This is the first time I’ve become really interested in an essay topic, and I’d largely attribute this to the fact that video-games, new-media and VR are all areas in which I can see myself working in the future (especially VR). I came across some really interesting readings and I finally found an academic application for some of the podcasts I listen to (and games I play).
The topic of agency is one which lends itself to gaming as well as the newly developed VR technologies, and in writing this essay I think I’ve developed my critical understanding of both these platforms. It’s interesting to view video-games from a more academic perspective, and I feel that as players, by understanding agency and player-control, we can begin to analyse and discuss games in a more broad and thought provoking manner.
Through my research I’ve become particularly interested in the potentials of VR storytelling. While this is an area that isn’t really that accessible to a university student, I think the future of this technology is really exciting and I look forward to being able to mess around with it in the coming years.
Anyways, that’s just a brief reflection on my agency research. Maybe if I find work in VR or the games industry I’ll one day look back at this and amuse myself. Alternatively if I’m unemployed this’ll probably just make me sad.