Mental Health | Atmospheres | Video Games

1. Why did you choose this topic?

Our anthology covers two topics: mental health, and atmospheres in games. Both are timely and deserving of academic attention whether it is to establish a new language for discussions or give new viewpoints to old debates. We wanted to create a space where young researchers could bring their own voices to these discussions and provide fresh perspectives, new methods, and new insights that would allow readers to look at these topics through a different lens.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

The works on both topics are quite diverse. Our authors bring their voices to discussions surrounding many issues such as censorship, representation of mental health issues, the contribution of sound to atmospheres, or the atmospheres created by the rules of a board game. While the topics that unite the works are broad, the contributions are pointed and well-defined. We invite the readers to explore the new perspectives of the authors further, and hopefully build upon them in the future.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

The diversity of the works makes it difficult to provide a unified answer, and we think, in the end, this is the strength of the anthology. Our authors give pointed answers to precise, applicable research questions, while covering an impressive amount of intellectual ground. We are certain that readers interested in the intersection between games and mental health, or game atmospheres will find in this publication either a compelling argument, or inspiration towards finding their own.

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with!

We think discussing this multifaceted work with one person might be counterproductive. We want to get as many voices in the discussion as possible, particularly those of young academics. We would rather discuss the book with all the students who will, hopefully, be so inspired by the works of this anthology that they will want to be a part of the next one!

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

Young voices in game research offer new perspectives to mental health and atmospheres in video games.