UW–Madison’s Peter McDonald discussed his new book, “Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer,” in an interview on the New Books Network recently.
The book examines how abstract design decisions in 2D platform games, such as Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros., continue to captivate audiences and create “rich worlds of meaning” for players. McDonald, an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, argues that “there is a rich layer of meaning underneath, say, the quality of an avatar’s movement, the pacing and rhythm of level design, the personalities expressed by different enemies, and the emotion elicited by collecting a coin.”
On the New Books Network, McDonald speaks with host Rudolf Thomas Inderst, a professor of Game Design at the IU International University of Applied Science.
Listen to the interview to learn more.