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Do we need permission to play in public?: the design of participation for social play video games at play parties and "alternative" games festivals
[journal article]
Abstract Play is fundamental to being Human. It helps to make sense of the self, to learn, to be creative and to relax. The advent of video games challenged traditional notions of play, introducing a single player experience to what had primarily been a communal social activity. As technology has developed, ... view more
Play is fundamental to being Human. It helps to make sense of the self, to learn, to be creative and to relax. The advent of video games challenged traditional notions of play, introducing a single player experience to what had primarily been a communal social activity. As technology has developed, communal play has found both online and real-world spaces within video games. Online streaming, multiplayer games and built-in spectator modes within games underpin online communal play experiences, whilst "alternative" games festivals, play parties and electronic sports, provide real world spaces for people to meet, play and exchange knowledge relating to both playing and making video games. This article reports the study of social play events which bring people together in the same space to explore video games making and playing. Expert interviews with curators, and event facilitators provides qualitative data from which design processes are formalised into a "model of participation" of social play. Four key areas of balance are proposed as core considerations in supporting participation in event design. The study of these events also suggests that their design and fostering of participation has the potential to evoke cultural change in game making and playing practices.... view less
Keywords
playing; culture; cultural change; video; the public; festival
Classification
Basic Research, General Concepts and History of the Science of Communication
Interactive, electronic Media
Cultural Sociology, Sociology of Art, Sociology of Literature
Document language
English
Publication Year
2018
Page/Pages
p. 69-79
Journal
Media and Communication, 6 (2018) 2
Issue topic
Games matter?: current theories and studies on digital games
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v6i2.1382
ISSN
2183-2439
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed