School of Creative Technologies (CT)

I joined Portsmouth in 2003. My background is in Drama, but I have worked in media, digital and technological arts practice using emergent technologies. My research is into the significance of narrative within Computer Games, and on the effective archiving of computer games. I am also Creative Director within thechineseroom independent development team.

Current Research^{[Back to top]}

I am currently a researcher on the EU FP7-funded KEEP Digital Preservation project, with special responsibility for game preservation, GUI and metadata.

I am Creative Director of thechineseroom (www.thechineseroom.co.uk), an independent research-led game development studio, who create experimental First Person Games. This applied research project has already led to international recognition, critical acclaim and a number of awards including Best World/Story at Indiecade 2009 and Best Upcoming Mod at MOTY2010. In 2011 we were granted a license to release Dear Esther as a commercial game. It is due out in summer 2011. Links to the substantial press attention our work has garnered can be found at the project website - www.dear-esther.com.

I am currently writing a book on the First Person game Doom, for the University of Michigan Landmark Video Game Series, and have forthcoming a chapter,  ‘Meat Chunks in the Metro: the apocalyptic soul of the Ukrainian shooter’ in Call, J., Voorhees, G. & Whitlock, K. (Eds.), Guns, grenades and grunts: the first person shooter  (London: Continuum).

Publications^{[Back to top]}

Publications since 2008        Earlier publications

Performance^{[Back to top]}

Pinchbeck, D. and Curry, J. (2009). The Second Death of Caspar Helendale. Live performance event in Second Life, commissioned by Exeter Phoenix through the 2ndLive! Programme (2008). Performed at the Royal Opera House, London, 27-28 November 2009.

Invited Lectures^{[Back to top]}

Pinchbeck, D. (2011). Adventures in first person gaming, or, How I put down the gun and picked up the build engine. Newport School of Art & Design, University of Bedfordshire (UK)

Pinchbeck, D. (2011). How to preserve videogames: practical solutions for preservationists. Lund University, (Sweden).

Pinchbeck, D. (2010). thechineseroom: experimental mod-making. Bradford Animation Festival (UK).

Pinchbeck, D. (2010). Adventures in thechineseroom: Doing development-led research in games. IT-University, Copenhagen.

Pinchbeck, D. (2009). Technical issues in game emulation. At: Nordic Games Conference, Game Preservation Panel.

Pinchbeck, D. (2006). Storytelling in a new media environment. BBCi.

Games Developed^{[Back to top]}

Dear Esther (Source mod, 2007-9) – remake due 2011.

Antlion Soccer (Source mod, 2007)

Conscientious Objector (Doom 3 mod, 2008)

Korsakovia (Source mod 2009)

Esteem Indicators^{[Back to top]}

I review for Game Studies, Games and Culture, Eludamos and Loading…Journal of Canadian Game Studies. I also review books for the University of Manchester press, University of Michigan press, and various international conferences.

I am external examiner for Brunel University and University of Bedfordshire’s games courses.

Dear Esther won Best World/Story at IndieCade2009.

Professional Memberships^{[Back to top]}

Member, Executive Board of DiGRA (Digital Games Research Association).