Outer space and cyberspace : an outline of where and how to think of outer space in video games

Majsova, Natalija (author)

The text examines the relationship between cyberspace and outer space. It starts off with a peculiar observation that outer space themed video games are abundant, while scholarly and expert literature about them is virtually non-existent. The text proceeds to examine the implications of invoking outer space into video games, as they might appear, if one first critically analyses the concept of outer space imagination. Then, it faces this analysis with video games, supposedly set in outer space, following the questions set out by the pioneers of the spatial turn in video games studies. This analysis allows the author to argue that video games set in outer space in fact have very little to do with the theoretical imagination of outer space, and that the latter may more fruitfully be sought in games set in so-called alternative worlds.

• Language: English
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2014
• Number of pages: Str. 106-122, 189
• Numbering: Letn. 51, št. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-75419
• UDC: 794-028.23:007
• ISSN on article: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32562013
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Teorija in praksa : revija za družbena vprašanja
• Shortened title: Teor. praksa
• Publisher: Visoka šola za politične vede, Visoka šola za politične vede, Visoka šola za sociologijo, politične vede in novinarstvo, Fakulteta za sociologijo, politične vede in novinarstvo, Fakulteta za družbene vede
• ISSN: 0040-3598
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763652

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

V besedilu obravnavamo odnos med kiberprostorom in vesoljem. Izhajamo iz presenetljive ugotovitve, da ne glede na izobilje videoiger, ki se domnevno dogajajo v vesolju, znanstvene in strokovne literature o tem fenomenu praktično ni. Nato preučimo implikacije, ki bi jih vpeljava koncepta vesolja imela za videoigre, če bi prej kritično preučili koncept vesoljskega imaginarija. To analizo nato soočimo z videoigrami, ki se domnevno odvijajo v vesolju, pri čemer zastavljamo vprašanja, ki so jih v študije videoiger vpeljali pionirji t. i. prostorskega obrata. Na podlagi analize zagovarjamo tezo, da imajo videoigre, ki se odvijajo v vesolju, z vesoljem pravzaprav zelo malo skupnega. Slednjega gre bolj upravičeno iskati v igrah, ki se odvijajo v t. i. alternativnih svetovih.

• Keywords: fantastika