Video Game Characters and Transmedia Storytelling. The Dynamic Game Character, by J. Blom, Amsterdam, UAP, 2023, 208 pp

Hernandez Perez, Manuel

Abstract

Based on a doctoral thesis, the book introduces the concept of ‘dynamic game characters,’ or characters whose narratives and identities are influenced by players' actions. The term is introduced directly and decidedly not only through the book subtitle but also in the first sections of the volume. The author argues that characters do not necessarily require specific world settings or 'stories,' as they are not inherently bound to particular contexts or specific platforms (p. 13). Consequently, the study aims to examine characters independently rather than as elements belonging to another domain. Alongside this, the book critiques the concept of narrative continuity, which is dominant in the field of transmedia storytelling. It suggests that characters are now fluid and multiplicitious. Some scholars view the ideals of narrative continuity as a Western bias that does not apply to Japanese game characters' narratives. This idea is supported by existing literature on Japanese characters and the affection of audiences (Azuma, 2009). With these elements in mind, transmedia characters will be the book's main focus through the intersection of transmedia storytelling, games studies, and Japanese studies.

Citation

Hernandez Perez, M. (in press). Video Game Characters and Transmedia Storytelling. The Dynamic Game Character, by J. Blom, Amsterdam, UAP, 2023, 208 pp. Popular Communication,

• Journal Article Type: Book Review
• Acceptance Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Journal: Popular Communication
• Print ISSN: 1540-5702
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed