Introduction to Expanding Universes : Exploring Games and Transmedial Ways of World-building

Abstract

Transmedia is a wide concept, as by definition, it is a network of various media forms. It includes also games, both digital and more traditional forms of games. Transmedia productions are often built around a certain television series, but in some cases a digital game has been the core production as well. Games, however, have not been looked at in detail in their role as a part of a transmedia whole. It is important to pay attention to the specificity of games as a media form, to their product-audience relation, and to the way how they incorporate playfulness into that relation. Even in cases where games are just a minor part of the production, the playfulness involved in transmedia user practices makes games well worth closer scrutiny.

The selection of articles in this issue of IJTL provide multifaceted and complimentary approaches to the topic of games and transmedia. They discuss both the ways how games in themselves may be transmedial, but also how games may be incorporated as elements in larger transmedia universes. Furthermore, the articles also present ways how playful engagement with media is, or could be, part of transmedia user experience. The articles deal with the World of Warcraft and Metal Gear Solid franchises, live-action role-play, the walking simulator game Dear Esther, as well as time-loop structure in film and games.