Reconstructing the Gothic in games and gaming : Gothic monsters and ideology in the story world and player experiences of Fallout 3

2018

This dissertation research investigates the deployment of Gothic elements in digital games and player experiences of Gothic monsters. The Gothic is a rich and popular resource for games that, through representations of monstrosities and injustice, aims to induce in players a pleasurable feeling of discomfort, yet also reflects contemporary anxieties. The dissertation comprises three case studies of which the first two are close readings of the action role-playing game Fallout 3 and the third discourse analysis of transcribed player narration from Let’s Play (LP) gameplay videos. More specifically, the case studies discuss the dual role of Gothic monstrosities as a cause and consequence of t…