DOCSLIB.ORG

Understanding the Current State of Toxicity in Battlefield V

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Understanding the Current State of Toxicity in Battlefield V “ROFL F*ck You”: Understanding the Current State of Toxicity in Battlefield V By Justin Juvrud Supervisor: Dr Susann Baez Ullberg 2020 Nr 99 2 Abstract: With the birth of “virtual worlds,” created a new space for social norms to evolve and change within a subset community. This thesis focuses on toxicity within the virtual world of EA DICE’s Battlefield V title. The goal of this research is to understand toxicity on a micro scale inside the world of Battlefield V from a gaming anthropological perspective. Along with understanding what toxicity looked like within the virtual world ofBattlefield V, the thesis obtained data for how the community and EA DICE employees perceived toxicity. This research has components of interviews with these members of the communities/staff as well as a netnography of the virtual world of Battlefield V gameplay. Findings and analysis were categorized under the themes of toxic language, power/freedom, virtual world creation, and gender toxicity. Battlefield V toxicity is ever evolving and shaped by player techne (player actions). Player chat consumes the majority of toxicity and therefore diving into toxic language was vital. Understanding the player perspective of power and freedom while gaming was just the first step as the thesis also dove into the developer’s perspective and analyzed the interviews with the backbone of Malaby’s (2009) contingency concepts to see how the developers have a large role to play when it comes to toxicity in games, even if they may not realize it. Just as in the “real world” the virtual world of Battlefield V also had a major theme of gender discrimination winessed and discussed via both community members and staff members of EA DICE. Overall, the goal of this research was not to find out if toxicity was “good” or “bad” but to simply shed more light on the complex topic within virtual worlds and open up research for other anthropologists to do further research on the topic. Keywords: Toxicity, Virtual Worlds, Battlefield V, Techne, Contingency Acknowledgements: First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my supervisor through this process, anthropologist Susann Baez Ullberg. I am extremely grateful to my brother, Joshua, who mentored me through this process of not only writing this thesis but living in Sweden and surviving in a new culture. My completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the support and nurturing of my life partner and editor, Abby. I cannot begin to express my thankfulness to Ingrid, as she was my accountability partner through this and my motivator. I am deeply indebted to my parents, who have provided me with the support needed to navigate this exciting time in my life. EA DICE employees and my gatekeeper, Geoff Green, made this thesis possible as removing roadblocks was one of the most challenging parts of this thesis. Last but not least, I will never forget so many memories I made in virtual worlds through the last 20 years. The initial spark for my love of gaming was fueled by my old friend Blazefire. Wherever you are, I hope you’re still slaying green dragons somewhere. 2 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 DEFINING TOXICITY ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.1 Prior Definitions of Toxicity .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1.2 Current Definition of Toxicity ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES IN VIDEO GAMES ...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.3.1 The First Virtual World ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.3.2 Current State of Video Games ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 1.3.3 Understanding Video Game Communities .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.3.4 Video Game Communities: Current Study .................................................................................................................................... 14 1.4 TOXICITY IN VIDEO GAMES ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16 1.5 CURRENT STUDY: BACKGROUND OF BATTLEFIELD V ................................................................................................................................ 20 1.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................................................................................... 22 1.6.1 Gaming Anthropology Genealogy .................................................................................................................................................... 22 1.6.2 Techne through History ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23 1.6.3 The Age of Techne ................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 1.6.4 Toxicity and Techne ............................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.6.5 The Concept of Contingency ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 1.6.6 Stochastic Contingency ......................................................................................................................................................................... 26 1.6.7 Social Contingency ................................................................................................................................................................................. 27 1.6.8 Performance Contingency ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 1.6.9 The Balance of Toxicity and Gaming .............................................................................................................................................. 28 1.7 MINIMAP FOR TOXICITY ................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 CHAPTER 2. METHODS AND ETHICS ...................................................................................................................................... 31 2.1 INTRODUCTION OF METHODS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 31 2.2 FIELD SITES (PHYSICAL) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 32 2.2.1 EA DICE ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 2.2.2 Inferno Gaming ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 2.3 FIELD SITES (VIRTUAL) ................................................................................................................................................................................. 33 2.3.1 Battlefield V ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.3.2 Reddit, Youtube, and Blogs ................................................................................................................................................................. 34 3 2.4 WHAT IS A NETNOGRAPHY? .......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 2.5 OBSERVATION/NETNOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • National News Local News
    LOCAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS -Justin Vedder #1 Pick in Alternate Dimension Bizarro NFL Draft -Felonious Monk Bops Brother -“Man” Pronounced “Dead” by Illiterate Paramedic -“Duck Hunt” Remains Least Popular Nesticle Download -Skateboarding Now a Crime -Phone.com Calls Ghostbusters.com -White Student Only Vaguely Understands His Chinese Tattoo -Battered Women’s Support Site Gets 5 Million Hits -”Stanfurd” Fan Chased from Cheese ‘N’ Stuff for Knife-Chasing, Spitting -Government Requires Monitoring of Nocturnal Emissions May 2000 Vol. 9 Issue 5 Local Idiots Mad Scientist Emerges Stumble Upon from Laboratory with Printing Press New Wheel Design BY BRET HEILIG BY LUKE FILOSE According to Dusseldorf, GUY WITH FACE wheel design technology has ad- FUCKING LOONY TOON vanced considerably in the past Students tittered briefly last Doctor Klaus “White Knuck- five millennia, but strong vested month as The California Patriot, les” Dusseldorf shocked the interests in the international making its official publishing de- world Monday when he emerged wheel lobby have stifled innova- but, delivered a walloping dose of from his lab deep in the Swiss Alps tion. “I’ve received death healthy conservative thought to with a potentially groundbreaking threats,” he said. “Apparently, the UC campus. Featuring several discovery: he claims to have re- someone is making a lot of money correctly spelled words and dis- invented the wheel. on the current wheel and doesn’t playing a keen sense of how to Looking haggard but confi- appreciate my efforts.” Asked to operate Microsoft Paint, the soon- dent outside of his laboratory, in describe his new wheel design, to-be-famous first issue left a last- front of a large gathering of the Dusseldorf was less forthcoming.
    [Show full text]
  • National News in ‘09: Obama, Marriage & More Angie It Was a Year of Setbacks and Progress
    THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Dec. 30, 2009 • vol 25 no 13 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Joe.My.God page 4 LGBT Films of 2009 page 16 A variety of events and people shook up the local and national LGBT landscapes in 2009, including (clockwise from top) the National Equality March, President Barack Obama, a national kiss-in (including one in Chicago’s Grant Park), Scarlet’s comeback, a tribute to murder victim Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and Carrie Prejean. Kiss-in photo by Tracy Baim; Mercado photo by Hal Baim; and Prejean photo by Rex Wockner National news in ‘09: Obama, marriage & more Angie It was a year of setbacks and progress. (Look at Joining in: Openly lesbian law professor Ali- form for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of page 17 the issue of marriage equality alone, with deni- son J. Nathan was appointed as one of 14 at- 2009—failed to include gays and lesbians. Stone als in California, New York and Maine, but ad- torneys to serve as counsel to President Obama Out of Focus: Conservative evangelical leader vances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont.) in the White House. Over the year, Obama would James Dobson resigned as chairman of anti-gay Here is the list of national LGBT highlights and appoint dozens of gay and lesbian individuals to organization Focus on the Family. Dobson con- lowlights for 2009: various positions in his administration, includ- tinues to host the organization’s radio program, Making history: Barack Obama was sworn in ing Jeffrey Crowley, who heads the White House write a monthly newsletter and speak out on as the United States’ 44th president, becom- Office of National AIDS Policy, and John Berry, moral issues.
    [Show full text]
  • The Boggy Shoe the Magazine of Bh7 Hash House Harriers
    THE BOGGY SHOE THE MAGAZINE OF BH7 HASH HOUSE HARRIERS 1087 MAR/APR 1999 RUNS ? 1084 1085 1086 1083 1086 1082 1081 1080 01-March-99 1080 Sussex Ox Milton Street Elaine 01273 493676 08-March-99 1081 Golden Cross Portland Road, Hove Ivan (100th) & Steve 01273 707182 15-March-99 1082 Shepherd & Dog Fulking David Hearle n/k? 22-March-99 1083 Star Steyning Greyhounds Chris etc. 01273 554148 29-March-99 1084 Wheatsheaf Cuckfield Bouncer (250th)Gabi 01273 779520 05-April-99 1085 Fountain Ashurst Auntie Jo Jex 01903 765163 12-April-99 1086 Royal Oak Poynings Rosemary (retirement) 01273 506571 19-April-99 1087 Flight Path Lowfield Heath Simon & Les 01444 232194 26-April-99 1088 Blacksmiths Arms Offham Mudlarks Nigel & Pete 01273 271441 All runs are on Mondays meet at 19.30 for 19.40 start Sschhpi-ell! Well another winter is nearly over and time to put the the old wossnames fading. This information is also available on the hashlights away. Good to see a few more town runs this internet and a hard copy will be given to anyone attending the next time. Gradually hares are getting used to setting shorter Interhash in Tasmania. Registrations go up 1st July so get in quick to runs in the dark and keeping checks short in built-up areas. avoid a hefty increase. Should mean a few short fast runs come BST! I have masses of material for the trash which is ready to be put in but Good luck to any idiots out there doing the London I may have to step down for a while come the summer.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Subversives Or Lonely Losers? Discourses of Resistance And
    SEXUAL SUBVERSIVES OR LONELY LOSERS? DISCOURSES OF RESISTANCE AND CONTAINMENT IN WOMEN’S USE OF MALE HOMOEROTIC MEDIA by Nicole Susann Cormier Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of British Columbia: Okanagan, 2007 Master of Arts, Psychology, Ryerson University, 2010 A dissertation presented to Ryerson University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the program of Psychology Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2019 © Nicole Cormier, 2019 AUTHOR’S DECLARATION FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF A DISSERTATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this dissertation. This is a true copy of the dissertation, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I authorize Ryerson University to lend this dissertation to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. I further authorize Ryerson University to reproduce this dissertation by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. I understand that my dissertation may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract Title: Sexual Subversives or Lonely Losers? Discourses of Resistance and Containment in Women’s Use of Male Homoerotic Media Doctor of Philosophy, 2019 Nicole Cormier, Clinical Psychology, Ryerson University Very little academic work to date has investigated women’s use of male homoerotic media (for notable exceptions, see Marks, 1996; McCutcheon & Bishop, 2015; Neville, 2015; Ramsay, 2017; Salmon & Symons, 2004). The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the potential role of male homoerotic media, including gay pornography, slash fiction, and Yaoi, in facilitating women’s sexual desire, fantasy, and subjectivity – and the ways in which this expansion is circumscribed by dominant discourses regulating women’s gendered and sexual subjectivities.
    [Show full text]
  • Esports High Impact and Investable
    Needham Insights: Thought Leader Series Laura A. Martin, CFA & CMT – [email protected] / (917) 373-3066 September 5, 2019 Dan Medina – [email protected] / (626) 893-2925 eSports High Impact and Investable For the past decade, eSports has been growing on the main stage in Asia and in stealth mode in the US. This report addresses questions we get most often from investors about eSports: ➢ What is eSports? Definitions differ. Our definition of eSports is “players competing at a video game in front of a live audience while being live-streamed.” By implication, viewing, attendance, and playing time are linked, and each creates revenue streams for eSports. ➢ How big is eSports? Globally, one out of every three (ie, 33%) 18-25 year olds spent more than an hour a day playing video games, 395mm people watched eSports, and 250mm people played Fortnite in 2018. eSports revenue will be $1.1B in 2019, up 26% y/y. ➢ Should investors care about eSports? We would argue “yes”, owing to: a) global scale; b) time spent playing and viewing; c) compelling demographics; d) eSports vs traditional sports trends; e) revenue growth; and, f) sports betting should supercharge US eSports. ➢ Is eSports a fad? We would argue “no”, owing to: a) many US Universities now offer Varsity eSports scholarships; b) new special purpose eSports stadiums are proliferating; c) billionaires are investing to make eSports successful; d) audience growth; and, e) Olympics potential. ➢ Why have you never heard of eSports? Because zero of the top 30 earning players in the world were from the US in 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Are We Done with Ray Tracing? State-Of-The-Art and Challenges in Game Ray Tracing
    Are We Done With Ray Tracing? State-of-the-Art and Challenges in Game Ray Tracing Colin Barré-Brisebois, @ZigguratVertigo SEED – Electronic Arts How did we get here? GDC 2018 – DXR Unveiled “Ray tracing is the future and ever will be” [Electronic Arts, SEED] [Epic Games, NVIDIA, ILMxLAB] [SEED 2018] Real-Time Ray Tracing in Software and Hardware Real-Time Hybrid Ray Tracing in Unreal Engine 4 [https://docs.unrealengine.com/en-US/Engine/Rendering/RayTracing/index.html] [Courtesy of Epic Games, Goodbye Kansas, Deep Forest Films] [Courtesy of Epic Games, Goodbye Kansas, Deep Forest Films] [Tatarchuk 2019, Courtesy of Unity Technologies] Left: real-world footage. Right rendered with Unity [Tatarchuk 2019, Courtesy of Unity Technologies] Left: real-world footage. Right rendered with Unity [Tatarchuk 2019, Courtesy of Unity Technologies] Left: real-world footage. Right rendered with Unity [Tatarchuk 2019, Courtesy of Unity Technologies] [Christophe Schied, NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios™] SIGGRAPH 2019 – Are We Done With Ray Tracing? – State-of-the-Art and Challenges in Game Ray Tracing And many more… ▪ Assetto Corsa ▪ JX3 ▪ Atomic Heart ▪ Mech Warrior V: Mercenaries ▪ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ▪ Project DH ▪ Cyberpunk 2077 ▪ Stay in the Light ▪ Enlisted ▪ Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 ▪ Justice ▪ Watch Dogs: Legion ▪ Wolfenstein: Youngblood Just the beginning of real-time ray tracing making its way into game products We’re in for a great ride, and the work is not done! This is super exciting! ☺ SIGGRAPH 2019 – Are We Done With Ray Tracing?
    [Show full text]
  • AI for Testing:The Development of Bots That Play 'Battlefield V' Jonas
    AI for Testing:The Development of Bots that Play 'Battlefield V' Jonas Gillberg Senior AI Engineer, Electronic Arts Why? ▪ Fun & interesting challenges ▪ At capacity ▪ We need to scale Why? Battlefield V Multiplayer at launch Airborne Breakthrough Conquest Domination FinalStand Frontlines Team Deathmatch Aerodrome 64 64 32 64 32 32 Arras 64 64 32 64 32 32 Devastation 64 64 32 64 32 32 Fjell 652 64 64 32 64 32 32 Hamada 64 64 64 32 32 32 Narvik 64 64 64 32 32 32 Rotterdam 64 64 64 32 32 32 Twisted Steel 64 64 64 32 32 32 Test 1 hour per level / mode – 2304 hours Proof of Concept - MP Client Stability Testing Requirements ▪ All platforms ▪ Player similar ▪ Separate from game code ▪ No code required ▪ DICE QA Collaboration Stability Previously... Technical Lead AI Programmer Tom Clancy’s The Division Behavior Trees, server bots etc.. GDC 2016: Tom Clancy’s The Division AI Behavior Editing and Debugging Initial Investigation ▪ Reuse existing AI? ▪ Navmesh – Not used for MP ▪ Player scripting, input injection... ▪ Parallel implementation Machine Learning? Experimental Self-Learning AI in Battlefield 1 Implementation Functionality Fun Fidelity Single Client Control Inputs? Input (abstract) Movement Game • Yaw/Pitch Player Hardware Context • Fire Code • Actions • Jump • Etc • Etc UI Combat ▪ Weapon data=>Behavior ▪ Simple representation ▪ Closest target only ▪ Very cheap – good enough ▪ Blacklist invalid targets Navigation ▪ Server Pathfinding ▪ Not to be trusted ▪ Monitor progress ▪ No progress ▪ Button Spam (Jump, interact, open door) Navigation ▪ Server Pathfinding ▪ Not to be trusted ▪ Monitor progress ▪ No progress ▪ Button Spam (Jump, interact, open door) ▪ Still stuck - Teleport Visual Scripting – Frostbite Schematics AutoPlayer Objectives Objective Parameters ▪ MoveMode • Aggressive: Chase everything • Defensive: Keep moving – shoot if able • Passive: Stay on path – ignore all ▪ Other Parameters: • Unlimited Ammo • GodMode • Teleportation..
    [Show full text]
  • United States Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals
    UNITED STATES COAST GUARD COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS UNITED STATES v. Kiel M. JOHANSON Chief Boatswain’s Mate (E-7), U.S. Coast Guard CGCMG 0275 Docket No. 001-69-12 21 November 2012 General Court-Martial convened by Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Tried at Norfolk, Virginia, on 20-28 January 2011. Military Judge: CAPT Gary E. Felicetti, USCG Trial Counsel: LT Kelly C. Blackburn, USCGR Assistant Trial Counsel: LT Michael O. Walker, USCGR Defense Counsel: LT Derek D. Butler, JAGC, USN Assistant Defense Counsel: LT Emilee K. Baldini, JAGC, USN Appellate Defense Counsel: LCDR Derek D. Butler, JAGC, USN Assistant Appellate Defense Counsel: LT Cara J. Condit, USCG Appellate Government Counsel: LCDR Vasilios Tasikas, USCG BEFORE MCCLELLAND, JOHNSON & NORRIS Appellate Military Judges MCCLELLAND, Chief Judge: Appellant was tried by general court-martial composed of officer and enlisted members. Contrary to his pleas, Appellant was convicted of five specifications of maltreatment of persons subject to his orders, in violation of Article 93, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ); one specification of abusive sexual contact and one specification of indecent exposure, both in violation of Article 120, UCMJ; and three specifications of assault and battery, in violation of Article 128, UCMJ. The court sentenced Appellant to no punishment. The Convening Authority approved the findings and sentence. United States v. Keil M. JOHANSON, No. 001-69-12 (C.G.Ct.Crim.App. 2012) Before this Court, Appellant presents the following issues: I. Whether a servicemember can be convicted of abusive sexual contact under the theory of being substantially incapable of declining participation when the victim was fully capable of communicating a lack of consent, communicated a lack of consent, moved away, and was neither asleep, unconscious nor under the influence of any drugs or alcohol.
    [Show full text]
  • Manual English.Pdf
    In 1094 the Greek Emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for aid. Turkish armies had overrun the Eastern provinces of the Greek empire empire and were getting close to the capital, Constantinople. The Pope appealed to Western European knights to put their differences and petty squabbles aside and help the Greeks in the east. He summoned them together to take part in a Holy War that would also serve as a pilgrimage to Jersalem. The first Crusade would soon begin. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5.3 The Mercenary Post . .35 1.0 GETTING STARTED . .4 5.4 Available Units . .35 4. noitallatsnI dna stnemeriuqeR metsyS 1.1 metsyS stnemeriuqeR dna . noitallatsnI . 4. 5.5 Gathering your Forces . .38 5. .sedoM emaG dna emaG eht gnitratS 2.1 gnitratS eht emaG dna emaG .sedoM . 5. 5.6 Marching Orders . .39 1.3 Game Options . .6 5.7 Changing your Units Stance. .39 1.4 Game Overview . .7 5.8 Military Commands. .40 1.5 About t eh .launaM . .. 7. 5.9 Map Bookmarks . .42 1.6 Winning and Losing. .8 1.7 Playing a Multiplayer Game. .9 6.0 DEFENDING YOU R P EOPLE . .42 1.8 Map Editor Overview. .11 6.1 The Gatehouse. .42 1.9 Crusader Games. .12 6.2 Building High and Low Walls . .43 6.3 Turrets and Towers . .43 2.0 GAME B ASICS . .15 6.4 Placing Stairs . .44 2.1 Main Screen Overview and Navigating the Map . .15 6.5 Traps . .44 2.2 Camera Interface. .15 6.6 Moat Digging . .44 2.3 Placing your Keep.
    [Show full text]
  • Mba Canto C 2019.Pdf (3.357Mb)
    The Effect of Online Reviews on the Shares of Video Game Publishing Companies Cesar Alejandro Arias Canto Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance at Dublin Business School Supervisor: Richard O’Callaghan August 2019 2 Declaration I declare that this dissertation that I have submitted to Dublin Business School for the award of Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated, where it is clearly acknowledged by references. Furthermore, this work has not been submitted for any other degree. Signed: Cesar Alejandro Arias Canto Student Number: 10377231 Date: June 10th, 2019 3 Acknowledgments I would like to thank all the lecturers whom I had the opportunity to learn from. I would like to thank my lecturer and supervisor, Richard O’Callaghan. One of the best lecturers I have had throughout my education and a great person. I would like to thank my parents and family for the support and their love. 4 Contents Table of Contents Declaration ................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 3 Contents ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Tables and figures index ..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sexuality and the Older Adult. Catherine Adams University of Massachusetts Amherst
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1980 Sexuality and the older adult. Catherine Adams University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Adams, Catherine, "Sexuality and the older adult." (1980). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 3549. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/3549 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SEXUALITY AND THE OLDER ADULT A Dissertation Presented By CATHERINE ADAMS Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION September, 1980 Education Catherine Adams 1980 (c) All Rights Reserved ii SEXUALITY AND THE OLDER ADULT A Dissertation Presented BY CATHERINE ADAMS Approved as to style and content by: Barbara F. Turner, Chairperson of Committee John W. Wideman, Member - Dee G. Appley,Member JL YV^ P *4 Mario Fantini, Dean School of Education iii Acknowledgements To my mother, Ruth, who was instru- mental in soliciting the pilot sample and to my daughter, Phoebe, who helped substantially with editing and formating on the computer. To my committee Bar- bara Turner, John Wideman, and Dee Appley for their patience, forbearance, and assistance. Barbara deserves spe- cial thanks for the many hours spent working directly with me. I also wish to thank those who helped during the data collection pro- cess and all the respondents who shared their personal lives for the purpose of this study, especially interviewees and those who added marginal comments which so enriched the research.
    [Show full text]
  • High-Performance Play: the Making of Machinima
    High-Performance Play: The Making of Machinima Henry Lowood Stanford University <DRAFT. Do not cite or distribute. To appear in: Videogames and Art: Intersections and Interactions, Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell (eds.), Intellect Books (UK), 2005. Please contact author, [email protected], for permission.> Abstract: Machinima is the making of animated movies in real time through the use of computer game technology. The projects that launched machinima embedded gameplay in practices of performance, spectatorship, subversion, modification, and community. This article is concerned primarily with the earliest machinima projects. In this phase, DOOM and especially Quake movie makers created practices of game performance and high-performance technology that yielded a new medium for linear storytelling and artistic expression. My aim is not to answer the question, “are games art?”, but to suggest that game-based performance practices will influence work in artistic and narrative media. Biography: Henry Lowood is Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections at Stanford University and co-Principal Investigator for the How They Got Game Project in the Stanford Humanities Laboratory. A historian of science and technology, he teaches Stanford’s annual course on the history of computer game design. With the collaboration of the Internet Archive and the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences, he is currently working on a project to develop The Machinima Archive, a permanent repository to document the history of Machinima moviemaking. A body of research on the social and cultural impacts of interactive entertainment is gradually replacing the dismissal of computer games and videogames as mindless amusement for young boys. There are many good reasons for taking computer games1 seriously.
    [Show full text]