New pub out in Eludamos! ๐
277 cozy game players self-reported more Light Triad (prosocial) traits (vs. Dark Triad). Key motives to play were moral self-reflection, agency, escapism, eudaimonic emotions, and cozy game narrative.
Full article (open access): septentrio.uit.no/index.php/el...
Just a friendly reminder, the deadline for submissions for The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: K Pop Demon Hunters is approaching! (December 20)
playstorypress.org/2025/11/13/c...
It's amazing to see that "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Marvel Cinematic Universe" (co-edited with real-life superhero @rowandaneels.bsky.social) is finally out - available in OPEN ACCESS thanks to Play Story Press and Psychgeist editor @drkowert.bsky.social! โก
Massive thanks to everyone involved!
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐: ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐, co-edited with the marvelous @alexvandewalle.bsky.social, is ALIVE!
This scholarly-based book addresses the underlying psychological themes of the MCUโs superhero storytelling.
Book is OPEN ACCESS: playstorypress.org/books/the-ps...
Interested in the social impact of video games? Want to understand how games can make our world better? Attend this webinar at @uniofbathsom.bsky.social on 13/11! Special guests include experts @drkowert.bsky.social & @kathrynbfrancis.bsky.social! Pls share www.bath.ac.uk/events/explo... #videogames
Looking forward to the next DiGRA Belgium Symposium: Namur on December 19! Thanks to @ypsenn.bsky.social and Pierre-Yves Houlmont for organizing!
A reminder of our open call for postdoctoral researchers focusing on cultural game studies, closing on Friday this week, 31 October at 23.59.00 EET / UTC+2 (Finland time): tuni.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index...
It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.
youtube.com/shorts/vp8Gb...
Super happy to see this chapter published!
Anisha and I discuss how ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ & ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ are represented in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Link to the book (FREE): playstorypress.org/books/the-ps...
@annayahprosser.bsky.social @drkowert.bsky.social
A book called the Psychgeist of pop culture, the legend of Zelda sitting on top five other books in the same series. The background is a mountain landscape.
The latest #Psychgeist entry has arrived!
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA ๐ก๏ธ
Iโm SO excited to read it this weekend โฅ๏ธ
Thank you @annayahprosser.bsky.social @drkowert.bsky.social ๐
NEW PUBLICATION ALERT โจ The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us is here!
As always, free to download but who wouldn't want that beautiful cover on their shelf?! #TLOU
www.youtube.com/shorts/pdS0R...
A graph titled Scope of video games according to Hushcrasher Classification System. The Y axis shows Game Size (from 10 MB to 100GB), the X axis shows Credits count (sourced from Mobygames). The clustered dots on the graph represent 4 distinct scale categories of games - Kei, Midi, AA, AAA. The larger correlation between the size and the credits means larger category of a game.
I love this analytical take on video game categorization from Antoine Mayerowitz and Julie Belzanne:
hushcrasher.substack.com/p/taxonomy-o...
Instead of trying to vibe-intuit the definition of an "indie" game, the authors analyzed the data from the perspective of game size and credits length
#GameUXsummit '25 was a blast! SO MANY GREAT TALKS (see gamaste.net/game-ux-summ...)
I presented my research on how players' personal, social, and game-related factors impact ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ.
A huge thanks to the organizers! @gameuxsummit.com @celiahodent.com AP Hogeschool & Gamaste
Itโs a wrap for the #GameUXsummit โ25! Thank you so much everyone and see yโall next year โบ๏ธ
Photo of David Sears presenting his title slide
This is already our last session at the #GameUXsummitโฆ Our keynote speaker today is David Sears, creative director (most recently on South of Midnight) and writer. He takes us on a journey: โLife takes you to unexpected places, love brings you homeโ.
Photo of Jennifer Lufau presenting her title slide
We now welcome on stage Jennifer Lufau, Authenticity consultant and Founder of @afrogameuses.bsky.social. She talks about โDemystifying Sensitivity Reading to create better gamesโ.
#GameUXsummit
Photo of Artem Ivanov and Dmitrii Sokolov presenting their title slide
Now at the #GameUXsummit we listen to insights from Artem Ivanov & Dmitrii Sokolov (user researchers at Wargaming on the World of Warship franchise). They talk about โMaking sense of player satisfaction: Why it matters and how to measure itโ.
Colleen Macklin and Ben Van Buren presenting in front of an auditorium.
First session of the afternoon at the #GameUXsummit: Colleen Macklin and Ben Van Buren, coming all the way from New York City (Parsons School of Design)! They talk about โPerception in Virtual Worlds: Psychology and design students collaborate to study user experience in videogamesโ.
Photo of a video playing Maria Amirkhanyanโs slides (the slide shown introduces her)
Itโs Pecha Kucha time at the #GameUXsummit! Our first PK speaker, Maria Amirkhanyan (Head of Gaming Division at Duamentes) wasnโt sadly able to join us because of extremely frustrating visa issues. But she recorded her talk โMake me stay, donโt make me playโ so that we can still hear her insights.
Photo of Holger Wurst presenting his title slide
Next up at the #GameUXsummit: Holger Wurst (Lead UX designer at Wooga) talks about โChanging the FTUE* after 7 years live: Lessons from Juneโs Journeyโ
*First-Time User Experience
Photo of Kamila Isaeva presenting her title slide
Our next speaker is Kamila Isaeva, senior UX researcher at Wargaming (in collaboration with Rich Davis, research supervisor). Her talk is about biometrics: โEEG or not EEG? Reflections on Using Biometrics in Game UX Researchโ.
#GameUXsummit
Photo of Mike Ambinder presenting his title slide
Next up at the #GameUXsummit: Mike Ambinder (founder & chief research officer at Cognitive Experiences) talking about โA Science of Game Designโ.
Time for some SCIENZZZZ!!! ๐
Photo of Daekeon Kim in front of the auditorium presenting the title slide
Photo of Mihyun Ko showing a slide presenting herself
Welcome to Day 2 of the #GameUXsummit! Daekon Kim and Mihyun Ko (Product designers at Ubisoft) are kicking off the day. Their talk is about โSurviving the Game Production Wild: Essential tips for internal tool designโ.
#GameUXsummit
Photo of all the speakers and attendees in the amphitheater. People look like they are cheering and joyful.
And.. thatโs a wrap for Day 1 of the #GameUXsummit! Thanks again to all speakers, organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees! โค๏ธ
See you tomorrow โบ๏ธ
For those who cannot be with us, you can follow this great thread by Robin-Yann Storm! โบ๏ธ
#GameUXsummit
Photo of Olivier Nourry on stage with a slide presenting him and Alice Grรฉgoire
Our next speaker is Olivier Nourry, Chief #a11y Officer (Games Accessibility Hub), in collaboration with Alice Grรฉgoire (Producer at Abiding Bridge): โWordatro: From awesome to awesome AND accessibleโ.
#GameUXsummit
Photo of Alex Tokmakchiev presenting his title slide.
Next up at the #GameUXsummit: Alex Tokmakchiev (senior UI/UX designer at Raw Power Games), talking about โApplying object-oriented ux design to break up complex game systemsโ.
Picture of Corinna Rath presenting her title slide
Corinna Rath is giving the last Pecha Kucha session of the day: โSome learnings while developing Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crewโ
#GameUXsummit
Laura and Sven on stage presenting the title slide
And now, our AP University hosts Laura Herrewijn and Sven Charleer are doing their Pecha Kucha on โFrom game metrics to meaning: designing ux across play, learning, and XRโ
#GameUXsummit
