Espen Aarseth is a prominent figure in the field of game studies and digital media. He is best known for his work on the theory of digital literature and the analysis of video games as a form of narrative. Aarseth is a professor at the University of Bergen in Norway, where he has contributed significantly to the understanding of how games can be studied as complex texts. Aarseth founded the Game Studies journal, which is an important platform for scholarly research on video games. His influential book, Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature, explores the relationship between literature and interactive media, emphasizing the role of user interaction in shaping narratives. Through his research, Aarseth has helped to establish game studies as a legitimate academic discipline.