Connection of Dynamic Temporal Continuities in Videogames

Abstract

This research examines temporal continuities in videogames—the passing of time regardless of player action—and players’ understanding of it, taking into account videogame and media theory. It presents a chronology of schools of thought and an analysis of the application of the theory to two case studies, to determine the motives behind players’ actions over time. Subjects played two videogames of different genres, and an analysis of mixed nature revealed a lack of consensus about who is in control of the passing of time in the narrative of videogames. Results demonstrate the ambiguity in the awareness of the passing of time, showing that: (1) players distinguish narrative time and story time; (2) time can be studied through dynamic problems presented to players; (3) narrative cycles inform scene segmentation. The study corroborates previous hypotheses about the resolving of conflicts bringing an end to the narrative, thus also to the temporal continuity. Data shows evidence of the possibility of analysing time in videogames through some of the theories and frameworks tested.