A systematic literature review of game studies research in the last decade: Where are we now and where do we go from here?
Editor
Date
2021-05-17Publisher
Nova Science Publishers
Pages
105 - 122
Language
English
Type
Book ChapterItem Usage Stats
78
views
views
84
downloads
downloads
Book Title
Paradigm Shifts within the Communication World
Series
Media and Communications – Technologies, Policies and Challenges;SOC052000
Abstract
This systematic literature review examines academic game studies as a component of digital environments and new media ecosystems through a content analysis of peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 228), published over the last ten years, that include the term "game studies" in the title and/or abstract to reveal the development and directions of the literature on game studies. The literature on game studies was examined in detail to expose the state of research in game studies scholarship in terms of authorship, and geographical and academic contexts, major themes, theoretical perspectives, and commonly used methodological approaches. The paper provides suggestions for theory development, criticizes the field from a political-economy perspective, and suggests directions for future research.
Keywords
Content analysisDigital games
Ecosystem
Game studies
New media
Systematic literature review
Video games