Infra-Ordinary Rewritings: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp as an Introductory Study

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Harrington Johnathan
2018 DiGRA '18 - Proceedings of the 2018 DiGRA International Conference: The Game is the Message

In this paper, I will attempt to situate the need for Georges Perec’s theory of the infraordinary within Game Studies, utilising Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp as a case study. I will start by briefly explaining and situating Perec’s theory, within both his literary and political background. This will be followed by a textual writing of a short infra-ordinary playthrough of Pocket Camp, specifically focused on five chosen ingame areas. Through this playthrough, I will attempt to show the value attained of an infra-ordinary playthrough within Pocket Camp.

 

4x Gamer as Myth: Understanding through Player Mythologies

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Harrington Johnathan
2016 DiGRA/FDG '16 - Proceedings of the First International Joint Conference of DiGRA and FDG

In this paper, we shall argue that games, being textual systems, can be understood semiotically - signs, or units, are being constantly renegotiated within the game due to their ergodicity. However, the mythologies outside of them remain, leading to a potential discrepancy between what is and what is understood. An understanding of player mythologies can, on one hand, help us formulate a better systemic classification of these interactions, while on the other hand, help us escape the restrictions the mythologies they belong in pose.