Open AccessKey Dimensions of Contemporary Video Game Literacy: Towards A Normative Model of the Competent Digital Gamer
Author(s) -
Christoph Klimmt
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
eludamos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1866-6124
DOI - 10.7557/23.5992
Subject(s) - affordance , popularity , digital literacy , game mechanics , normative , game developer , game design , literacy , key (lock) , computer science , multimedia , psychology , social psychology , human–computer interaction , political science , pedagogy , world wide web , computer security , law
Recent developments in digital games technology, economy, and content have further expanded the popularity of the medium. At the same time, requirements for competent gaming or digital game literacy need to be reconsidered in the light of the rapid evolution of digital games. The paper outlines three important dimensions of contemporary video game literacy: (1) Resilience against effects of game content on automatic cognition (such as stereotypes and aggressive thinking), (2) the ability to cope with social affordances of multiplayer games, and (3) the ability to manage inertia processes in playing motivation that result in a perceived risk of losing investments of time and effort when deciding against playing. Finally, the importance to substantiate game literacy concepts with scientific theory and empirical research is articulated.