Recently Published Book Spotlight: Aesthetics and Video Games

"Bartel emphasizes that video games are unique because they combine elements of both games and works of fiction, which complicates traditional aesthetic evaluations. He states, "To think about the aesthetic value of video games, we can look for inspiration in two places: the philosophy of sport and games, and also the philosophy of fiction." This duality allows for a richer understanding of how players engage with video games aesthetically."

"The concept of 'dollhouse play' is introduced as a way to understand how interactive digital worlds foster imaginative freeplay. Bartel notes, "Some games aren't really about goal-seeking play or interactive fiction," suggesting that these games create experiences that challenge existing philosophical frameworks and encourage new forms of engagement."

Christopher Bartel's work focuses on the aesthetic value of video games, aiming to establish a philosophical framework for understanding how players derive enjoyment from them. He draws inspiration from the philosophy of sport and games, as well as the philosophy of fiction, to analyze video games as both games and works of fiction. Bartel introduces the concept of "dollhouse play" and emphasizes that some games transcend goal-seeking play and interactive narratives, creating new forms of imaginative freeplay.

Read at Apaonline