Introduction

摘要

Games are a ubiquitous feature of popular culture, providing ephemeral entertainment that draws on quick wit, cognitive and motor skills, and the reservoir of emotions that lie beneath the surface of every human being, whatever their age or cultural background. This is a common understanding of games and gaming, illustrated with examples of games from the earliest period of all cultures. What is different today is the way games are delivered to players and how the manner of delivery has created opportunities to develop new forms of games and explore the nature of gaming itself. The manner of delivery, of course, is digital technology, and this special issue of Design Issues-compiled by guest editors James Malazita, Casey O'Donnell, and Elizabeth LaPensee-focuses on the theme of Critical Game Design. In their introduction, James Malazita and Casey O'Donnell describe the concept as "the deep synthesis of game design, cultural critique, and reflective design research practices." This is difficult terrain because it crosses so many domains and disciplines, raising questions and making connections that can be surprising and sometimes troubling. It is worth noting, however, that the concept behind this special issue echoes deeply with the development of design itself in its diverse branches, bringing together design practice, different approaches to design research and theory, and the cultural and philosophical grounding of design.