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Fantastic Universes and H.P. Lovecraft in Survival Horror Games. A Case Study of P. T. (Silent Hills)

2015; Autonomous University of Barcelona; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5565/rev/brumal.177

2014-7910

Marta Fernández Ruíz, Héctor Puente Bienvenido,

Media Influence and Health

We present a study of Howard Phillips Lovecraft´s imaginary in horror the video game genre (survival horror), as well as points of contact and divergence between the fantastic experience in literature and experiences we live in a video game. To achieve this objective we carry out a case study focusing on the playable 'teaser P.T.' (2014). Through participant observation techniques and reception analysis we contrast the level of presence of different definitional elements of fantasy and compare them to a table inspired by the Lovecraftian uncanny universe. Results show an adjustment to the notion of the fantastic in video games. Audiovisual resources and game mechanics are revealed as a powerful tool capable of evoking the scariest of gaming experiences.