"Press Escape to Skip Concentration Camp"? Player Reflections on Engagement with the Holocaust through Digital Gaming

Pieter van den Heede

doi:10.2979/ham.2023.a885270

"Press Escape to Skip Concentration Camp"? Player Reflections on Engagement with the Holocaust through Digital Gaming

Pieter van den Heede

Department of History

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

275 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Digital entertainment games about World War II have long omitted references to the Holocaust. This article presents a focus group study on how players discuss their experiences of playing two games that do offer a representation of the Holocaust, Wolfenstein: The New Order and Call of Duty: WWII. It explores questions of digital memory by examining how players reflect on these games as historical representations and, in particular, how they reflect on engaging with the Holocaust through gameplay. To analyze players' reactions to engaging with sensitive and contentious pasts through gaming, I develop the concept "gaming fever."

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	108-140
Number of pages	33
Journal	History and Memory
Volume	35
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2979/ham.2023.a885270
Publication status	Published - 23 Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Indiana University Press. All rights reserved.

Research programs

ESHCC HIS

Access to Document

10.2979/ham.2023.a885270

Press Escape to Skip Concentration CampFinal published version, 508 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/3/article/885270

3 Citations
1 Chapter
1 Book/Film/Article review

Recensie: Remco Ensel, Anne Frank on the Postwar Dutch Stage: Performance, Memory, Affect
Translated title of the contribution: Book Review: Remco Ensel, Anne Frank on the Postwar Dutch Stage: Performance, Memory, Affectvan den Heede, P., 28 Jun 2023, In: Bijdragen en Mededelingen betreffende de Geschiedenis der Nederlanden (online). 138, 2, p. 1-3 3 p., 47.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › Academic

Open Access
File

82 Downloads (Pure)
Videojuegos y Aprendizaje Informal de Historia: Possibilidades y Limitaciones
Van den Heede, P., 2023, Enseñar historia en la era digital. Buenos Aires, p. 165-190 26 p.
Research output: Chapter/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic

Open Access
File

2 Invited talk

Game Depictions of the Past: World War II in Digital Games
Van den Heede, P. (Speaker)
28 Mar 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Academic
Engaging with WWII and the Holocaust via Gaming: Analytical Perspectives on Design and Reception
Van den Heede, P. (Speaker)
28 Feb 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Academic

The History Respawned Podcast - Episode 105: The Saboteur
Van den Heede, P.
1/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public engagement activities › Academic

Cite this

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AB - Digital entertainment games about World War II have long omitted references to the Holocaust. This article presents a focus group study on how players discuss their experiences of playing two games that do offer a representation of the Holocaust, Wolfenstein: The New Order and Call of Duty: WWII. It explores questions of digital memory by examining how players reflect on these games as historical representations and, in particular, how they reflect on engaging with the Holocaust through gameplay. To analyze players' reactions to engaging with sensitive and contentious pasts through gaming, I develop the concept "gaming fever."

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"Press Escape to Skip Concentration Camp"? Player Reflections on Engagement with the Holocaust through Digital Gaming

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research programs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Recensie: Remco Ensel, Anne Frank on the Postwar Dutch Stage: Performance, Memory, Affect

Videojuegos y Aprendizaje Informal de Historia: Possibilidades y Limitaciones

Activities

Game Depictions of the Past: World War II in Digital Games

Engaging with WWII and the Holocaust via Gaming: Analytical Perspectives on Design and Reception

Press/Media

The History Respawned Podcast - Episode 105: The Saboteur

Cite this