Cross-Modal Translation in the Digital Age: Adapting/ Remediating Shakespeare’s Hamlet for Interactive Media through the Elsinore Video Game

Résumé

The present paper explores the evolving field of cross-modal translation with a particular focus on the adaptation of literary works into interactive digital genres, using the 2019 video game Elsinore, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as a case study. As technology advances, the boundaries between text, audio, and visual media blur, presenting new challenges and opportunities for translators and content creators. This study argues that cross-modal translation in video games is driven by a dynamic interplay of adaptation and remediation, functioning together as an intrinsically synergistic and mutually reinforcing process. While previous research has largely overlooked this connection, recognizing this synergy is crucial to understanding the complexity of cross-modal translation in video games. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and a detailed examination of Elsinore, the study addresses the linguistic, cultural, and technological challenges of preserving the essence and integrity of literary works while adapting them for interactive platforms. Key concepts such as interactivity, immersion, and narrative in video game adaptations are analyzed, along with how these elements influence the user’s engagement with the source material. The examination of Elsinore includes aspects such as story structure, narrative impact, user interaction, and the methods used to translate literary devices into interactive elements. By focusing on how Elsinore adapts and remediates Hamlet for an interactive format, the paper highlights the challenges and innovations in cross-modal translation. It also examines how the game preserves key themes and motifs while introducing new interactive elements, and how these changes shape user engagement and narrative exploration. Finally, this research contributes to understanding how interactive media offer new ways to experience and engage with classical literature, opening up avenues for future exploration in cross-modal translation and interactive storytelling.