Verbalization of values in fantasy discourse through idioms (based on English videogames of the 2000–2020’s)

The article investigates an axiological aspect of fantasy discourse in such computer videogames as WarCraft III (2002-2003), Disco Elysium (2019) and Hades (2020) as well as its verbalization through idiomatic expressions. Values and ideals, expressed by idioms, play an important role in creating sense representations of alternative worlds, despite functional and structural differences between videogames and traditional literary works. Videogames, featuring interactivity and organized in a form of a hypertext, create a unique discursive space where the players can choose their own ways of interacting with a fantasy world. Systematization of idiomatic expressions allows assessing the axiological content dynamics in the periods under consideration. The objective of the research is to conduct a diachronic analysis of idioms from the 2000’s until 2020’s. The article offers methodology, based on the analysis of idiomatic expressions within a hybrid axiological hierarchy, established on the systems by L. K. Bairamova and Sh. H. Schwartz, comprised of seven values. As a result, we detected significant similarities in value hierarchies for the period under consideration. The place of the values in the hierarchy is determined both by external (i.e. culture and political state of affairs in the country of a game’s development) and in-game factors (plot and game mechanics).