Armchair travel through video games: stories from elsewheres and elsewhens

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has caused stress, negative emotions, and a reduction in physical and social activity due to the lockdown measures that were necessary for public health. During this period, many had to negotiate professional and familial responsibilities and were challenged to carve out time for leisure indoors. Using autoethnography as a method of inquiry, this research explores ‘armchair travel’ through video games as a leisure activity. Therefore, the article discusses memories and feelings of escaping the confines of domestic space from the perspective of self. Armchair travel via video games may provide an endless array of sights and sensations, bringing up feelings of leisure and contentment when real-world isolation and restriction are the norms.

KEYWORDS:

• Armchair travel
• video games
• autoethnography
• lockdown
• leisure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Serkan Uzunogullari

Serkan Uzunogullari is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Hospitality, Events, Aviation and Tourism at the University of Sunderland. His primary research interests are in the field of contemporary tourism management and marketing, gaming cultures and media-induced tourism.