3D Representations of Cities in Video Games as Designed Outcomes: A Critical Overview and Systematization

The following paper proposes a way of reading and systematizing 3d representations of cities in video games. These representations are the result of a complex design problem not solely limited to 3d graphical representations. In fact, every 3d city is a designed artefact, an outcome of a design process that shares many common points with the architectural design process. Four main characteristics of 3dcities in videogames have been identified and described, namely: interaction/gameplay, narrative, architectural and urban representations, andgraphical representations. The study of 3d cities in video games can alsolet us reflect on and improve our real cities. This piece of writing is partof a larger project that intends to investigate aspects of video games thatcan bring innovative approaches and theories into architecture and relatedfields. A further aim of the work is to raise interest and awarenesson the topic and generate further discussions.