Generating Cybercultures

1
Generating Cybercultures

• The case of Star Wars Galaxies

2
What makes a culture in Galaxies?

• Social realism Some in-game tasks are
  comparable to real world tasks
• Economics In game economy compares to real
  world economies services, materials are bought
  and sold
• Tensions emergent from interacting in the online
  player community Tensions result in discourse,
  community sense and decision making

3
New concepts from Galaxies

• Linguistic Through discourse/need, new language
  develops for talking about situtated, in-game
  practices
• Learner goals Tensions emerge from
  player/learner goals and values in play
• Primary vs. secondary activities in-game vs.
  out of game
• Designed vs. emergent What the game directs vs.
  what the players and communities drive

4
New concepts, continued

• Bartles topology The tensions resulting from
  four different styles of play/interaction
• Socializer Game is for chat, discussion
• Achiever Game is to be conquered
• Explorer places are to be discovered
• Competitor contest between players
• Acting on vs. acting with

5
Galaxies vs. City of Heroes

• Similarities
• Comparisons/contrasts
• Physical details that generate culture?
• Goals/values
• Discourse in-game
• Support structures
• Designed vs. emergent
• Actors vs. interactors

6
Questions

• Does the existence of a game culture make it a
  community of practice? Does Kurt make a
  sufficient argument?
• Play as social practice Where might the
  findings of this be important?
• Where might the socio-linguistic issues also
  apply in other cultural/communities of practice
  arenas?
• Is this a viable subject for educational inquiry?