IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section B

Abstract

Scotland’s landscapes are a popular scenic backdrop in media, including video games. Yet, this visual focus often masks a lack of meaningful cultural representation. Many games set in Scotland rely on environmental visuals to establish a sense of place while neglecting its rich cultural heritage. Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software, 2023) and Forza Horizon 4 (Playground Games, 2018) exemplify this pattern, drawing on Highland landscapes while overlooking the country’s cultural roots. Gaelic names, often misspelled and mispronounced, are frequently used to evoke fantasy and otherness, reinforcing the misconception that Gaelic is archaic rather than a living language. This reflects a broader tendency to prioritize spectacle over cultural engagement, echoing concerns about the commodification of heritage in media. This paper examines how games can help preserve and revitalize minority cultures and languages, such as Scottish Gaelic, by embedding song, language, and cultural practices meaningfully. I explore case studies, including A Highland Song (Inkle, 2023), Never Alone (Upper One Games, 2014), and Venba (Visai Games, 2023), which successfully integrate cultural elements into mechanics and storytelling. These games move beyond superficial representation, offering immersive experiences that foster a deeper connection to the region and its people. This analysis contributes to discussions on digital media’s role in cultural heritage, suggesting that games, when approached thoughtfully, can be powerful tools for cultural transmission and understanding.