Beyond the Gaze: The New Science of Attraction in Games

Why do we feel attracted to certain game characters, and how does that "flavor" change how we play? In this episode of Shame Free Gaming we're exploring the changing nature of sexuality in games with Dr. Ashley Guajardo. Dr. Guajardo is an Assistant Arts Professor at the NYU Game Center where she teaches people how to make videogames. She is also the current president of the Digital Games Research Association, the largest global research organization dedicated to advancing Game Studies as an academic discipline. She is the author of Sexuality in Roleplaying Games and one of four authors of the upcoming book Play Like A Fangirl. All links can be found here:   / 164095207   ----- Link to all of my videos   / 103608152   Steam Curator Page https://store.steampowered.com/curato... GOG Partner Page https://af.gog.com/partner/SexPositiv... ----- 00:00 Open 00:57 Why is there so much animus about Fictional Content? 11:41 What more can we be doing to get along? 19:55 What is "The Fangirl Gaze?" 28:39 Double Standard? 34:35 What are "acceptable" forms of Fiction? 48:44 What counts as Gaze? 1:05:39 How does Sexual Identity shape Gaze? 1:12:57 Are Mods a form of Fan Fiction? 1:18:56 Would You Like to Know More?