게임학(game studies)에 관한 개론

Abstract

Introduction to Game Studies Na, Bora Yonsei graduate school of Communication & Arts Recently the need for research and study for games has been greatly increased due to its rise in economic, social and cultural position. However this field has been peculiar in that the focuses of researches and studies were on the surrounding conditions such as effects studies regarding violence or education and industry related issues, not on the medium/genre itself. As gaming culture emerges in the 90's, demands for various researches and studies has rushed, and accordingly supplies began to be generated to meet the needs. But there always has been a fundamental problem in the studies of games - the absence of its own language, that is, its own theory. Hereupon focused approaches to such studies emerged in the mid 90's and Narratology and Ludology formed the main movements. However, as Narratology which approached games as narrative and Ludology as Ludus(play), they came to shape a dichotomy confronting each other which provided a base for the field of Game Studies and which, on the other hand, made the field futile due to its ever-going discussion regarding the identity of games. Since Frasca cleaned up the confrontation through his essay "Ludologists love stories, too: notes form a debate that never took place", it seems the previously fierced dichotomous conflict is now quite dissolved yet the next generation to take over the study has come. The purpose of this essay is to introduce the unknown field of Game Studies and provide researchers the contexts for future researches and studies for games. Since it is an emerging field, there are much risks and difficulties lurking but, at the same time, they can be chances and challenges. As Arseth says in his essay for the departure of the Gamestudies.org, it is an interesting time to get involved in the game studies and I hope this essay to be helpful for that.