Final Fantasy XIV Online
Game
Documents about Final Fantasy XIV Online
Article
Rethinking Ludonarrative Dissonance in BioShock
This analysis re-evaluates the concept of ludonarrative dissonance, specifically focusing on its application to the video game BioShock.
- Ludonarrative dissonance occurs when a game's mechanical rules conflict with its narrative, such as when a player is forced to perform actions that contradict the character's established motivations.
- Clint Hocking’s 2007 critique of BioShock highlights a fundamental dissonance: while the game offers players the mechanical freedom to choose between harvesting or rescuing Little Sisters, the narrative forces the player to follow Atlas’s instructions without meaningful agency.
- Distinguishing between ludonarrative dissonance and cognitive dissonance is essential; the former is a structural mismatch between mechanics and story, whereas the latter may simply be a player struggling to accept the alterity of a controlled character.
Liverpool Hope UniversityApr 2026
Article
Queer(ed) Avatars: Exploring Visual Identity Construction in Final Fantasy XIV Online Gaymers
This analysis examines how LGBTQ+ players, or "gaymers," utilize the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online to construct and articulate visual identities.
- Players in Final Fantasy XIV Online utilize avatar customization and virtual photography as tools for queer identity articulation, allowing them to experiment with gender and social expression within a traditionally heteronormative game space.
- Virtual photography serves as a critical practice for memorializing social connections and affirming queer experiences, with players using in-game captures to create narratives that challenge the game's original intended design.
- The use of graphical mods allows players to bypass standard game constraints, enabling resistant play and the creation of personalized aesthetic tokens that reflect individual or community-specific queer sensibilities.
University of PretoriaJun 2025
Article
Market Analysis: Late March 2024
This market analysis provides an overview of upcoming and recent game releases across various platforms, focusing on sales performance, critical reception, and market trends in late March 2024.
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a major market driver, securing the third highest-grossing spot on Steam via pre-orders with over 300,000 units sold before launch.
- The Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection launch was marred by technical issues, resulting in a 19% positive review rating despite an initial 10,000 concurrent user count.
- Helldivers 2 maintains its position as the leading PlayStation sales title in the U.S., while Unicorn Overlord leads third-party paid downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
GameDiscoverCoMar 2024
Article
Gamescom 2018: Square Enix Line-up
Square Enix announced an extensive presence at Gamescom 2018 in Cologne, positioning the Japanese publisher, whose German headquarters sit in Hamburg, as a company back in strong form after a period of renewed momentum.
- Square Enix showcased a major 2018 release portfolio at Gamescom 2018, utilizing a 1,500-square-meter booth in Hall 9.1.
- The exhibition featured over 200 individual playstations to provide hands-on demonstrations for attendees.
- The primary lineup included high-profile titles such as Kingdom Hearts III, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Dragon Quest XI, Just Cause 4, Final Fantasy XIV, and the premiere of Life is Strange 2.
Gamecity HamburgAug 2018