Horror Game Politics Method

Pfister, E. (n.d.). How to analyse a Video game from a historical, source-critical perspective: The HGP-Method [Billet]. Horror - Game - Politics. Retrieved 17 September 2022, from https://hgp.hypotheses.org/1754

The HGP method is designed for the analysis of digital games from a historical perspective, focusing on how video games communicate political and ideological content. The method is inspired by the interdisciplinary approaches from game studies, history, and media criticism, and is structured around a detailed, multi-step process of analyzing games as cultural texts.

The method emphasizes understanding the political myths (Roland Barthes) embedded in video games—both overt and unconscious—and how these myths reflect contemporary historical and cultural contexts.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Source-Critical Approach: The method is based on historical source criticism, analyzing the origin, reliability, and context of the game as a cultural artifact.

  2. Tripartite Analytical Framework:

    • Production Analysis: Investigates the development process, the context in which the game was created, and external influences like the socio-political environment of the developers.
    • Product Analysis: Focuses on the game itself—story, audio-visual aesthetics, and game mechanics—analyzing how these elements combine to convey political or ideological messages.
    • Reception Analysis: Explores how the game was received by players and critics, focusing on the perception of its political and ideological content.

  3. Political Myths: The method identifies “political myths”—political or ideological messages that appear natural or self-evident. These myths are reproduced unconsciously by developers and players alike and require thorough analysis to uncover.

  4. Challenges in Analysis: The method acknowledges the inherent complexity of analyzing games, given their interactive nature and the diversity of experiences that arise from different gameplay approaches. It also notes the challenge of accessing primary sources, such as developer interviews or postmortems, due to industry confidentiality.

  5. Holistic Analysis: It involves multiple layers of analysis—story, gameplay, and visual design—considering how each element interacts with the others to communicate a cohesive political or ideological message.