This is not a Door: an Ecological approach to Computer Games

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Linderoth Jonas Bennerstedt Ulrika
2007 DiGRA '07 - Proceedings of the 2007 DiGRA International Conference: Situated Play

In this chapter we outline an ecological approach to computer games and test out how the theory of ecological psychology can be used for understanding digital games and game-play. Ecological psychology holds that learning is a process of differentiating and not of interpreting or construing. Therefore semiotic/cognitive views on learning and perception with computer games, were the perceptual act is thought to be adding experiences to the things we see in a game in order to make meaning, can be questioned. The theoretical points are illustrated with data from an interaction study made on players playing the game Timesplitters 2 on an X-box.