Dragon Age

This paper reports on the early results of a research project called " Speech Accents in Games " (" SAG " ; funded by SSHRC/ReFiG), which looks at how selective uses and distributions of voiced-over linguistic accents in videogame characters may cast light on underlying language ideologies, and specifically on accent attitudinal evaluations and language ideological debates. We take a case study approach and examinehow Bioware's Dragon Age series (2009-2014) can be used to show incrementalizing diversity without, however, precluding stereotype perpetuation. To demonstrate the complexity involved in the classification and multimodal analysis of some characters' accented speech, we discuss the audiovisual design and narrative embedding of the playable companion character, Cassandra Pentaghast, as well as the ways in which meanings evoked by her accent have been debated by players online.

Introduction of 'Levelling Up: The Cultural Impact of Contemporary Videogames'

This volume discusses how contemporary videogames have become less an entertainment medium and more a space for serious considerations of identity, education and social change.

For the full Publication: http://www.interdisciplinarypress.net/product/levelling-up-the-cultural-impact-of-contemporary-videogames/

Videogames have come a long way from Super Mario Bros and Pong. After thirty years of technological advancements and academic criticisms, videogames have become a fertile ground for social change and virtual identity creation. Where big game companies like Bioware, Bethesda, and Rockstar Games have begun to include more inclusive narratives, independent game companies are beginning to delve into the field of ‘serious games,’ capitalising on the popularity and prevalence of social networking to inspire and assist non-game-related fields. While all of this is happening, a new subculture has become to dominate social media: that of the fanboy and the Let’s Play YouTube video phenomenon. It is a dynamic time in videogame studies, from the perspective of player, designer and theorist. However, with the advent of virtual reality, the question remains: where will videogames, and subsequently our society, ‘level up’ to next?