Consecrating video games as cultural artifacts: Intellectual legitimation as a source of industry renewal. Issue 1 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Styhre, Alexander; Szczepanska, Anna Maria; Remneland-Wikhamn, Björn
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of management. Volume 34:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Video game development -- Consecration; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; Gestion d'entreprise -- Périodiques; Gestion d'entreprise -- Scandinavie -- Périodiques; 658
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2017.11.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-5221

Abstract

Highlights: Examines the literature on consecration as an industry response to economic and financial opportunities. Discuss the nature of the video game industry and emphasize how the consecration of video games is of key interest for some industry representatives. Presents empirical data from a research project in the Swedish video game industry. Argues that video games are portrayed as cultural artifacts in addition the conventional view wherein games are engineered digital objects. Abstract: The video games industry, one of the fastest growing creative industries and now engaging larger proportions of populations as smartphones and tablets achieve wider use, seeks to enhance its institutional legitimacy in order to further exploit the new economic possibilities provided by, for example, portable digital media and their market penetration. This strategy is based on a form of consecration, a portrayal of video games as cultural artifacts, i.e., objects carrying a wider cultural and aesthetic significance than merely being a form of entertainment. In order to consecrate the video game, the industry relies on video game reviewers and journalists. This strategy, rooted in market opportunity recognition, challenges some of the conventional wisdom of the industry, the gamer community, and the inherited mainstream media view. As a consequence, institutional legitimacy is not easily acquired or earned since historical conditions and path-dependencies also matter in high-pace industries such as the video game industry.