Archive for virtual world

Alone together? Exploring the Social Dynamics of Massively Multiplayer Online Games

Posted in Online papers with tags , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

The emphatically social nature of MMORPGs and virtual worlds is often taken for granted; therefore it is refreshing to see a study that is backed up by innovative methodology and empirical data to give an alternative view on the topic.

Ducheneaut, Nicolas, Nicholas Yee, Eric Nickell and Robert J. Moore (2006) ‘“Alone together?” Exploring the Social Dynamics of Massively Multiplayer Online Games’. In: Proceedings of CHI 2006 Conference. New York: ACM, pp. 407–16. Author’s version online here.

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A Rape in the Cyberspace

Posted in Online papers with tags , , , on June 1, 2008 by frans

As games have expanded into virtual worlds with hundreds, thousands and now even millions of people interacting within their realms, the social and psychological issues of online interaction have gained increased importance. Julian Dibbell’s article tells an illustrative story of an event taking place in an early text-based MUD, but it provides much food for thought .

Dibbell, Julian (1993/1998) ‘A Rape in the Cyberspace (Or TINYSOCIETY, and How
to Make One)’. In: Julian Dibbell, My Tiny Life: Crime and Passion in a Virtual
World. New York: Henry Holt, pp. 11–30. Online: http://www.juliandibbell.com/texts/
bungle.html

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