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IMC 2019: Sessions

Session 846: Playing the Middle Ages, III: Representation and Balance in Historical Games

Tuesday 2 July 2019, 16.30-18.00

Sponsor:The Public Medievalist
Organiser:Victoria Cooper, School of English, University of Leeds
Moderator/Chair:James Hill, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds
Paper 846-aThe Representation of Medieval Gender Identities in Fantasy Role-Playing Games
(Language: English)
Markus Mindrebø, Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London
Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Gender Studies, Medievalism and Antiquarianism, Sexuality
Paper 846-bRepresenting the Medieval through Mechanics: A Case Study of A Feast for Odin
(Language: English)
Adam Bierstedt, Faculty of Icelandic & Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Iceland, Reykjavík
Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Medievalism and Antiquarianism
Paper 846-cSelected Skins: Deconstructing Race in The Sims Medieval
(Language: English)
Jasper Chopping, Department of History, University of Sheffield
Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Demography, Medievalism and Antiquarianism
Abstract

The portrayal of the Middle Ages in games is subject to several constraints. Censorship - whether by government, developer, or fanbase - can undermine and limit stories and approaches. The need for a level playing field can distort the vision of the past. Even the nature of games as systems of mechanics can restrict the ability of creators to provide an authentic account of the period. However, the nature of games also provides a substantial array of opportunities to engage players with complex and controversial worlds to a depth seldom found in other media. The papers in this session address the restrictions and possibilities presented in a number of digital games.