Queer Mechanics in Competitive Videogames
summary
Argues that “queer mechanics” are concrete, measurable outliers not metaphors: examples include Super Smash Bros. Melee’s wavedashing and glitches used to create novel combos, a player who wins while refusing that technique, and resulting tier lists and win-loss percentages that prove meta effects. League of Legends shows social enforcement of 5v5 lane roles and item builds in a game that made $624 million in 2013. Dawngate tests role-agnostic economy and narrative voting but is closed after low revenue shutdown Feb 5 2015.
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chapters (9)
- 0:00Queer mechanics in games
- 1:58Defining queer mechanics
- 3:08Metagame dominance
- 5:17Melee’s queer glitches
- 7:42Aniki’s queer playstyle
- 9:06League’s rigid metagame
- 12:37Critique of power structures
- 14:00Don’t Starve’s queer design
- 16:48Future of queer mechanics
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