Bookmarklets | MOVABLE TYPE The book J. Goldstein & J. Raessens (Eds.): Handbook of Computer Game Studies. (Boston: MIT Press) provides game researchers with an interesting framework.
According to the authors, there are six approaches (description taken from th level up conference introduction :
- Computer games with a focus on on computer games themselves. : Whats in a game?, What games are made of, Narrative, Exploration, Text and textuality and Pervasive games. - Design concerned with the relationship between the designer and the game. Two sub-sections describe game development from the designers point of view, - Reception that focuses on the individual players relationship to the computer game. For instance, empirical research on the psychological effects of computer games is reviewed in Kids and fun. - Games as a cultural phenomenon takes a cultural approach (gender and cultural studies). - Games as a social phenomenon, considers normative aspects of computer gaming the effects of games on social behavior. - Research methods