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Neoliberalism and the Corruption of Play in AAA Video Games

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Neoliberalism and the Corruption of Play in AAA Video Games Neoliberalism and the Corruption of Play in AAA Video Games Christopher McMahon Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy February 2020 Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 4 Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 Rationale of Study .................................................................................................... 7 Video Games and Neoliberalism ............................................................................ 13 The Argument ......................................................................................................... 21 Overview of Chapters ............................................................................................. 26 Chapter 1: Conceptualising the Video Game ............................................................. 41 Why AAA Video Games .......................................................................................... 42 Play and Rules ......................................................................................................... 53 Media Form ............................................................................................................ 65 Ludology and Narratology ...................................................................................... 72 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 78 Chapter 2: Why Play AAA Video Games ..................................................................... 80 The Player ............................................................................................................... 81 Why Escapism, Involvement, and Identification .................................................... 85 Escapism ................................................................................................................. 88 Involvement ............................................................................................................ 94 Identity Formation ................................................................................................ 100 Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 106 Chapter 3: Neoliberalism and Play ........................................................................... 109 Neoliberalism and Neoliberalisation .................................................................... 111 Neoliberalism through Capitalist Realism and Liquid Modernity ........................ 115 The Cult of Work and the Entrepreneurial Self .................................................... 124 The Neoliberalisation of Play ................................................................................ 133 Why Oppose Neoliberalism .................................................................................. 141 Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 143 Chapter 4: Methodology .......................................................................................... 146 Approaching Video Games ................................................................................... 148 Developing a Critical Approach ............................................................................ 156 The Entrepreneurial Player and Discerning Directives ......................................... 168 1 Identifying the Corruption of Play ........................................................................ 173 Summary of Approach .......................................................................................... 177 Chapter 5: Identity ................................................................................................... 181 Identity and Neoliberalism ................................................................................... 182 Maps and Menus: “What Can I Do?” and “How Efficiently Can I Do It?” ............ 191 The Corruption of Play.......................................................................................... 200 Fast Travel and Speed-Running ............................................................................ 202 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 214 Chapter 6: Agency .................................................................................................... 216 Agency and Neoliberalism .................................................................................... 217 Non-Playable Characters and Level Progression Systems: “Why Am I Doing This?” and “What Do I Get Out Of This?” ........................................................................ 223 Corruption of Play ................................................................................................ 231 Grinding and Farming ........................................................................................... 233 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 240 Chapter 7: Ideology .................................................................................................. 242 Ideology and Neoliberalism .................................................................................. 243 Downloadable Content and Microtransactions: “How Can I Play More?” and “How Can I Play Better?” ................................................................................................ 249 Corruption of Play ................................................................................................ 264 Networks and Immediacy ..................................................................................... 265 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 270 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 272 Limitations and Future Research .......................................................................... 281 Ludography............................................................................................................... 285 Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 289 2 List of Figures Figure 1: A PlayStation Controller for the PlayStation 3 version of the console. ................... 95 Figure 2: Fiverr advert designed to recruit people to advertise their service on the Fiverr domain.................................................................................................................................. 131 Figure 3: The top comment on the Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 (Official Video) ............................ 132 Figure 4: A section of the Far Cry 4 world map. Each “?” signals a point of interest, as do the numerous other icons on the map. It is fair to class this map as “information heavy”. ...... 193 Figure 5: Information and progress of available collectible items in Far Cry 4 .................... 193 Figure 6: A section of the Middle-earth: Shadow of War world map .................................. 194 Figure 7: Icon legend for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor ................................................ 194 Figure 8: Inventory Menu in Assassin's Creed Odyssey ....................................................... 198 Figure 9: Inventory menu of weaponry in Assassin's Creed Odyssey showing detailed information and statistics on one specific piece of equipment ........................................... 198 Figure 10: Inventory menu in Fallout 4 showing armour and statistics and information for a specific piece of armour ....................................................................................................... 198 Figure 11: Inventory menu in Fallout 4 showing weaponry and statistics and information for a specific weapon ................................................................................................................. 198 Figure 12: A section of the player's view of the map from Fallout 4 ................................... 198 Figure 13: A section of the player's view of the world map from Fallout 4. The outlined icons indicate a place of interest that the player is yet to visit ..................................................... 199 Figure 14: Figure 14: A screenshot from a former world record run of the video game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) ....................................................................................... 208 Figure 15: Preston Garvey in Fallout 4. ................................................................................ 224 Figure 16: Preston Garvey meme depicting the relentless nature in which quests are given to the player. ........................................................................................................................ 225 Figure 17: The message board menu in Assassin's Creed Odyssey
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