Video games

Lindsay Grace’s chapter explores methods for interpreting gameplay and players, distinguishing between players, users, play communities, and the play state. It presents a framework for digital ethnography in games, emphasizing how non-play experiences influence the play state through extrinsic and intrinsic feedback. This approach standardizes the analysis of game experiences, players, and community impacts, focusing on playful narratives and game mechanics. Grounded in anthropology, human-computer interaction, psychology, and game design, the chapter equips researchers with tools to analyze and interpret the complex interplay between games, players, and communities.