BOARD GAMES IN GAME CULTURE OF USSR IN THE 1960S

УДК 316.7

Tikhon K. Ermakov1

1 Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
erm-tihon@mail.ru, orcid.org/0000-0002-6967-8720

Abstract. The development of the problematic and methodological field of game studies is associated with the expansion of its subject matter, encompassing not only video games but also board games. In particular, studies that conceptualize game culture in its entirety are becoming particularly relevant, allowing for an understanding of the logic of interaction between various game practices. In this regard, examining Russian game culture is of particular interest due to its significance for understanding contemporary cultural processes. A formal analysis of some board games released in the USSR in the 1960s allows us to outline the general contours of Soviet game culture during this period. Firstly, the majority of games are aimed at children and are associated with educational objectives. Secondly, many projects blur the boundaries between “game” and “toy,” leading to the creation of game practices within which interactions can be less formal. Third, some games aim to create complex “game worlds” that allow the player to immerse themselves in another reality, which is achieved through an unusual combination of game mechanics and a special type of visual representation.

Keywords: board games, gaming culture, the USSR, formal game analysis.

For citation: Ermakov T. K. Board games in game culture of USSR in the 1960s // Game Laboratory, 1 (2), рр. 24-29. [in Russian]. EDN: SMMLAM

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