Burn, Andrew and Schott, Gareth (2004) Heavy Hero or Digital Dummy? Multimodal Player–Avatar Relations in Final Fantasy 7. visual communication, 3 (2). pp. 213-233. ISSN 14703572
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Abstract
This article analyses the player-avatar relation in Final Fantasy 7, drawing on multimodality theory to analyse textual structures both in the game and in the discourse of player-interviews and fan writing. It argues that the avatar is a two-part structure, partly designed in conventional narrative terms as a protagonist of popular narrative, and partly as a vehicle for interactive game-play. The former structure is replete with the traditions and designs of Japanese popular narrative, oral formulaic narrative and contemporary superhero narratives; and is presented to the player as an offer act – a declarative narrative statement. The latter is a construct of evolving attributes and economies characteristic of roleplaying games; and is presented to the player as a demand act – a rule-based command. Though these two functions separate out in the grammar of player and fan discourse, it is their integration which provides the pleasure of gameplay and narrative engagement.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Copyright © 2004 by SAGE Publications |
| Subjects: | Departments > London Knowledge Lab |
| Depositing User: | IOE Repository Editor (2) |
| Date Deposited: | 11 May 2010 14:49 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2012 22:33 |
| URI: | http://eprints.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/4250 |
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