Behind the Scenes of the Video Game Industry: Storytelling, Power Dynamics, and Myth

My first monograph Behind the Scenes of the Video Game Industry: Storytelling, Power Dynamics, and Myth has just been published by Routledge. The book explores the stories behind video game production, building on my previous research in this area, but it fully consists of never-before-published content, ranging from theoretical discussions, and methodological frameworks to empirical case studies. The monograph investigates how behind-the-scenes narratives and making-of materials are shaped by power dynamics within the video game industry, and how they often reinforce the existing professional hierarchies by shining the spotlight on those who are already at the top. Which roles, however, are undervalued? How are crunch and other problematic work practices normalized and obscured to both the industry practitioners and the public?

This book builds on concepts of industrial reflexivity (John Thornton Caldwell) and paratextuality (Gérard Genette), and the growing field of production studies to offer a critical framework for the analysis of industrial storytelling and reflexivity (presented in Chapter 3), supported by empirical case studies on art books, game awards, and promotional materials (presented in Chapters 4 and 5). Readers will gain insights into how these narratives influence the video game industry’s status quo, making it an essential resource for understanding the hidden forces shaping game production.

Abbreviated table of contents:

Introduction 
Part A: Frameworks and Foundations

1. Theory of Industrial Storytelling

2. Production Realities and Reflections

3. The Many Voices of Industrial Storytelling

Part B: Practices

4. Making-of Materials: Promotion and Commodification

5. The Game of the Year

Conclusion: Dispelling Myths of Industrial Storytelling