An Archaeology of Ancient Historical Video Games

Rollinger, Christian

doi:10.5040/9781350066663.ch-001

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…It does so overlaying gameplay clips with a self-aware commentary that compares and contrasts design choices within the context of 21st century media culture. The Honest Trailer for Assassin's Creed Odyssey (Ubisoft, 2018) makes use of mashup culture for comedic effect. Against a backdrop of clips from ACO's open world, the narrator quips that those who ‘dive into’ the experience are rewarded with a game that ‘painstakingly recreates moments in history so you can murder everyone that lived there’ (Fandom Games, 2018).…”

Section: Theorizing Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within a year of launching, over 43 million photos had been shared (Ubisoft, 2019). The trailer for the photo mode (Ubisoft, 2018) puts things into context: ‘What you leave behind in this world is not … engrained in stone monuments but what is woven into the lives of others’, a comment directed not only at players’ diegetic choices, but also the artefacts created through the photo mode. Here, the experience and production of cultural heritage is mediated in real time through a collage of player documented experiences, which are interleaved with other playthroughs by the technical mashup of the game map.…”

Section: In Game Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jagoda (2018, p. 134) has articulated how video games, due to the way they bring about change, generate concepts that 'serve as a medium through which both gamers and nongamers might better understand contemporary technology and a culture characterized by digital and networked media'. Building on Rollinger (2020) and Clare (2021), I suggest we extend this line of thinking into video games set in antiquity and, following Jagoda's call for a shared language of video games, investigate how ACO generates 'technocultural mashups'. In this article, I argue that technocultural mashups disclose a new method by which developers structureand players experiencecultural heritage in contemporary historical video games.…”

Section: Theorizing Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mashing Up History and Heritage in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Cole

2022

Games and Culture

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This article proposes a new framework for analysing how developers structure – and players experience – history and heritage in historical video games. Drawing on the theory of mashups, this article demonstrates how historical games generate ‘technocultural mashups’ by cutting and pasting aspects of cultural heritage into the gameplay experience and then challenging players to further adapt this. ‘Technocultural mashups’, the article suggests, exploit a cultural precedent in the recombination of art, music and video, but also a Web 2.0 precedent that enables alternative modes of production, communication and consumption based on the affordances of new media. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is used as a case study to better understand the relationship between game design and the simulation of cultural heritage. By looking at fan-made trailers, as well as gameplay, paratexts and player-generated content, this article explores how ‘technocultural mashups’ enable players to participate in a networked historical imaginary.

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Section: Theorizing Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: In Game Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theorizing Mashupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mashing Up History and Heritage in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Cole

2022

Games and Culture

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“A bunch of big idiots smack into each other” – A mixed-method investigation of learning rugby through video gaming compared to traditional instruction

Jenny

Pastore

2023

Entertainment Computing

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Historical Depictions, Archaeological Practices, and the Construct of Cultural Heritage in Commercial Video Games: The Role of These Games in Raising Awareness

DaCosta

2024

Preservation, Digital Technology &Amp; Culture

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Concerns regarding the historical accuracy, archaeological practices, and representation of cultural heritage (CH) in commercial video games (VGs) have fueled unending debates about their educational value. However, beyond offering interactive and engaging narratives, it is argued that these games play a vital role in CH. This work delves into the complexities inherent in representing history, archaeology, and CH within commercial VGs. It examines the portrayal of CH as a construct within these games, underscores the importance of collaborative efforts – between game developers, heritage professionals, and members of the communities represented – in their development, and highlights instances where commercial VGs can foster CH awareness. While many commercial VGs touch upon history and archaeology or embody diverse cultures as the platform for their narratives, the focus is placed on Shadow of the Tomb Raider to illustrate the many points found in this work because the game is said to ethically come close to representing the effects of archaeology on local populations and descendants of ancient people. The aim is to catalyze discussions among educators, researchers, game developers, heritage experts, and other stakeholders about the role of commercial VGs in enhancing learning and promoting consciousness about matters vital to cultural identities.

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An Archaeology of Ancient Historical Video Games

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Mashing Up History and Heritage in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Mashing Up History and Heritage in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

“A bunch of big idiots smack into each other” – A mixed-method investigation of learning rugby through video gaming compared to traditional instruction

Historical Depictions, Archaeological Practices, and the Construct of Cultural Heritage in Commercial Video Games: The Role of These Games in Raising Awareness

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