A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Exploring music-based attachment to video games through affect expressions in written memories
Authors: Tuuri, Kai; Koskela, Oskari; Tissari, Heli; Vahlo, Jukka
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Entertainment Computing
Journal name in source: Entertainment Computing
Article number: 100883
Volume: 52
ISSN: 1875-9521
eISSN: 1875-953X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2024.100883
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2024.100883
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457807161
This paper presents an exploratory research on music-based attachment to video games, studied through personally valued game music memories. It focuses on people’s engagement with game music and game technologies, expanding previous research on the role of game music in people’s lives. We gathered 183 written game music memories and analyzed their contents and language. We focused on expressions of affect and sentiment, which we assumed would indicate affective involvement. However, we also explored the constitution of attachment by investigating how expressions of affect and sentiment were associated with other aspects in the stories that reflect personal valuation, focusing specifically on factors of autobiographical remembrance, conceptualizations of game music, and gaming technology related to memories. These investigations employed a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative and statistical analyses. A major finding was that especially personal remembrances that involved an awareness of the self or related to the game music experience significantly predicted the use of expressions of affect and sentiment in the stories. In sum, the study outlines a framework for investigating people’s long-term engagement with technology as being intimately related to the context of everyday life and the constitution of self-understanding.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
Funding information in the publication:
This work was funded by Kone Foundation, Finland (Game Music Everyday Memories, 201908388 ) and Academy of Finland (Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies, decision 353267 ; PROFI 7 JYU.LearnDigi, decision 353325 ).
