Driven by a long-standing curiosity about the world of digital gaming and the subcultures within it, Stuart Gritter (BA '07, BSc '12) is looking deeper into the unique stories of the humans behind the controllers.
A member of the inaugural cohort of Master of Arts in Game Studies students, Gritter will graduate with his third Brock degree on Friday, Oct. 17 during the University's 118th Convocation. He already holds undergraduate degrees in English Language and Literature and Computer Science and Interactive Arts and Science.
Gritter spent a decade working in computer software and as a musician before pursing a graduate degree focused on interactive media.
Stuart Gritter (BA '07, BSc '12) was the first student to complete a thesis in the Master of Arts in Game Studies program. Pictured from right are committee members Karen Louise Smith, Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film; Aaron Mauro, Associate Professor of Digital Media and Chair of the Department of Digital Humanities; Jason Hawreliak, Associate Professor of Digital Humanities; Gritter; and Gritter's Supervisor, Professor of Educational Studies and Digital Humanities David Hutchison at his defense on Aug. 22.
His master's research explores the world of "speedrunning," a subculture of video gamers who compete to finish games in the fastest time possible, bypassing obstacles in unintended and creative ways.
Described by Gritter as a distant cousin organized, multiplayer sport video games known as electronic sports, or eSports, speedrunning requires a blend of technical precision and persistence.
"Speedrunning is about so much more than doing something quickly; it's about mechanical execution and dedication to chasing perfection and simultaneously building community with players who share the same drive," he says.
Gritter's thesis research, "Speedrunners and Motivation: Self-Determination Theory Applied to a Speedrunning Community", focused on the intensely dedicated group of players who speedrun Nintendo's iconic Super Mario Bros. 3.
Through interviews and data analysis, Gritter explored participants' motivations and emotional experiences while playing.
His findings demonstrated the emotional investment and personal meaning for players in unlocking new levels of mastery in speedrunning video games.
"What was most interesting was the level of intensity speedrunners felt when achieving a personal best time, with more than one participant comparing the intense feeling to the birth of their children," he says.
Participants also shared similar analytic minds, ways of system-based thinking and personality traits, such as persistence, focus and attention to detail.
The speedrunning trend has gained traction in recent years with the emergence of global leaderboards and livestreams shared by a worldwide community of gamers.
"Even if it's a game I am not familiar with, watching people perform these games at peak capacity is fascinating to me; it takes so much effort and intentionality, not to mention time," Gritter says.
Aaron Mauro, Associate Professor of Digital Media and Chair of the Department of Digital Humanities, says that while speedrunning is well known online, it is rarely studied as a cultural phenomenon.
"Speedrunning is a lively gaming subculture that rarely gets attention from the mainstream media or academia. For those in the know, speedrunners can elicit awe from other gamers for their precision and dedication, and Stu's work seeks to better understand the drives and motivations for these very active online communities," Mauro says.
Mauro says the MA in Game Studies is an interdisciplinary and interfaculty program designed to provide students with a well-rounded, high-quality venue for studying and designing games in all their forms.
Reflecting on returning to Brock and academia as a mature student, Gritter says he felt very supported in the program.
"I am grateful for the Department of Digital Humanities and entire Brock community."
