Ile emersji w grach?: Recenzja książki Gry wideo. Zarys poetyki

The monograph Gry wideo. Zarys poetyki by Piotr Kubiński serves as a foundational attempt to establish a rigorous, indigenous terminology for Polish game studies, a field often reliant on borrowed concepts. The central thesis posits that video games are defined by a persistent tension between immersion—the sensation of unmediated presence in a digital world—and emersion, a term introduced by the author to describe phenomena that disrupt or negate this sense of immersion. By framing these two concepts as an antonymic pair, the work provides a new analytical lens through which to examine the structure and reception of digital games.

The analysis covers a broad range of topics, including the semiotic study of user interfaces and the influence of games on broader cultural practices. Key findings suggest that emersion is not merely a technical failure or an accidental glitch, but a deliberate design choice capable of producing significant artistic and ludic effects. Through detailed case studies of titles such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Wiedźmin, and Metal Gear Solid, the author demonstrates how developers utilize emersive techniques to break the "fourth wall," comment on the medium, or provide comedic relief. The work also explores the evolution of user interfaces, noting how their increasing conventionalization enhances immersion for experienced players while simultaneously creating barriers for new users.

While the monograph is praised for its original contribution to game poetics and its interdisciplinary approach, it faces minor criticism regarding its scope and the strength of its claims. The assertion that emersion is a "very strong" element in the medium is challenged as being perhaps overstated, as many examples cited are limited to specific, memorable fragments rather than the entirety of the gameplay experience. Despite these critiques, the work is recognized as a significant, well-documented contribution that offers a valuable framework for future research, encouraging scholars to move beyond descriptive analysis toward a more cumulative and theoretically robust discourse in the study of digital media.