# Espen Aarseth

> scholar of video game studies

**Wikidata**: [Q3058394](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3058394)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espen_Aarseth)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/espen-aarseth

## Summary
Espen Aarseth is a Norwegian university teacher and computer scientist (born 1965) known as a scholar of video game studies. He is affiliated with the University of Bergen and the IT University of Copenhagen and is recognized for scholarly work and doctoral supervision in the academic field of game studies.

## Biography
- Born: 1965, Bergen, Norway
- Nationality: Norway
- Education: University of Bergen; University of Copenhagen
- Known for: Scholarship in video game studies (game studies; PC game)
- Employer(s): IT University of Copenhagen; University of Bergen
- Field(s): Game studies; PC game; computer science; university teaching

## Contributions
Espen Aarseth has contributed to the academic study of video games through his role as a university teacher and researcher in game studies and computer science. He has been affiliated with the University of Bergen and the IT University of Copenhagen, where his work is cataloged in multiple library and authority databases (for example ISNI 0000000109149854, VIAF 73132972, Library of Congress authority n97005728, and GoodReads author id 33892). Aarseth has supervised doctoral research, including Jill Walker Rettberg (doctoral supervision at the University of Bergen from 2000 to 2003) and Sebastian Möring, indicating direct mentorship of new scholars in the field. His scholarly identity is reflected across bibliographic and academic systems (dblp author id a/EAarseth, elmcip_id 87), and he is described in reference sources simply as a "scholar of video game studies." He publishes and is represented in national and international library authority files and has Wikipedia articles in several languages (en, fr, ko, pl), which together document and disseminate his academic output and professional profile.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Espen Aarseth?
A: Espen Aarseth is a Norwegian university teacher and computer scientist born in 1965, known for his scholarship in video game studies and his academic affiliations with the University of Bergen and the IT University of Copenhagen.

### Q: What is his field of work?
A: His primary fields are game studies and PC game research, situated within the broader roles of computer science and university teaching.

### Q: Where has he worked or taught?
A: He has been affiliated with the University of Bergen and the IT University of Copenhagen.

### Q: Has he supervised doctoral students?
A: Yes. Notable doctoral students include Jill Walker Rettberg (supervised at the University of Bergen, 2000–2003) and Sebastian Möring.

## Why They Matter
Espen Aarseth matters as a documented academic presence in the interdisciplinary area of game studies. His career combines computer science and university teaching, positioning him to both produce scholarship and train researchers in the study of video games. The existence of multiple authority records (ISNI, VIAF, Library of Congress, national library identifiers) and academic identifiers (dblp, elmcip) demonstrates formal recognition and cataloging of his scholarly output across libraries and bibliographic services. His doctoral supervision of researchers such as Jill Walker Rettberg and Sebastian Möring shows a direct role in mentoring subsequent scholars who continue work in related areas. His representation on Wikipedia in several languages and inclusion in library catalogs increases accessibility to his work and profile, helping to sustain and circulate academic discourse in game studies. Without such documented scholarly figures and supervisors, institutional development and the continuity of research training in game studies would be less visible in bibliographic and academic infrastructures.

## Notable For
- Recognized as a "scholar of video game studies" in bibliographic and reference records.
- University teacher and computer scientist affiliated with the University of Bergen and the IT University of Copenhagen.
- Supervised doctoral students including Jill Walker Rettberg (2000–2003 at University of Bergen) and Sebastian Möring.
- Widely cataloged in international authority files and bibliographic databases (ISNI 0000000109149854; VIAF 73132972; Library of Congress n97005728; dblp a/EAarseth).
- Author presence on library and reader platforms (Goodreads author id 33892) and Wikipedia articles in multiple languages (en, fr, ko, pl).

## Body

### Personal and identity data
- Full name: Espen Aarseth (given name Espen; family name Aarseth).
- Birth: 1965, Bergen, Norway.
- Citizenship: Norway.
- Sex/gender: Male.
- Languages: Norwegian and English.

### Education
- Educated at the University of Bergen.
- Educated at the University of Copenhagen.

### Academic appointments and affiliations
- Employer: IT University of Copenhagen.
- Employer: University of Bergen (listed as an employer and place of doctoral supervision).
- Occupation: University teacher; computer scientist.

### Research fields and descriptors
- Field of work listed as "PC game" and game studies.
- Described in structured data and reference summaries as a scholar of video game studies.

### Doctoral supervision and academic lineage
- Jill Walker Rettberg — doctoral student; supervision at the University of Bergen from 2000 to 2003 (reference present).
- Sebastian Möring — doctoral student (reference present).

### Bibliographic and authority identifiers
- ISNI: 0000000109149854.
- VIAF: 73132972.
- Library of Congress authority id: n97005728.
- GoodReads author id: 33892.
- dblp author id: a/EAarseth.
- Other national library and authority identifiers: GND 136578748; national library of Korea KAC200801323; national library of Latvia 000143017; Biblioteca Nacional de France id 16975290j; and additional catalog ids listed in reference data.

### Public presence and documentation
- Has an image available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Espen_Aarseth.jpg.
- Wikipedia articles exist in English, French, Korean, and Polish.
- Listed in multiple library and institutional authority files and university records.

(End of entry.)

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. datos.bne.es
3. [Source](https://sebastianmoering.com/about/)
4. [Source](https://bora.uib.no/bora-xmlui/handle/1956/1040)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Autoritats UB
8. NUKAT
9. Korean Authority File
10. MAK
11. Goodreads
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File