The Game Studies Watchlist newsletter, curated by Prof Dr Rudolf Inderst, is published weekly on GamesMarkt. This week's topics include Horses, the VGHF hiring, and great papers from game studies and game design.
AHOI there, game studies operators!
In The Shocking Inoffensiveness of HORSES, Super Bunnyhop takes on one of the more curious recent controversies: a low-budget indie horror game that was banned from major storefronts and widely assumed to be extreme, depraved, or exploitative. His argument cuts in the opposite direction. Horses turns out to be neither especially explicit nor sensationalist, but rather a deliberately uncomfortable, symbolic work, more moral satire than shock horror. Its disturbing reputation says less about the game itself than about platform governance, outrage cycles, and how players interpret ambiguity.
What emerges is a thoughtful reading of how games can produce meaning not through explicit depiction, but through suggestion, repetition, and player complicity, pushing against the limits of what “offensiveness” in games actually means. This is a very sharp, nuanced piece on controversy, censorship, and the aesthetics of discomfort.
From a game studies perspective, Horses is a particularly rich case since it sits at the intersection of platform governance, player interpretation, and aesthetic ambiguity. Its reception shows how meaning is co-produced through discourse; storefront bans, community speculation, and secondhand accounts shape the game as much as its actual content. So, examining it can help unpack how “offensiveness” is constructed, how symbolic or minimal design can trigger maximal reactions, and how contemporary games circulate as contested cultural objects rather than stable works.
Who really benefited from Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard? This piece cuts through the hype and argues the outcome is far more ambiguous than the “biggest deal ever” narrative suggests—especially for players and developers. Here's the article.
The Video Game History Foundation is hiring for the first time in its 9-year history. They’re looking for a full-time fundraising manager to build and grow their development efforts. The role is remote-hybrid (SF Bay Area) and comes with benefits. This is a rare chance to support one of the key institutions preserving game history. More info.
I had the great pleasure of speaking with Jenna Stoeber about horror, humor, and the depth of games for TITEL kulturmagazin.
The Chinese DiGRA has opened its latest call for papers, inviting submissions on all aspects of games in Chinese-speaking contexts—from industry and design to culture and player practices. The conference explicitly welcomes work from students and early-career researchers, with submissions accepted in both English and Chinese. Topics are broad, but there’s a clear emphasis on the specificities of games, production, and research in the Chinese context. More info.
For our German-speaking readers, I'd like to point a new book release. Together with Jacob Birken, I’ve published a book about The Elder Scrolls role-playing game series. We’ve got brilliant authors and fantastic contributions – get your copy now, read it and… why not write one yourself! More info.
Men and Masculinities in Gaming: A Scoping Review looks at games culture from a more theoretical angle, focusing on how digital practices and media forms reshape research perspectives and interpretation. This paper situates contemporary digital phenomena within broader methodological and epistemological debates about how we study culture online. Good pick if you’re interested in the conceptual frameworks behind games research, rather than just case studies. Here's the OA gem.
Esther Wright and Daniel J. Finnegan will be speaking today (24 April, 6pm UK / 1pm ET) at an online roundtable on teaching game studies. They’ll present their work on the Cardiff Heritage Jam and discuss approaches to engaging students at Cardiff University through games—alongside a strong lineup of speakers. More info.
Here comes a new NBN Game Studies podcast episode! I talk to Michał Mycka about his new book Games User Research Cookbook. Tools and Techniques for Better Player Experience and I would like you to listen, enjoy and (afterwards) share our conversation!
... btw: Check out this lovely headline: "NieR Replicant Remake Soundtrack Now Available on Streaming Services"
P l e a s e support my work in game research & culture, consider contributing via Buy Me a Coffee.
Cheers and stay healthy, Rudolf
