# GAME RESEARCH > [!Info] The Gay Science > Game design invites players into conceptual creativity. For Koster, fun is learning. As Hoffman elaborates, the nature of fun is the transformation of intimidation into happiness through surprise. Aristotle famously said that surprise is the beginning of philosophy. Nietzsche calls philosophy the gay science: a great wisdom is joyful, happiness is a fundamental human need. And for Fink, it is games that are the domain of happiness #### ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS **Articles** - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Articles/2024. The Commodification of the 'Uncanny Valley' Effect in Computer Game Design|The Commodification of the 'Uncanny Valley' Effect in Computer Game Design]] / The Commodification of the Uncanny Valley in Computer Game Design (Moscow, Russia. IB&DR, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Articles/2023. A Criticism of Computer Game Ontological Models (DiGRA)|A Criticism of Computer Game Ontological Models]] (Seville, Spain. DiGRA, 2023) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Articles/2023. Is There a Rise of Totalitarian Propaganda in Russian Game Industry?|Is There a Rise of Totalitarian Propaganda in Russian Game Industry?]] (Austria, Krems. UofK Press. 2023) - Heraclitus's Antique Philosophy of Flame in the 'Dark Souls' Game Series (UK. BFS Journal, TBA) **Conference** - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Conferences/2023. Meta-Ontology of Game Worlds|Meta-Ontology of Game Worlds]] -- [YouTube - recording](https://youtu.be/V-g4uJwJ1Xg?si=AHgK9WHnw_N7EqBN) (Waterloo, Canada. ICGaN, 2023) - A Typology of Game Ontologies (Katowice, Poland. [Games and Literary Theory Conference 2023](https://gameslit2023.wordpress.com), 2023) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Conferences/2022. Pre-Socratic Physiological Reflections in FromSoftware Games|Pre-Socratic Physiological Reflections in FromSoftware Games]] (UK, online [MultiPlay Conference](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fantasy-and-gaming-science-fiction-and-fantasy-gaming-conference-day-two-tickets-513141759817), 2022) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Conferences/2022. Travel Notes in Computer Games. A Methodology|Travel Notes in Computer Games: a Methodology]] (Moscow, Russia. [GARAGE Museum of Contemporary Art](https://garagemca.org/en), 2022) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Conferences/2022. The Production of Mistrust in Self-Reflexive Computer Games|The Production of Mistrust in Self-Reflexive Computer Games]] (Moscow, Russia. IB&DR, 2022) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Conferences/2021. Ludic Political Mythology|Ludic Political Mythology]] (Moscow State University, 2021) **Graduate research** - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Graduate Research/2021. Ontological Moods in Computer Games|Ontological Moods in Games]] (Moscow, Russia. MSU. 2021) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Graduate Research/2022. A Criticism of Computer Game Ontological Models (MPhil Thesis)|MPhil Thesis (A Criticism of Computer Game Ontological Models)]] (Moscow, Russia. MSU. 2020 - 2022) **** #### DECONSTRUCTIONS, ESSAYS, DISCOURSE *Game Ontology* - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2024. The Speed of Thought. An Ontological Analysis of 'A Slower Speed of Light'|The Speed of Thought. An Ontological Analysis of 'A Slower Speed of Light']] (Conestoga, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Essays/2024. Two Types of Doors|Two Types of Doors: Gualeni's "The Doors INN" & "The Case of the Golden Idol"]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2024. Serious Games & Complicit Formal Art|Serious Games & Complicit Formal Art]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [Что такое игры?](https://demagog.me/179/) / What are games? (Demagog, 2023) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Essays/2021. Diving the Uncanny Valley|Diving the Uncanny Valley: Что компьютерная игра ‘Soma’ может сказать о проблеме тождества личности?]] / The Ontology of Personal Identity in Frictional Games's SOMA (MSU, 2021) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Essays/2020. Toy Philosophy. Is it possible to make a philosophical video game?|Reza Negarestani's «toy philosophy»: is it possible to make a philosophical video game?]] (MSU, 2020) *Narratives* - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Essays/2025. Doors that Never Open -- Disco Elysium and The Reverse Engineering of Love|Doors that Never Open: Disco Elysium and The Reverse Engineering of Love]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2024. The Narrative Structure of Death Simulation|The Narrative Structure of Death Simulation: Empyrean Geometries in Pathologic 2]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Essays/2024. Ludic Mind-Snatchers|Ludic Mind-Snatchers & Violence Towards Players in Garage Heathen's "Who's Lila?"]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2024. A Nomad is Always Home|Elden Ring's Nomad: Always Home]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2024. Game Advertisement for Corporate Demons|Game Advertisement for Corporate Demons]] (Conestoga, 2024) - [Кому продать душу? Демонология корпоративной культуры](https://telegra.ph/Komu-prodat-dushu-Demonologiya-korporativnoj-kultury-12-12) / A Demonology of Corporate Culture (eto_basis, 2023) *Systems* - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Physical and Metaphysical Engines|Physical and metaphysical engines -- Universe Sandbox case study]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. PCG Analysis in Ultima Ratio Regum|PCG Analysis in Ultima Ratio Regum]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. The Ontology of Ontological Anomalies|The Ontology of Ontological Anomalies in "Pacific Drive"]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Economy Systems in Link's Awakening|Economy Systems in "Legends of Zelda: Link's Awakening"]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Environmental Cues in Echoes of Wisdom|Environmental Cues in "Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom"]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Tricky Gestalts & Affordances|Tricky Gestalts & Affordances in Superliminal, Baba is You & Crow Country]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. de_Rats! Map Analysis|de_Rats! Map Analysis]] (Conestoga, 2025) *Game Data Analysis* - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Abyssrium -- Retention Mechanics|Retention Mechanics in Abyssrium]] (Conestoga, 2025) - [[IntentionallyBlank/RESEARCH/Deconstructions/2025. Abyssrium -- Quantitative, Qualitative Analysis & AB Testing|Abyssrium: Quntitative, Qualitative Analysis & A/B Testing]] (Conestoga, 2025) *** #### (NOT)GAMES **Translations** (ENG to RU) - *Trigg Dylan* (2016) "Topophobia: A Phenomenology of Anxiety". Chapter 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/usp64202133-45 - *Negarestani Reza* (2018) "Intelligence & Spirit". Chapter 2 & 3 (TBA) - *Fisher Mark* (2016) "The Weird & The Eerie". Chapter 4 (Discontinued) **Teaching** - [LMSU, Cybernetics Faculty (MSc programme, Philosophy of Science class) - lectures and seminars](https://cs.msu.ru/en) (2021 - 2022) - [Moscow High School 345 (Philosophy & Social Science classes) - lectures, seminars, exams and evaluations](https://edu-inform.ru/school/co1641/) (2020 - 2021) *** ![[IntentionallyBlank/APPENDIX/DS.(_IB_)]]