PUBLICATIONS & SCHOLARLY WORKS
Book chapters, pending publication
Zajac, V. (2025). Fight, flight, Faerûn: Decision-making under acute stress in Baldur’s Gate 3. In A. Bean (Ed.), The Psychology of Baldur’s Gate. Geek Therapeutics Press.
Alexeev, V. (2026). Wretched Worlds, Cultural Constructions of Fear: WuChang, The Last of Us, and Comparative Horror Psychology. Psychgeist, Chapter in preparation.
Alexeev, V (2026) Painfully Painted: Eudaimonic Entertainment in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In A. Bean (Ed.), The Psychology of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Geek Therapeutics Press.
Publications
Zajac, V., et al. (2026). Therapeutic Applications of Tabletop Role-Playing Games: A Scoping Review of Clinical Implications and Theoretical Integration
Contribution: Lead researcher and primary author; study design and conceptual framework development; systematic screening, data charting, and thematic coding aligned with PRISMA-ScR; source management and auditable documentation using a Zotero-based extraction and tagging system; cross-source synthesis and narrative integration; manuscript drafting, revision, and methodological alignment; bias-mitigation and transparency procedures; interpretation of findings and identification of research gaps.
Other current writing and media projects, in progress
Zajac, V. (2026) Parallel Play, Parallel Worlds: The History of Neuropsychology and Video Games. Social Media Series
Alexeev, V. (2026) Patch Notes, Update In Your Sleep: Dopamine and Memory Consolidation. Project in development.
Alexeev, V. (expected 2026). VGTx Live Play Protocol: A Proposed Framework for Synchronous Gameplay Telehealth. VGTx Research Initiative.
Alexeev, V. (2026) 8-Bit Science. Social Media Series.
Thesis and research projects, in progress
Alexeev, V (expected 2027) Boss Fights and Better Coping: Authethnographic Study on Soul's Games for Emotional Regulation. Research Project
Zajac, V. Playing with Emotion: Mechanic-based modulation of mood during video game play. Prototype in playtest phase.
Alexeev, V. (expected 2028). VGTx Clinical Trial and Protocol Design, EEG and HRV-integrated therapeutic gaming framework. Research proposal in development.
Peer-reviewed manuscripts, in preparation
Interactive Systems as Quantitative Instruments: Game-Based Frameworks for State Measurement
This forthcoming chapter in Creative Quantitative Research Methods centers on Playing With Emotion to examine how interactive digital systems, including structured mini-games, can function as standardized quantitative instruments. The chapter focuses on embedded state measurement, repeated affect ratings, behavioral trace data, and analytic controls for studying emotion and regulation during gameplay.
Status: Accepted; pending final book review.
Boss Fights and Better Copingâ„¢ (BFBCâ„¢): Difficult Video Games as Emotion Regulation Labs
Boss Fights and Better Copingâ„¢ (BFBCâ„¢) is a skills-in-play framework developed by Victoria Alexeev for examining frustration tolerance, emotion regulation, flow, tilt, and coping practice during difficult gameplay. The framework uses high-challenge gameplay, including boss fights and repeated-failure encounters, as a structured context for observing emotional response patterns and practicing coping skills in real time.
Status: Geek Therapeutics continuing education course, 2026; conference presentation and manuscript work in progress.
Citation:
Alexeev, V. (2026). Boss Fights and Better Copingâ„¢: A skills-in-play framework for emotion regulation during difficult gameplay. Geek Therapeutics continuing education course materials.
© 2026 Victoria Alexeev. All rights reserved.
LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, & COMMUNITY BUILDING
Founder and Principal Investigator, VGTx Research Initiative
Research frameworks combining video games, biofeedback, neurofeedback, and counseling psychology
Mood regulation and psychophysiology during gameplay, ethical and governance considerations
Science communication and education across online platforms
Runs the VGTx Discord community for students and professionals
