Game Localisation in Iran and Korea

This event is co-hosted with Ritsumeikan University Art Research Centre, Ritsumeikan Centre for Game Studies, and SOAS Centre for Japanese Studies

Presentation 1: Beyond Orientalism: The Evolution of Game Studies in Iran’s Digital Realm

Presenter: Dr Seyed Ali Alavi (SOAS University of London)

Abstract

Dr Ali Alavi’s talk explores the evolution of Game Studies in Iran within the digital realm from the late 1990s to the present. It investigates the development trajectory of game studies in Iran and its cultural significance in countering Western orientalist discourse within video games. By examining the growth of game studies in Iran, his talk aims to shed light on how Iran has navigated the digital space to establish its unique voice in the global gaming landscape. Moreover, Ali’s research emphasises the importance of language, translation solutions, history and culture in professional video game localisation in Iran.

About the speaker

Dr Ali Alavi is Lecturer in Middle Eastern and Iranian Studies at School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, SOAS, University of London. His ongoing research ventures span a diverse array of subjects, including Iranian Studies, Orientalism and Otherness, and the impact of cultures on global politics within the Middle Eastern milieu. His academic interests are centred on the Global South, with the aim of exploring the intricate cultural and historical ties that bind Asia, Africa, and the Middle East together.

Presentation 2: Social Acceptance of Serious Games in Korea

Presenter: Dr Shin Juhyung (Ritsumeikan Center for Game Studies)

Abstract

This presentation will focus on the situation related to serious games in South Korea, exploring the diverse applications and impacts of digital games in education, training, health, and politics. The presentation will also explore the social repercussions of serious games, the distance between games and reality, and the possibilities of combining the strengths of both analog and digital form of game experience through case studies. The lecture will also explore the possibilities of how to combine the strengths of analog and digital games by exploring the distance between games and reality.

About the speaker

Dr Shin Juhyung is a Senior Researcher at the Kinugasa Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University. She was born in Seoul, Korea, and graduated from the Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in 2020, with a Ph.D. specializing in game studies and area studies. From a sociocultural perspective, she is an expert in serious games in Korea. She received the 10th FOST Newcomer Award from the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology Fusion and the Young Scientist Incentive Award from the Japan Society for Digital Game Studies in 2021.

Image: Sean Do (Unsplash)