The Rhetorical Potential of Kinesthetic Video Game Mechanics: An Autoethnographic and Discourse Analysis of Video Game Mechanics

Abstract

Video games are a unique form of media in that they can persuade through interactivity. This thesis examines two categorical modes of video game interactivity, kinesthetic mechanics and non-kinesthetic mechanics, to suggest ways in which kinesthetic mechanics are more persuasive than non-kinesthetic mechanics. Video game mechanics are rules by which the game is played, and kinesthetics refers to non-trivial, time and space sensitive, dexterous inputs. This thesis utilizes methods of discourse analysis and autoethnographic personal narrative to look for five rhetorical methods that are utilized by game developers and experienced by players. This process suggests correlations between developer intention, user community experience, and my own gameplay experience. These rhetorical methods are: immersion and self-presence, kinesthetic resonance, narrative persuasion, affordance and enthymeme, and self-determination theory (SDT) motivation. These rhetorical methods can be found in most contemporary video games and are utilized to get players to engage with a game and elaborate on the themes and messages therein. I hypothesize that each of these methods is more persuasive through kinesthetic mechanics and compare and contrast experiences with a game that has kinesthetic mechanics and a game that has non-kinesthetic mechanics to test my hypotheses. My findings suggest that kinesthetic mechanics can prove to be more persuasive through certain rhetorical methods, however, more data could be helpful particularly where community experience is concerned. I conclude with recommended methods and considerations for future research.