Multimodality and expressivity in videogames

Abstract

This article addresses multimodality and expressivity in digital games, from the perspective of audiovisual communication, discussing essential critical dimensions regarding game literacy and experience. An overview on how we make meaning from audiovisual media is presented, to frame the focus on the multimodal cognitive nature of digital games. After comparing film and digital games, we discuss how and why the latter are rapidly becoming more relevant than television, discussing media learning differences between vicarious and enactive representations, and the creative need for children to access networks so as to interact in multimodal communication environments.