Reef
The Magic Circle as an Evolving Placemaker: Place Attachment and the Tripartite Framework
Modern cities prioritise efficiency over authentic connection, fuelling loneliness and consumerism. Games offer a different world, fulfilling unmet needs. This Master’s thesis examines their allure using – the concepts of place attachment, migration theory, and game design, exploring to explore how virtual environments become meaningful. The goal is to apply place attachment theory to game design, promoting a deeper connection to virtual worlds. Ultimately, this research aims to use those lessons to make cities feel more alive, where people bond with each other and their surroundings.