Echoes of Nature: Exploring Environmental Themes through Structure in Journey and ABZÛ
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/wy4jr154Keywords:
Video Games, Environmental Communication, Interactive Narrative, Ecological Representation, Game MechanicsAbstract
This paper critically examines how Journey (2012) and ABZÛ (2016) articulate environmental themes through their formal structures, including visual design, mechanics, and narrative strategies. Situating the analysis within theories of environmental communication and game studies, it argues that Journey employs metaphorical symbolism and cooperative play to evoke human fragility and interdependence, while ABZÛ foregrounds ecological restoration and marine biodiversity through direct interaction. By juxtaposing these distinct approaches, the paper demonstrates the capacity of video games to function as cultural texts that foster ecological awareness and reframe human–nature relations.
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