Rise of the faux pixels. Erasures and extensions of the pixel concept in video game history

Abstract

Many different display technologies have been used throughout the history of video games, each providing specific visual qualities. This article presents the proliferation of visual elements identified as "pixels" in retro-inspired video games and beyond. These visual blocks are defined as faux pixels, since they are disconnected from the original material constraints and extend into many visual directions, from 2D and 3D blocks to the emulation of analog display technologies. The origins of various pixel styles are presented in relation with the rise of nostalgia in the community and concerns about historical authenticity. The resurgence of analog aesthetics is discussed in light of similar phenomena occurring in other visual media.