs empirically and find that most categories are topical with eight main genres emerging. Vargas-Iglesias’s (2020) examination of the structural types and formations manages to establish a cardinal set of relations for understanding compatibilities and incompatibilities in video games. There is no doubt that there is a need to scrutinize whether the VA as a new genre addition is legitimate or whether it has the merit and potential to stabilize in the world of textual performances (Reiff & Bawarshi, 2016).…”