Amour et haine de la marche

Évolution et cristallisation discursives sur le walking simulator

Abstract

The walking simulator genre is at the center of a deep controversy among game communities. Its critics reject its worth and even its place in the video game landscape while its supporters disagree on the legitimization of its derogatory label. This paper intends to historicize the rise of the walking simulator by means of a discursive analysis of four game communities : the players, the marketing entities, the developers, and the specialized press. The study reveals the evolution and crysallization of predominant uses, meanings and functions of the designation “walking simulator” in the video game landscape.