Between Freedom and Constraint: ROM Hacking of Pokémon Games

Fanny Barnabé

Between Freedom and Constraint: ROM Hacking of Pokémon Games

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

63 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper aims to study a creative practice widespread in video game cultures: “ROM hacking”. By examining with the tools of rhetoric a defined corpus of ROM hacks derived from 『Pokémon』 games, the presentation will show that the formal construction of these derivative works demonstrates less a free or subversive transformation than a fairly strict respect for the original games’ conventions. By reproducing the structure of official 『Pokémon 』games, these fan productions become mirrors revealing their internal grammar. In this way, hacks can be game analysis tools.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2 Mar 2018
Event	DiGRA JAPAN 8th Annual Conference: 「ゲーム、その自由な世界」 - Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan Duration: 2 Mar 2018 → 3 Mar 2018 http://digrajapan.org/conf8th/

Symposium

Symposium	DiGRA JAPAN 8th Annual Conference: 「ゲーム、その自由な世界」
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Fukuoka
Period	2/03/18 → 3/03/18
Internet address	http://digrajapan.org/conf8th/

Access to Document

BARNABÉ_Fanny-Paper

Cite this

@conference{b52738bfae684b07a2c447ba650b6bd6,

title = "Between Freedom and Constraint: ROM Hacking of Pok{\'e}mon Games",

abstract = "This paper aims to study a creative practice widespread in video game cultures: “ROM hacking”. By examining with the tools of rhetoric a defined corpus of ROM hacks derived from 『Pok{\'e}mon』 games, the presentation will show that the formal construction of these derivative works demonstrates less a free or subversive transformation than a fairly strict respect for the original games{\textquoteright} conventions. By reproducing the structure of official 『Pok{\'e}mon 』games, these fan productions become mirrors revealing their internal grammar. In this way, hacks can be game analysis tools.",

keywords = "videogames, game studies, modding, hacking, Pok{\'e}mon, rhetoric, d{\'e}tournement",

author = "Fanny Barnab{\'e}",

year = "2018",

month = mar,

day = "2",

language = "English",

note = "DiGRA JAPAN 8th Annual Conference: 「ゲーム、その自由な世界」 ; Conference date: 02-03-2018 Through 03-03-2018",

url = "http://digrajapan.org/conf8th/",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Between Freedom and Constraint

T2 - DiGRA JAPAN 8th Annual Conference: 「ゲーム、その自由な世界」

AU - Barnabé, Fanny

PY - 2018/3/2

Y1 - 2018/3/2

N2 - This paper aims to study a creative practice widespread in video game cultures: “ROM hacking”. By examining with the tools of rhetoric a defined corpus of ROM hacks derived from 『Pokémon』 games, the presentation will show that the formal construction of these derivative works demonstrates less a free or subversive transformation than a fairly strict respect for the original games’ conventions. By reproducing the structure of official 『Pokémon 』games, these fan productions become mirrors revealing their internal grammar. In this way, hacks can be game analysis tools.

AB - This paper aims to study a creative practice widespread in video game cultures: “ROM hacking”. By examining with the tools of rhetoric a defined corpus of ROM hacks derived from 『Pokémon』 games, the presentation will show that the formal construction of these derivative works demonstrates less a free or subversive transformation than a fairly strict respect for the original games’ conventions. By reproducing the structure of official 『Pokémon 』games, these fan productions become mirrors revealing their internal grammar. In this way, hacks can be game analysis tools.

KW - videogames

KW - game studies

KW - modding

KW - hacking

KW - Pokémon

KW - rhetoric

KW - détournement

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 2 March 2018 through 3 March 2018

ER -