For this post I have decide to do the following article http://www.gamestudies.org/0202/wright/ by Talmadge Wright, Eric Boria and Paul Breidenbach. This article mostly talks about how "FPS" (First person shooters) such as Counter Strike show a unique way their players socialise with other players. Mainly they focus on they way they communicate in the game. For those who dont know what Counter Strike is, it is a very popular PC fps that you to play on a team as either a terrorist or counter-terrorist. From there you can buy weapons and grenades to kill the opposing team.
Communicating in these type of games is extremely important especially if you want to win. However, in the article, they break it down into 4 caterogies on how players actually communicated. The first category is the creative game talk. This is mostly where players words for humor and joking around with other players. I personally have experience this while playing CS(counter strike). Most players would input "ROFL" or "LOL" whenever someone would fail at shooting the other player. Also they would jump off the level while screaming "terrorists are falling down"(dont know why haha). The second category is the game conflict talk. This is where if someone gets a really good headshot in the game, the other player will call him out by calling him a cheater or someone that broke the rules would get banned from an administrator. This will happen a lot since there is always someone who cant take defeat and will start saying that they are hacking or what not. If they dont stop there they go into further arguing which leads to the third category. Insulting/Distancing talk happens frequently not only in counter strike but in a lot of games. It involves the use of taunting talk/trash talk/ritual insult , racist comments and bad humor comments. I know this for a fact since i have been a victim of this type of comments. I have been called a m*****f****** to an a**h****. There are more on the list but i would take up a lot of space. The last category on the list is the performance talk. This is where players actually strategize in the game by using in game symbols, teach secrets to newbies( novice players), and encourage each other to do well. To me this last category is the most important because it can also tie into real life. For example in a sport where it requires a lot of teamwork, strategization is important because without it there would be no chance in winning a game. To summarize communication is important in a game as it is in real life whether it be negative or positive.
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I sympathize with the whole being insulted online thing, as I myself have been called many things during these games. In some ways it's pretty offensive to be insulted, but it's also very interesting at the same time. It's interesting to see how some people choose to act in a social setting when there are no ramifications to their actions. Obviously almost all of these people who sling insults online would never dream of saying these things to your face, yet when there's a veil of virtual protection between you and them, they're perfectly ok with saying these things. On the flipside, it's always refreshing to run into the people who choose to be helpful and friendly when faced with the same decision.
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ReplyDeleteI have seen that online trash talk too. I think it is kinda funny . . . I don't know why. I do find myself yelling at the comp something like "Quit typing you little *#@#@* and start fighting!"
ReplyDeleteI rarely get trashed talked myself but I think it is because I am pretty verbally laid back. I do think that off topic texting in game is distracting and thus self defeating.
Also I kinda like to know what people will say when there are no ramifications to their actions. It is like you really know their insides and you aren't at all distracted by the social exteriors. The little *whispers* of support or appreciation or congratulations are great.
In World of Warcraft, you have the opportunity to *buff* (or increase skills temporarily) of complete strangers. And to me, an unexpected random *buff* feels like a gift.
Just a thought,
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that those on the very top or bottom of the scoring boards are more likely to be insulted. So if you are way at the top and getting insulted royally . . .well it is kinda like a coup.
So that's a great connection, the intersection of technology and socialization. Many people argue that VG play makes us LESS social...so where do you see this argument going in light of your story about being verbally assaulted online?
ReplyDeleteI also am curious how technology and socialization relate when a lot of games have attachments like guns or tennis rackets that insert the player more physically into the game world.
Intriguing stuff...but remember to mention ALL of the articles, at least in some small part.