(Re-)positioning the senses : Perceptions of space in 3D gameworlds

Abstract

In his chapter titled ‘Allegories of Space’ Espen Aarseth states that, “[c]omputer games are essentially concerned with spatial representation and negotiation” (Aarseth 2001, 154). By playing a videogame, the player has to move their character or objects through space. This happens in two-dimensional platform games, first-person shooters, and even puzzle games such as Tetris or Bejeweled 2, where space is reordered through the constant movement of objects. But how do players perceive and consequently interact with these spaces? And how have the growing trend of what Jesper Juul (2010) terms to be “mimetic interfaces”, such as the Wii with its unique remote control device, change our perceptions of space both inside and outside of the game?