Return to the Interactive Past: The Interplay of Video Games and Histories

Video games are a rich spectrum of engagements with the past, offering cultural expressions that support and influence social interactions. They educate, bring enjoyment, and encourage reflection, and are intricate achievements of coding and creative works of art. This book continues an interdisciplinary conversation on game development and play, working towards a better understanding of how we represent and experience the past in the present.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2021
Publisher: Sidestone Press

Video games have become an integral part of our modern world, offering a diverse range of experiences that connect us with the past. Beyond mere entertainment, they serve as cultural expressions that shape and influence social interactions. These digital creations not only entertain but also educate, provide joy, and encourage introspection. They are intricate masterpieces of coding and artistic ingenuity, reimagining histories from personal to global scales in playful and engaging digital experiences.

However, the medium also amplifies our complex and often confrontational relationship with the past. The overreliance on violent and discriminatory game mechanics contributes to this, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and narratives. This book seeks to continue an interdisciplinary dialogue on game development and play, aiming to enhance our understanding of how we represent and experience the past in the present.

Return to the Interactive Past presents a collection of thought-provoking essays by game creators, historians, computer scientists, archaeologists, and other experts. It delves into the meticulous processes developers employ when designing games, as well as the intricate ways in which players engage with these digital experiences. Building upon the themes explored in The Interactive Past (2017), the authors revisit the past to raise new and pressing questions.

How can we sensitively and evocatively incorporate veterans' voices into video game development, creating narratives that transcend combat? How can we reconstruct the development of old video games based on their code and the limitations of historic hardware? Can hacking be used as a tool to decolonize games and challenge harmful stereotypes? When archaeologists study games, what kind of maps do they create for their digital fieldwork? And how can we teach history through playing games and game-making?

These are just a few of the questions that this book explores, shedding light on the multifaceted ways in which video games can be used to understand, interpret, and engage with the past. Through their innovative approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives, the authors contribute to a better understanding of the role of games in shaping our collective memory and understanding of history.

As we continue to navigate the digital landscape, video games remain a powerful tool for exploring and understanding our shared heritage. By engaging with these interactive experiences, we can gain new insights, challenge our assumptions, and forge connections between different times and cultures. Whether through playing, creating, or studying games, we can deepen our appreciation for the past and shape a more inclusive and informed future.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789088909139