Welcome to Abstracting Games!
A blog devoted to looking at games a little more closely.
Peruse essays on the intersection of gaming and philosophical inquiry.
Latest from the Blog
Diversity in Video Games and the Philosophy of Technology
Activision Blizzard unveiled a new Diversity Space Tool, and it was quickly dragged online. Why did that occur? In this essay, I examine issues of diversity and representation in video games, and tie the development of this tool to problems of how we approach science and technology more broadly. In turn, these problems show why ActiBlizz’s new tool doesn’t help address these underlying problems of representation.
On Storytelling: Dark Souls
This essay will look at the thematic structure of Dark Souls through the lens of “perseverance.” What does it mean to persevere, and should we do it? I will be looking at the various components of the game to illustrate how they all work together to pose a serious question to the player: is it worth it to keep going?
Video Games and Language Puzzles
Puzzles in video games involve all sorts of mechanics, and one of the most interesting is a constructed language. But while constructed languages can be cool, they can also be frustrating to engage with. Using the recent game Tunic, I examine the basic problems and explore some basic ideas of how to deal with language puzzles from a design standpoint.
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Abstracting Games 