Video games are mainly a male domain. Both the production and consumer/player side of gaming are highly male dominated (even though this might, and in my hope, be changing) and therefore also largely influenced by a patriarchal order. If you look at video game characters you directly see a clear majority of male, and to some degree the white male, protagonists, corresponding with modern day films to classic literature this narrative form is deeply established as the norm of story telling. But does it have to be this way? In literature, theater, film and art there is a well recognized feminist perspective from which interesting and relevant critique as well as general analysis has sprung. This perspective, however, seems some what marginalized in the gaming community. The aim of this blog is therefore to approach the video game industry and their work from a feminist, and from time to time a post-colonial, perspective. The work will be based upon the following principles:

  1. Engen Gaming’s primary focus will be to try and understand video games and their makers through analysis and reflections primarily based on feminist and/or post-colonial perspectives.
  2. The work will mainly be concentrated towards the narratives of video games and the identity of their characters, rather than gameplay. The work will, however, also entail more general reflections on the industry and its actions, while this isn’t Engen Gaming’s main focus it will be a way to express opinions and give reflections on news, gameplay and gaming in general.
  3. Engen Gaming’s primary focus will not be to promote a paradigm change in video game aesthetics, nor the physical appearance and attributes of video game characters – although the latter will act as ground for critique and reflection to a certain extent.
  4. The work will, to as large degree as possible, be based and related to a theoretical groundwork. This primarily applies to analysis and critique and secondarily to reflections and “general” articles.
  5. The author Engen Gaming does not have English as a native language and the texts literate level and use of proper discursive language will vary thereafter.