Channels of communication : a study of folklore in the segmented online "communities" within massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs)

Learning, Jeffery M. (2009) Channels of communication : a study of folklore in the segmented online "communities" within massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Massively Multiplayer Online Games house communities that require significant folkloric exploration. This thesis penetrates trends, traditions, and etiquette in an attempt to explore some of the more fundamental folklore theories and approaches to functionalism, space/place, group communication, and identity. Building on works that theorize virtual/physical space and notions of communication space, this thesis rationalizes the informal communication networks that are developed and used by the players of these social juggernauts. As observed through participant-observation of Dark Ages of Camelot, the true location of the elusive virtual commons lies not in the simulated physical landscape of the game but instead in the text of various communication channels created exclusively by and for these groups. These channels, i.e., commons, produce a diverse series of traditions that mirror real-world customs, most of which have the side effect of allowing players and groups to build their own identities.

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