From texts to games : Tracing intertextuality, intermediality and intermateriality in Chinese cultivation games and novels

This article investigates the interrelations between video games and literature, with a specific focus on the Chinese cultivation genre, which is influenced by Chinese mythology, Daoism, alchemy and other traditional Chinese elements. Drawing upon discussions of intertextuality, intermediality and intermateriality, the article offers an analysis of the theoretical trajectory and examines the connection between cultivation games and novels. By closely examining the cultivation genre, it explores the transition from intertextuality to intermediality and subsequently to intermateriality within the context of video games and online fiction. This study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between cultivation games and literature, paving the way for further exploration and critical discourse in the study of the intertwining of games and novels within the broader landscape of cultural production. © 2024 Intellect Ltd.