Peripheral Games: Chilean Glocalization and the Independent Video Game Scene

Key findings from this study

This research indicates that:

• Only one of 28 Chilean games analyzed demonstrated thematic glocalization focused on Latin American content.
• Chilean developers created predominantly grobalized games despite high original IP output, suggesting internalized alignment with international commercial norms.
• Technological access to game development tools has not dismantled cultural hierarchies or reduced dependency on globally dominant aesthetic and narrative frameworks.

Overview

This paper examines the Chilean independent video game industry through postcolonial theory, arguing that technological accessibility fails to dismantle underlying center-periphery cultural hierarchies. The analysis reveals persistent global cultural dependency despite high rates of original intellectual property creation among Chilean developers.

Methods and approach

The study reviewed 28 Chilean-developed games released between 2014 and 2024, categorizing them according to glocalization frameworks. Games were classified by thematic glocalization (local content focus), aesthetic glocalization (visual or cultural styling), or grobalization (global homogenization without localization).

Results

Analysis of the 28-game dataset identified markedly asymmetric localization patterns. Only one game demonstrated thematic glocalization centered on Latin American content; five exhibited aesthetic glocalization; 22 displayed grobalization characteristics. Despite original IP constituting a substantial proportion of output, local thematic content remained sparse across the sample.

The findings indicate that Chilean developers, inspired predominantly by global media properties, align production with international commercial norms rather than locally rooted narratives. This pattern suggests internalization of dominant aesthetic and thematic conventions, rather than market constraints alone. The disparity between original IP creation rates and localized content suggests developers prioritize alignment with globalized industry standards.

Implications

The results demonstrate that technological democratization and reduced production barriers have not translated into cultural decolonization within gamedev ecosystems. Chilean developers maintain structural dependency on international aesthetic and narrative frameworks despite possessing technical capacity for alternative production models. This dynamic reflects broader patterns of cultural hegemony in creative industries where technological access does not challenge underlying hierarchical relationships.

The findings suggest postcolonial analysis remains relevant to understanding digital creative economies. Technological proximity to production tools does not necessarily produce epistemological independence from dominant cultural centers. Future research examining developer decision-making processes, market incentives, and educational influences could elucidate mechanisms perpetuating this dependency within independent game development communities.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.