Demon’s Souls

L’esthétique de la répétition au cœur de la pratique hardcore du jeu vidéo

Abstract

This article examines the ways in which repetition and ritual combine in the context of video games, including through an exploration of the “hardcore” label assigned both to very dedicated video game players and the games that require such dedication. To do this, we will first present the notion of aesthetic of repetition, which was put forward by Torben Grodal (2003) and can be found in the praxes of gaming. We will then look at the ties between ritual and play, especially video game play, by focusing on the tutorial, a segment of a game that has much in common with the rite of passage. We will then be able to demonstrate that the tutorial is a nodal point where three types of transformations occur: the transformation of the game’s world, the transformation of the avatar and the transformation of the player. Finally, through a case study of Demon’s Souls (Atlus 2009), considered “cult” by the specialized press and renowned for its relentless difficulty, we will be able to highlight the concepts discussed concepts. We will thus be able to revisit the stereotypes associated with hardcore games and players according to Jesper Juul (2010), who proposes a categorization of players based on the intensity of their participation.