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Media narratives inform our ideas of the future – and Games are currently making a significant contribution to this medial reservoir. On the one hand, Games demonstrate a particular propensity for fantastic and futuristic scenarios. On the other hand, they often serve as an experimental field for the latest media technologies. However, while dystopias are part of the standard gaming repertoire, Games feature utopias much less frequently. Why?
This anthology examines playful utopias from two perspectives. It investigates utopias in digital Games as well as utopias of the digital game; that is, the role of ludic elements in scenarios of the future.
Benjamin Beil (Prof. Dr.) is a professor of media studies and digital culture at the department of media culture and theatre at Universität zu Köln. His research interests include game studies, inter- and transmediality, digital media in museums, and participatory cultures.
Gundolf S. Freyermuth (Prof. Dr.) is a professor of media and game studies and co-director of the Cologne Game Lab at TH Köln. He is also an associate professor of comparative media studies at ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln.
Hanns Christian Schmidt is a professor for Game Design at Macromedia University for Applied Sciences (Cologne) and a research assistant at the Institute of Media Culture and Theater at the University of Cologne.
Frontmatter 1
Table of Contents 5
Preface and Acknowledgements 7
Utopian Futures. A Brief History of Their Conception and Representation in Modern Media—From Literature to Digital Games 9
Tinkering with Political Utopias and Dystopias in DEMOCRACY 3. An Educational Perspective 69
The Concept of Utopia in Digital Games 99
"Everything is true; nothing is permitted". Utopia, Religion and Conspiracy in ASSASSIN'S CREED 149
Beyond the Holonovel. The Holographic Interactive Digital Entertainment Utopia of STAR TREK 187
Feminist Interventions for Better Futures of Digital Games 211
Ludopian Visions. On the Speculative Potential of Games in Times of Algorithmic Work and Play 235
Playful Utopias. Sandboxes for the Future 253
Building Utopia, Brick by Brick? Selling Subversiveness in LEGO DIMENSIONS 267
We have won this battle ;) Modding and Swapping as a Utopian Video Game Practice 285
The Utopia of Getting Over It 315
Contributors 327