<html>Balancing Narratives of Reality and Fantasy in Archaeology in Video and Board Game Writing and Design: <i>Indiana Jones and the Great Circle</i>,<i> Lost Ruins of Arnak</i>, and <i>Thebes</i> as Case Studies</html>
Author(s): Christopher Wai
Year: 2025
Summary
This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.
There is a public fascination with the roleplay of an archaeologist. Just as fantasy games feature hyperfictionalized medieval warriors or detectives and superheroes in fiction are vigilantes, so too is there an idea of a hyperfictional archaeologist without its mundanities. While archaeologists have critiqued the problematic nature of archaeology in popular media, it should be acknowledged that audiences can separate reality and fantasy but may choose the escapism of antiheroes. Should we support and encourage games that recreate the past, replicate archaeological research, and balance the public demand for more fantastical games or which feature Indigenous protagonists guiding the narrative? Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the latest and perhaps the most intensive archaeological video game, presenting a valuable case study on how archaeological narratives have evolved with the public perception of archaeology. While many games present the narrative of shooting or fighting as the mechanic to move narratives forward, the Great Circle presents first-person puzzles using journal-based hints and real-life sites. Board games such as the Lost Ruins of Arnak and Thebes also present alternatives where fieldwork planning become resource management games. While there are legitimate concerns, there is a reflexive dialectic in balancing representation with consumer demand.
Cite this Record
Balancing Narratives of Reality and Fantasy in Archaeology in Video and Board Game Writing and Design: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Lost Ruins of Arnak, and Thebes as Case Studies. Christopher Wai. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 510771)
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Record Identifiers
Abstract Id(s): 52486