ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses how independent video game creators have used this form of art and entertainment as an interactive narrative decide to develop identity reclamation strategies. The video games industry is a global business that has been clearly dominated by hegemonic discourses from selected countries and companies. However, the current game development landscape allows for a plurality of voices opening new opportunities for often ignored cultures and developers, such as the Latino community. Therefore, the chapter is heavily focused on analysing how three commercial, ludic, video games have been used to reclaim the self-representation of subaltern indigenous American communities: the Iñupiaq peoples from Alaska, the Tarahumara peoples from Mexico and contemporary Mexican culture. Although these video games have been created in different contexts and with different goals, they share common non-confrontational strategy to reach the public, present these cultures in their own terms and offer a ludic experience to mainstream gamers.