Nathalie Melendez is an independent scholar, her research focuses in modern era and late medieval period. She completed her bachelor of laws in 2023, currently she is a member of the Medieval Social Media Society.
How manuscripts became pixelated artistic expression in the game Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts
FROG 2026 – Talk
This research aims to analyze the videogame Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts as a medium enabling players to create their own artworks inspired by real medieval illustrations. Through textual observation, the connection between video games and art will be briefly examined to go straight into the game mechanics of Scriptorium, including the story mode and sandbox. In the former, the player encounter medieval scribe challenges, such as creating with vague descriptions or depicting biblical subjects, while in the latter the players can let their creativity flow. This provides insight into the game community, examining how creations are built from real medieval works, fiction, or pure imagination but always using the provided illustrations. Furthermore, it will be explored how the community is supports the creation memes but also develop interest on history and original art forms. Additionally, developer studio statements are used to clarify copyright rules regarding creations, the limitations for commercial and non-commercial usage, and their openness to collaborate with institutions or cultural-educational projects. Finally, the research proposes ideas for practically integrating the game into culture and art contexts, such as allowing visitors to play the game on screens within a museum’s medieval section or utilizing it in the classroom.