Temporality and Spatiality in In-game Photography

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate relationship between temporality and spatiality within the realm of in-game photography, aiming to dissect its unique methodology and uncover its vast potential. While in-game photography shares fundamental elements of temporality and spatiality with classical photography, it carves out a distinct niche by virtue of its association with virtual environments. Temporal considerations reveal commonalities between in-game and classical photography, as both capture specific moments in time, akin to the concept of the decisive moment. However, the arresting of temporal progression within the game, accomplished by halting or pausing the gameplay, introduces a novel facet to photography. In-game photography's capacity to exist within the ‘extended present’ creates a more manageable and distinctive approach to temporal freezing, redefining the notion of the decisive moment, which posed technical, aesthetic, and philosophical challenges in modernist photography. Spatiality, intricately intertwined with temporality, assumes an ergodic structure within in-game photography, offering a multitude of photographic possibilities. Within this framework, photographer can navigate along x, y, and z axes, transforming the camera into a mechanical eye that unveils the invisible and alternative facets of the subject. This newfound freedom introduces an additional layer of engagement between the photographer and the virtual environment, a feature scarcely attainable in classical photography.