Ivanhoe: Intellectual Framework
Ivanhoe is first and foremost a game of textual interpretation that fosters increased awareness of the premises and methodologies on which humanities texts are understood. In this regard, Ivanhoe is an extension of the fields of critical and bibliographical studies. The development process has involved several stages including research into related fields such as game theory, narrative, mark-up, text visualization, critical and literary precedents. Critical perspectives on the development and premises of the game include:
Game Summary by Jerome McGann provides a useful first introduction to the principles and theoretical frameworks for the project.
Additional texts:
- Ivanhoe Game by Jerome McGann and Johanna Drucker contains further discussion of the development and precepts of the game.
- Ivanhoe and Game Design by Bethany Nowviskie looks at the project in the context of game typologies and digital game design.
- Rethinking Textuality by Jerome McGann connects Ivanhoe to theoretical issues in textual studies.
- A Genealogy for Ivanhoe, produced by graduate students in McGann's seminar at UVa, this collaboratively authored work sketches literary precedents for the ludic textual manipulations in Ivanhoe.
- Preliminary List of Game Types by Geoffrey Rockwell establishes a typology of games within which to situate Ivanhoe.