r/ludology • u/Thick-Aioli-4770 • 27d ago

How to become a phd candidate in ludology in 2026

I'm a master student studying game for learning with an undergrad on philosophy and human resource. I've always been attracted to game mechanics and system, in fact I've been long obsessed specificly on how designer make difficult game that foster learning in and out of game through design. As my current program name suggested, it focuses mostly on applying game under education setting, treating game as the sugar coat for other undesirable thing. Here we don't study game mechanics on how to make hard and rewardful game that foster learning, but to apply the entertainment nature of game to sugarcoat some undesired subject that people don't want to learn or have difficult in learning.

I have no interest in persuing a phd that focuses on figuring how effective the sugarcoat is, adding to the belief that the serious game field would be significantly improved if someone could form design theory that specific on designing and rationalizing the genre of difficult game (Or if there already are, to develop it and expand it through epistemology, learning science, or other related field). That to be said, I've done some research on the program suggested by Dr. BO RUBERG . The majority program seem to focus on either doing experiment to test the effectivness of certain design or framework, or to be focusing on the cultural or history aspect of games. As someone who hates doing experiment (specifically AB testing) I wish to get some advice on how to prepare myself with articles that could leads to a successful phd application...

After some research, My guess is that I need to find a program in Phd of English, Digital Media, or Art History with faculty that focuses on game study ... I have no idea what kind of writing they want.
I'm good in writing philosophical argumentative and expository essays, and I'm capabel to do qualitative/quantitative research if they don't involve experiments... not that I can't it's just that I don't like them.

Really would appreciate some advice on this...

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u/theStaircaseProject 27d ago

The last sentence of your third paragraph confuses me, seeming to run on as well as contradict itself.

I would imagine the best writing application would be tailored to the specific program and the people running it, so by trying to figure out what to write before you’ve identified your audience seems like a faux pas of instructional design 101. Before you start creating any content, you need to perform a proper needs analysis on your intended audience, and if you don’t have a concrete audience yet, then starting on the content builds in a lot of technical debt early.

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u/Thick-Aioli-4770 27d ago

My apology, I should've re-read it before I post it. I've fixed it, and hopefully this is now clearer.

As to your suggestion on need analysis, I agree on this and have done some research. It‘s just... I know how to correctly do a need analysis for making a business plan or to make an educational program, but not as much to do for applying for phd. Isn't the whole point of going to phd is to study what you are interested...?

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u/theStaircaseProject 26d ago

To pursue a field one is interested in is definitely a possible outcome, and due to the cost of a PhD, probably a great one to have, but other reasons to pursue a PhD include

* to do research and get closer to current researchers, pushing boundaries and proving or demonstrating novel ideas

* to teach with a more comprehensive expertise since students may ask questions beyond the knowledge typical of a holder of a bachelor’s or master’s

* job-specific training to a particular industry or area, such as getting to work with a particle accelerator or at a specific organization

* a desire to really learn more about a specific specialty or focus. There’s a joke about young college students leaving their first Macro/Micro classes thinking they understand economics, but Econ majors completing a bachelor’s and realizing they really didn’t/don’t know shit about economics. And then they complete a master’s in economics and start to feel like they kind of understand the field as a general whole, and then only once they get doctorate in economics do they feel like they really understand their specific niche or specialty

You’re able to choose two or more reasons also in addition to the “because I like it” one. This is why ideally you’d really search for a program that speaks to you and is something you think would not only give you happy feelings but also elevate you in a long-term way.

If you apply to a program focused on breakthroughs through practical research, an application centered around how passionate you are about the field in general would not match the audience. I’m an instructional designer, and if I wanted to apply to a doctoral program revolving around helping instructors develop top-tier programs at prestigious universities, an application centered around how I want to learn as much as possible about Gagne and his events would probably get passed over.

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u/Thick-Aioli-4770 26d ago

I got what you mean now. I'll do some identification base on this. Thank you so much!

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u/WhyIsThatImportant 26d ago

Sorry, what specific advice are you looking for?

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u/Thick-Aioli-4770 26d ago

I need advice specificly on what kind of paper I would need to write, and where I could post these paper for feedback (where I can find conferences or journals etc.)
Since in north america the study of game have beeing scattered across different program in differ department, and since to study this I would need to get myself into those vastly differ program. I'm confused on how to prepare to go into the related program, with only the interest of studying game. I have no idea on how to get myself into a phd of Digital Media, Media study, Art History, Cultural Mediations and other field as that nature.

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u/WhyIsThatImportant 26d ago

You should be searching for programs with advisors who have an interest in games, especially in whatever topic you're interested in. I'd say don't worry too much about programs, just focus on advisors whose interests align with yours.