‘Return to roots’: an examination of the re-presentations of rurality within post-apocalyptic survival video games

Post-apocalyptic survival (PAS) themed video games provide a virtual world that re-presents the realities of current society. Current studies have examined the existence of game culture (Aldred & Greenspan, 2011; Atkins, 2006; Kücklich, 2006), but limited analysis has focused on how these cultures relate to their real world counterparts. This study examines the re-presentations of rural culture, violence, and the production of rural stereotypes within PAS video games applying a cultural criminology foundation and elements of social control theory (Hirschi, 1969). Nine video games were examined or their setting; conflict; rural culture/stereotypes; and social structures using content analysis and coding frames. Results that PAS video games provide mixed views of rural life/culture, but skewed depictions of violence and a continual reproduction of socially constructed stereotypes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Reid, Samantha

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Downing, Steven

• Rural
• Video games
• Post-apocalyptic
• Survival
• Lethal violence

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/741

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/741