In our examination of Minecraft’s Hunger Games genre we have given much attention to what is included and not included in the genre. We have sought out the apparent status quo of the genre, and paid special attention to other features that are uncommon, any features which give distinctive change to the genre, that the problems in the concept of genre have begun to reveal themselves. While there is a convenience in categorizing media into genres, this categorization is useful only up to a certain level of fidelity in examination, beyond which the paradoxical and fractal nature of the concept of genre is revealed.

If you don’t know what a fractal is, then allow me to compress a bunch of nearly incomprehensible math into simple video form.

In essence, a fractal is a repeating pattern that where different levels of fidelity or “zoom” resemble each other, each level smaller but otherwise similar to the preceding one. While the pictured example is a computer generated construct based on pure mathematics, this phenomena exists in nature as well.

The coastline paradox is a natural paradox resulting from the a fractal nature of, well, the coastline. While it would seem that the 21st century days of GPS would give us precise measurements of every part of our planet, in actuality we still cannot accurately measure the coastline. A giant bay will contain smaller bays, which in turn will contain smaller bays, which will contain yet smaller bays. The cartographer must define how small a bay (or any other geographical feature) she will measure, and that very act of choice begins a distortion. The higher the fidelity we give the measurements, in this case the more accurately measure each and every tiny bay, the longer the coastline would seem to get, at least according to the calculations. But of course, we know that is an artefact: a distortion of the numbers, and not a magically growing landmass.

This fact of fidelity creating distortion is proven mathematically, can be observed in the natural world, and I propose that it is indeed also true in most human endeavours. Music is one obvious form of art where the further into any genre one explores reveals further and further sub-divides of genre, to the point where discussion of genre can become almost meaningless. Where in the genre of reggae is the divide between traditional, roots, and dancehall reggae, let alone that of rocksteady, or ska, which can be further divided into two-tone, ska-punk, traditional ska, or euroska? I’m not even going to address reggae rock, vintage reggae, third-wave, or blue beat, because at a certain point it just becomes a meaningless soup of words. Similar divisions can be found in rock, jazz, hip-hop, electronica, and likely all genres of music. I submit this suggests the very concept of genre has a fractal nature, and it becomes more apparent when many of the subgenres are listed out together on a large map. Imagine size differences between the names of the various genres that lead to other genres, and the Every Noise At Once musical genre map is a fractal made of text.

Every Noise At Once genre map

Genres influence, inform, and inspire one another, flowing into one another much as the ocean does on the shore of our impossible-to-measure coastline. While it may be important to measure it to make the convenience of maps and GPS available, it is important to remember they are mere models of the real thing, and they subsequently contain distortions. Genre is merely the GPS of human artistic production.

While the study of Hunger Games maps in existence is useful, we must remember that any genre is best viewed from a distance, and that particulars as to whether resources are provided through chests hidden throughout the map or just at the cornucopia, or whether or not enchantments are provided, are far less important than the overall presentation and feel that a map provides to the players. If a map feels like, is presented as, and discussed as a “Hunger Games map”, then it will be so in spite of containing elements from Skyblock, taking place in Springfield, or whether or not players can place blocks. It will be so because we forward the notion that it is and discuss it as such.

There will always be room for argument when it comes to genre, but there is no way to eliminate that argument. If we want our Hunger Games to take place in the forests of Endor and have AT-AT walkers roaming the map blowing up Tributes and leaving a trail of golden apples and enchanted diamond swords, then I do not believe it would necessarily make any difference to it being a Hunger Games map if it has the basic Hunger Games elements of survival and combat, and we call it and treat it as a “Hunger Games map”. To call it otherwise (Ewok Games?) is just increasing the fidelity, increasing the distortion, and creating another level in the fractal concept of genre. While creating another level is fine, the second level looks just like the first, and practically changes nothing at all.

• Study into any genre tends to reveal further layers of genre underneath, where the second layer resembles the first. Intensified study may reveal more information, but it increases distortion and is not necessarily useful.
• Reality is constructed, and presentation alters reality. Authorial intent allows us to make any Minecraft map a Hunger Games map unless we contradict ourselves.
• Giant walking robotic tanks are awesome.