a.r.t.e.s., University of Cologne, Date: 29. Oktober 2019, Photo: Patric Fouad
Felix Zimmermann currently receives a scholarship from the a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne for his dissertation on atmospheric experiences of the past in digital games. He is an expert on the depiction of the past in digital games and talks and writes about matters of public history and digital game culture since 2012.
He graduated in public history and communication sciences from the Universities of Muenster and Cologne. He is part of the executive board of the research group Geschichtswissenschaft und Digitale Spiele (Historical Science and Digital Games). His research interests include the depiction of history in popular culture, concepts and use of historical authenticity, non-functional and atmospheric spaces in digital games as well as representations of colonialism and the Holocaust in digital games.
From 2013 to 2015, he worked at the campus radio station “Radio Q” at the University of Muenster. With the video game magazine “Konsole” he was awarded the Campusradiopreis of the Landesanstalt für Medien NRW at the end of 2015. From October 2013 to September 2018 he held various positions at WDR 3, from October 2015 to September 2018 in the editorial department Jazz & World. From 2017 to 2020, he served as honorary managing director of the Radio Jazz Research association.
Zimmermann, Felix. "Ethical Boredom in the Wilderness: Treating Red Dead Redemption 2 as an Ambience Action Game."
In: Meinel, Dietmar (ed.), Playing the Field II: American Studies, Video Games, and Space. Berlin: De Gruyter. [accepted, in preparation]
Zimmermann, Felix. "Historical Digital Games as Experiences – How Atmospheres of the Past Satisfy Needs of Authenticity".
In: Bonner, Marc (ed.), Game | World | Architectonics – Transdisciplinary Approaches on Structures and Mechanics, Levels and Spaces, Aesthetics and Perception. Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing 2021, 19-34. [accepted, in preparation]
Pfister, Eugen / Winnerling, Tobias / Zimmermann, Felix. “Democracy Dies playfully. Three Questions – Introductory Thoughts on the Papers Assembled and Beyond”.
In: Gamevironments 13 (2020). Special Issue Democracy dies playfully. (Anti)-Democratic ideas in and around video games, edited by Eugen Pfister, Tobias Winnerling und Felix Zimmermann, 1-34, https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/400%20
Zimmermann, Felix. “Introduction. Approaching the Authenticities of Late Modernity”.
In: Lorber, Martin / Zimmermann, Felix (eds.), History in Games. Contingencies of an Authentic Past. Bielefeld: transcript 2020, pp. 9-22. Available via: https://gespielt.hypotheses.org/3890
19.-21.11.2019. Curation, organization and moderation of the "History in Games" summit at the 10th Clash of Realities conference in Cologne, https://clashofrealities.com/theme/
Zimmermann, Felix / Huberts, Christian (2019). From Walking Simulator to Ambience Action Game – A philosophical approach to a misunderstood genre. Press Start Journal, Vol 5 No 2 (2019): Special Issue: Walking Simulators. S. 29-50, https://press-start.gla.ac.uk/index.php/press-start/article/view/126
16.05.2019: A Walk in the Park: How Ambience Action Games came to be and what they can teach us about Video Game Spaces.
Lecture at the conference “Playing the Field II. Video Games, American Studies, Space” at the University Duisburg-Essen
18.03.2019: Feels Right – How Atmospheres of the Past Satisfy Expectations of Authenticity. Lecture at the workshop „Architectonics of Game Worlds – On Aesthetics and Mechanics, Spaces and Places, Rhythms and Philosophies”, University of Cologne http://www.mekuwi.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/architectonics_of_game_worlds.html
