Steven Conway

Dr. Steven Conway is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director for Games & Interactivity at Swinburne University of Technology, within the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education. He is actively engaged in research, teaching, and HDR supervision, with a focus on digital games, media theory, and cultural studies.

• PhD, University of Bedfordshire (AHRC-funded)

Dr. Conway's research centers on the philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions of digital games. His work draws from phenomenology, media theory (especially McLuhan), and game studies to examine how games shape identity, subjectivity, and social interaction. Key interests include metamodernism, toxic masculinity, sports fandom in digital contexts, and the design of meaningful player experiences. He investigates how games function as cultural artifacts that reflect and shape broader societal trends such as convergence, quantification, and digital embodiment.

His recent publications span topics like the anti-game design in Metal Gear Solid 3, metamodernism in Alan Wake 2, and the cultural logic of conspiracy in superhero media. He has also contributed to public discourse through outlets like The Conversation. His work often bridges theoretical depth with design insight, advocating for a more reflexive and human-centered approach to game development and analysis.

• AHRC National Doctoral Award
• Studentship, University of Bedfordshire

Dr. Conway supervises multiple PhD candidates on topics including player identity, interactive narrative, ethical interactivity, and the phenomenology of game atmosphere. He is also involved in grant-funded research, including a 2024 Swinburne internal grant on digital inclusion and mental health for marginalized youth through digital media. His teaching activities reflect his research expertise, particularly in games and interactivity. He is affiliated with research on augmented reality and Indigenous knowledge, indicating a commitment to socially engaged and ethically informed digital media practices.