How to Design a Game Laboratory to Study Games: Theory and Case Study of a Playful Third Space

Leland Masek, Daphne Bachmann, Arttu Lakkala

ABSTRACT:
Multidisciplinary game studies is a uniquely challenging type of academia to implement, for a variety of ideological and practical reasons. Diverse forms of research are widely seen as desirable with clear benefits but also challenges for the research community. Contemporary work has called for more techniques to overcome these challenges and reap the benefits. This paper proposes a promising technique that is understudied – playful third spaces in universities where multidisciplinary education and research may be conducted. This text proposes this tool, through the lens of pluralist game studies, and discusses a case study for a multidisciplinary playful third space that encourages games research and pedagogy. Three components of this space and how it influences research projects hosted will be explained for their interdisciplinary benefits: playful infrastructure, comfort-design, public-private availability. In summary, playful third spaces are a promising multidisciplinary intersectional tool for future pluralistic game studies laboratories and research groups.

KEY WORDS:
game laboratories, playful third spaces, pluralist game studies, third space.

DOI:
10.34135/actaludologica.2026-9-1.66-84

HOW TO CITE:
Masek, L., Bachmann, D., & Lakkala, A. (2026). How to design a game laboratory to study games: Theory and case study of a playful third space. Acta Ludologica, 9(1), 66-84. http://doi.org/10.34135/actaludologica.2026-9-1.66-84

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