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Replay. The Polish Journal of Game Studies
Farming Games in the Cozy Aesthetic as a Phantasm of Dreams of a Simple Life
Key insights
6 takeaways- 01Cozy farming games function as a digital 'phantasm' of a simple life, serving as an existential response to the stress and rapid technological changes of modern society.See it on page 2
- 02The core appeal of the genre lies in the ritualization of repetitive tasks like planting and harvesting, which provides players with a sense of security, predictability, and meditative satisfaction.See it on page 11
- 03Cozy games prioritize cooperation and the 'gift economy' over competition, often removing mandatory objectives to allow players to engage with the game at their own pace.See it on page 5
- 04Designers reinforce the cozy aesthetic through specific visual choices, such as rounded contours for fields, soft color palettes, and soothing environmental audio, to create a relaxing atmosphere.See it on page 8
- 05Key titles in the genre include Farmerama (2009-), Big Farm (2012), Ale Folwark (2014-), Stardew Valley (2016), and the Animal Crossing series (2001-2020).See it on page 16
- 06These games often act as social laboratories where players can form communities on forums or through in-game interactions, though they are designed to be playable as single-player experiences if desired.See it on page 13
Summary
https://doi.org/10.18778/2391-8551.12.06 w estetyce cozy jako fantazmat Artykuł poświęcony jest nurtowi gier farmerskich, które można opisać za pomocą estetyki cozy/"przytulności". Kreowane w nich życie na wsi oparte jest o zjawiska kulturowe (głównie kino slow cinema i idylliczne obrazy wywiedzione z piosenek popularnych). Tym, co charakteryzuje gry cozy, jest tworzenie wrażenia powolno- ści i przedkładania relacji ponad rywalizację czy osiągnięcie zamierzonego celu.
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