Review: Playing at a Distance - Borderlands of Videogame Aesthetic

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Catarina Matos Vieira
Universidade Católica Portuguesa, School of Arts, Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3381-9093

Abstract

Sonia Fizek's Playing at Distance: Borderlands of Video Game Aesthetic navigates the intricate intersection of digital technology, aesthetics, and play in the context of video games, challenging conventional ideas of player agency. This critical recension delves into the book's contributions, highlighting its innovative exploration of mediated distance, interactivity, delegation, automation, ambience, spectacle, and the evolving nature of player engagement. While acknowledging its theoretical depth, this review emphasizes the book's significance in reshaping our understanding of video game aesthetics and the complex relationship between humans, machines, and digital play.

Keywords: Video Games, Automation, Digital Play, Interactivity

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