DOCSLIB.ORG

Cyber-Synchronicity: the Concurrence of the Virtual

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cyber-Synchronicity: the Concurrence of the Virtual Cyber-Synchronicity: The Concurrence of the Virtual and the Material via Text-Based Virtual Reality A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Scripps College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Jeffrey S. Smith March 2010 © 2010 Jeffrey S. Smith. All Rights Reserved. This dissertation titled Cyber-Synchronicity: The Concurrence of the Virtual and the Material Via Text-Based Virtual Reality by JEFFREY S. SMITH has been approved for the School of Media Arts and Studies and the Scripps College of Communication by Joseph W. Slade III Professor of Media Arts and Studies Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, Scripps College of Communication ii ABSTRACT SMITH, JEFFREY S., Ph.D., March 2010, Mass Communication Cyber-Synchronicity: The Concurrence of the Virtual and the Material Via Text-Based Virtual Reality (384 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Joseph W. Slade III This dissertation investigates the experiences of participants in a text-based virtual reality known as a Multi-User Domain, or MUD. Through in-depth electronic interviews, staff members and players of Aurealan Realms MUD were queried regarding the impact of their participation in the MUD on their perceived sense of self, community, and culture. Second, the interviews were subjected to a qualitative thematic analysis through which the nature of the participant’s phenomenological lived experience is explored with a specific eye toward any significant over or interconnection between each participant’s virtual and material experiences. An extended analysis of the experiences of respondents, combined with supporting material from other academic investigators, provides a map with which to chart the synchronous and synonymous relationship between a participant’s perceived sense of material identity, community, and culture, and her perceived sense of virtual identity, community, and culture. An original theoretical instrument, the Cyber- Synchronicity model, is used to further explicate the interconnectedness of participant’s overall lived experience while engaged in play on Aurealan Realms. iii In sum, the research and analysis of respondent interviews demonstrates that there is significant synchronous and synonymous interconnection between a MUD participant’s material and virtual lived experience. Further, the Cyber-Synchronicity model is demonstrated as appropriate to graphically represent the nature of the material- virtual interconnection, as well as providing labels for the different aspects of the overall experience, represented as disparate yet connected and interrelated categories. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Joseph W. Slade III Professor of Media Arts and Studies iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Research of this nature cannot come to fruition without significant assistance and counsel, and I have been fortunate to receive both in abundance. First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my chairperson, Dr. Joseph Slade, who has guided me with a sure hand through every step of the process. This research could not have been completed without his direction, honesty, insight, and faith that I, as a writer and researcher, could rise to the standard set by his example, and I will be forever grateful to him. I would also like to thank my advisor, Dr. Jenny Nelson, and Dr. Christina Beck, for their contributions to this study and their support throughout the process. I would like to offer special and sincere thanks to my fourth committee member, Dr. Sheri Bleam, my mentor, friend, and role-model, who was kind enough to not only lend her continual support, but also her advice on navigating the unknown waters of the dissertation process. I am proud to be a graduate of your program, and proud to be able to call you a colleague and friend. This research has been aided significantly by the kindness and experience of two “behind-the-scenes” individuals, whose endeavors and faith helped make this dissertation possible. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Paula Carpenter and Cathy Janes. While a student on the Athens campus at Ohio University, and in the intervening years, both have been unfailing in their offers of support and assistance. Please know that I am more grateful than words can easily express. Thanks go out to the players and staff of Aurealan Realms MUD: Arosess, Eseops, Garoco, Dynsero, Isurut, Ostan, Rorayi, Sapron, Tahab, Taneit, and Utcarem. v Although the MUD described in their recollections exists now only in memory, it is a good and cherished memory because of your part in it. Without your cooperation, support, and friendship, none of this would have been possible. Thanks also to Trey Stohlman and Martin Curry, for their encouragement, talents, and friendship. And sincere and humble thanks to Tim Tilton, who never let me lose faith that I could reach this goal, even at times when it seemed insurmountable. Finally, I’d like to offer my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my colleagues in the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University. And special thanks to Joan McDonald and Dr. Peter Orlik for always believing that the completion of this long journey was not only a possibility, but an inevitability. It is an honor to work beside you, and I look forward to doing so for many years to come. vi I dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Marilyn Smith, my father and stepmother, Hebrert and Judith Smith, my aunt, Luella Chatters, and most of all to my wife, Annette Pratt. You have all given me more than words can ever convey, and I thank you. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Review of Literature ....................................................................................... 13 2.1 – Virtual Environments: A Definition .................................................................... 13 2.2 – Computer-Mediated Communication .................................................................. 16 2.3 – Identity in Virtual Environments ......................................................................... 18 2.4 – MUDs as Community and Social Discourse ....................................................... 24 2.4.1 – Virtual Communities ..................................................................................... 27 2.5 – Virtual Culture ..................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3: Relevance, Theory, and Methodology ............................................................ 32 3.1 – Relevance of Study .............................................................................................. 32 3.2 – Theoretical Grounding ......................................................................................... 34 3.2.1 – Identity .......................................................................................................... 35 3.2.2 – Community ................................................................................................... 42 3.2.2.1 – Types of Communities ........................................................................... 44 3.2.2.2 – The Multi-Faceted MUD Community ................................................... 48 3.2.3 – Phenomenological Existentials ..................................................................... 49 3.2.3.1 – Lived Space ............................................................................................ 51 3.2.3.2 – Lived Body/Lived Self ........................................................................... 52 viii 3.2.3.3 – Lived Time ............................................................................................. 52 3.2.3.4 – Lived Human Relations/Lived Other ..................................................... 53 3.2.4 – Application of Phenomenological Existentials ............................................. 54 3.3 – Methodology ........................................................................................................ 57 3.3.1 – Virtual Qualitative Interviewing ................................................................... 60 Chapter 4: Interviews and Analysis – Lived Self and Other ............................................ 65 4.1 – Introduction to Analysis and Discussion ............................................................. 65 4.2 – MUDding and Identity ......................................................................................... 67 4.2.1 – Rules of the Realm ........................................................................................ 67 4.2.2 – Choices and Decisions .................................................................................. 71 4.2.3 – Lived Self ...................................................................................................... 82 4.2.4 – Extensions of Lived Self ............................................................................... 88 4.3 – Virtual and Material Interpersonal Relationships
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Full Guide-Good
    The Barren Realms Builder’s Guide v 2.0 written and compiled by: Faustus with special thanks to: Kiri, Temper, Delton, Matai, Mazrim, Brand, Ahab, and Kytar (for contributing to the previous version of this guide, making this new version much easier to create.) Visit us at: barren.coredcs.com 8000 Original DIKU code by: Hans Henrik Staerfeldt, Katja Nyboe, Tom Madson, Michael Seifert, and Sebastian Hammer Original MERC code by: Kahn, Hatchet, and Furey BR Supplemental code by: The BARREN REALMS Coding Crew Part I before you begin your new area Barren Realms has been around since 1994. In that time it has constantly grown and developed, mainly through the contributions of the players who have volunteered their time and energy to making Barren Realms a better place. One of the ways that players like you can help to add to the Barren Realms experience is by building an area. Anyone can create an area. You don’t need any programming experience of any special tools. All that it takes is a little creativity, dedication, and drive. This guide is designed to help anyone who wishes to write and area for the mud. It is primarily intended to help someone who wants to use a text editor to create their area file, as opposed to one of the off-line building programs available on the internet. (Barren Realms does not offer on-line building and there are no plans to add this feature.) Even if you are planning to use something other than a text editor to build your area, you should read through this guide, as there is plenty of good information contained herein that can be applied to all builders.
    [Show full text]
  • Incommensurate Wor(L)Ds: Epistemic Rhetoric and Faceted Classification Of
    Incommensurate Wor(l)ds: Epistemic Rhetoric and Faceted Classification of Communication Mechanics in Virtual Worlds by Sarah Smith-Robbins A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Rai Peterson Ball State University Muncie, IN March 28, 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... vii Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1: Incommensurate Terms, Incommensurate Practices ............................................................... 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................................... 3 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • BAKALÁŘSKÁ PRÁCE Na Téma: Etické Aspekty Aktivit Ve Víceuživatelském Virtuálním Prostředí: Srovnání Uživatelský
    Ladislav Zámečník Fakulta humanitních studií Univerzity Karlovy BAKALÁŘSKÁ PRÁCE na téma: Etickéaspekty aktivit vevíceuživatelském virtuálním prostředí: Srovnání uživatelských postojů k danénetiketě Vedoucí práce: PhDr. Daniel Říha, Ph.D. Kralupy nad Vltavou, Praha 2007 1 2 OBSAH PRÁCE Úvod..............................................................................................................................5 Stručné přiblížení zkoumané oblasti .............................................................................5 Cíle bakalářské práce....................................................................................................8 Použité metody..............................................................................................................8 Historie víceuživatelských počítačových her s přehledem jejich charakteristických vlastností.......................................................................................................................9 „Malý“ multi-player ..................................................................................................9 Masivní multi-player a jeho znaky .............................................................................10 Vývoj masivního multi-playeru .................................................................................11 Vybrané etické aspekty MMOG..................................................................................16 Přínosy a nebezpečí vstupu do virtuálního světa pro lidský život mimo něj .......................16
    [Show full text]
  • Minecraft: Builders & Biomes Rulebook
    EN For 2-4 players Ages 10+ In Minecraft: Builders & Biomes, players explore the Overworld, mine blocks, and build spectacular structures. Plan your builds carefully and defeat dangerous mobs to win! Setup Shuffle the 64 building “Shuffle the 16 colorless Place the block base next to the grid in easy 1 and mob tiles and divide 2 weapon tokens and place 3 reach of all players. Assemble the support them into 16 face-down stacks of one, face down, at the ends of structure and place it on the block base. Fill it with the four tiles each. Lay them out in each column and row to form a 64 blocks (16 wood, 14 sand, 12 stone, 10 obsidian, a 4 by 4 grid, with enough space six by six grid. (Leave the corners and 12 emerald) in random order. Gently shake until between the rows for your game empty.)“ the blocks form a big cube. Then remove the support pieces to move between them. structure by lifting it up on its flaps. 4 Each player chooses a color (red, blue, yellow, or green) and takes the player board and game materials of the same color. Game materials include one game piece base, one experience counter, and five colored weapon tokens (one stone sword, one wooden sword, and three poisonous potatoes). Place your experience counter on space 0 of the experience point track that runs along the edge of your player board. Shuffle your 5 weapon tokens and put them in a face-down pile. Choose a player skin (character appearance) and push it into your game piece base.
    [Show full text]
  • Onlinemanual, V.8.Qxd
    MANUAL Table of Contents Part I: Getting Started................................................................2 Book I: Of the World and Its Denizens............................................................................2 Book II: Of Succor in Times of Need..............................................................................2 Book III: Herein You Create a Noble..............................................................................2 Book IV: Of the Scenarios You Can Play..........................................................................3 Part II: The Battle Level...............................................................4 Book I: On the Main Window.......................................................................................4 Book II: Herein the Army Display is Revealed...................................................................5 Book III: Of the Mini-Map and Its Uses............................................................................5 Book IV: Valiant Actions and How They Are Performed........................................................5 Book V: Knights and the Companies Under Their Command.................................................6 Book VI: The Soldiers of the Realms.............................................................................7 Book VII: How a Noble Moves and Faces His Units............................................................15 Book VIII: The Wise Noble Organizes His Men..................................................................16 Book
    [Show full text]
  • Dragon Magazine #228
    Where the good games are As I write this, the past weekend was the WINTER FANTASY ™ slots of the two LIVING DEATH adventures; all the judges sched- gaming convention. uled to run them later really wanted to play them first. That’s a It is over, and we’ve survived. WINTER FANTASY isn’t as hectic vote of confidence for you. or crowded as the GENCON® game fair, so we can relax a bit These judges really impressed me. For those of you who’ve more, meet more people, and have more fun. never played a LIVING CITY, LIVING JUNGLE™, or LIVING DEATH game, It was good meeting designers and editors from other game you don’t know what you’re missing. The judges who run these companies and discussing trends in the gaming industry, but it things are the closest thing to a professional corps of DMs that was also good sitting in the hotel bar (or better yet, Mader’s, I can imagine. Many judges have been doing this for years, and down the street) with old friends and colleagues and just talk- some go to gaming conventions solely for the purpose of run- ing shop. ning games. They really enjoy it, they’re really good, and they Conventions are business, but they are also fun. really know the rules. I came out of WINTER FANTASY with a higher respect for the Now the Network drops into GENCON gear. Tournaments are people who run these things. TSR’s new convention coordina- being readied and judges are signing up.
    [Show full text]
  • Using the MMORPG 'Runescape' to Engage Korean
    Using the MMORPG ‘RuneScape’ to Engage Korean EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Young Learners in Learning Vocabulary and Reading Skills Kwengnam Kim Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds School of Education October 2015 -I- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The candidate confirms that the work submitted is her own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. © 2015 The University of Leeds and Kwengnam Kim The right of Kwengnam Kim to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. -II- DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP The work conducted during the development of this PhD thesis has led to a number of presentations and a guest talk. Papers and extended abstracts from the presentations and a guest talk have been generated and a paper has been published in the BAAL conference' proceedings. A list of the papers arising from this study is presented below. Kim, K. (2012) ‘MMORPG RuneScape and Korean Children’s Vocabulary and Reading Skills’. Paper as Guest Talk is presented at CRELL Seminar in University of Roehampton, London, UK, 31st, October 2012. Kim, K. (2012) ‘Online role-playing game and Korean children’s English vocabulary and reading skills’. Paper is presented in AsiaCALL 2012 (11th International Conference of Computer Assisted Language Learning), in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 16th-18th, November 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • The Decline of Mmos
    The Decline of MMOs Prof. Richard A. Bartle University of Essex United Kingdom May 2013 Abstract Ten years ago, massively-multiplayer online role-playing games (MMOs) had a bright and exciting future. Today, their prospects do not look so glorious. In an effort to attract ever-more players, their gameplay has gradually been diluted and their core audience has deserted them. Now that even their sources of new casual players are drying up, MMOs face a slow and steady decline. Their problems are easy to enumerate: they cost too much to make; too many of them play the exact same way; new revenue models put off key groups of players; they lack immersion; they lack wit and personality; players have been trained to want experiences that they don’t actually want; designers are forbidden from experimenting. The solutions to these problems are less easy to state. Can anything be done to prevent MMOs from fading away? Well, yes it can. The question is, will the patient take the medicine? Introduction From their lofty position as representing the future of videogames, MMOs have fallen hard. Whereas once they were innovative and compelling, now they are repetitive and take-it-or-leave-it. Although they remain profitable at the moment, we know (from the way that the casual games market fragmented when it matured) that this is not sustainable in the long term: players will either leave for other types of game or focus on particular mechanics that have limited appeal or that can be abstracted out as stand-alone games (or even apps).
    [Show full text]
  • 293202846.Pdf
    ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ## ## ## ## ### ######## ######## ########³ ³ ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ³ ³######### ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ³ ³ ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ######## ###### ## ³ ³######### ## ## ## ######### ## ## ## ## ³ ³ ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ³ ³ ## ## ### ### ## ## ## ## ######## ########³ ³ ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ This site list brought to you by all of us in ³ ³ the best warez channel on FDFnet, #Warez. ³ ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´irc.fdfnet.netÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ³ ³ Dont be a leech. Contribute! ³ ³ To add a site /msg Balthor SITE xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx /dirs L: & P: ³ ³ For posting you will be +ved until your site is removed. ³ ³ Please only post VERIFIED sites ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ . .. .:ÃNewS´: .. ³ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÙ ³ ³ 02-15-2002 ³ ³ ³ ³ At long last the OOmpah forums are back! Go ahead, post ³ ³ something at http://oompah.tk/ ³ ³ ³ ³ The list that you are currently viewing is a 6 hour time ³ ³ delayed version of our complete list. Site posters receive ³ ³ access to the complete list which contains ALL of the sites. ³ ³ Upon verifcation of your site post, you will gain access to ³ ³ the current list, access to our !search, and you will also ³ ³ see new sites immediately after they are verified (6 hours ³ ³ before everybody else!). ³ ³ ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ . .. .: Other Info : .. ³ ³ ³ ³ PSST!
    [Show full text]
  • Faculty Research Working Papers Series
    Faculty Research Working Papers Series Napster's Second Life? - The Regulatory Challenges of Virtual Worlds Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and John Crowley September 2005 RWP05-052 The views expressed in the KSG Faculty Research Working Paper Series are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the John F. Kennedy School of Government or Harvard University. Copyright belongs to the author(s). Papers may be downloaded for personal use only. Napster’s Second Life? The Regulatory Challenges of Virtual Worlds+ Viktor Mayer-Schönberger* & John Crowley‡ Imagine a world with millions of people communicating and transacting. Imagine a world just like ours except that is it made entirely of bits, not atoms. Ten years ago, John Perry Barlow imagined such a radical world – cyberspace.1 He saw people interacting without the constraints of national rules. They would be independent from regulatory fiat and unbound by the mandates of Washington, Paris, London, Berlin or Beijing. His vision relied on information traveling a global network at lightning speed, with content living off server farms in nations with little regulation, weak enforcement, or both. In this world of global regulatory arbitrage2, organizations could relocate their servers to jurisdictional safe havens overnight. 3 They might pop up in exotic places like Aruba4 or + We thank Urs Gasser, Raph Koster, David Lazer, Beth Noveck, Cory Ondrejka, and John Palfrey, who have read the manuscript and provided most valuable feedback. We gratefully acknowledge the research assistance of Malte Ziewitz. * Associate Professor of Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. ‡ Technologist and freelance consultant for the John F.
    [Show full text]
  • Austin Games Conference 2005
    Why are we here? 28 th october 2005 Austin games conference profesSor Richard A. Bartle University of esSEx introduction • It is a truth universally acknowledged… • that I’ve called this talk “why are we here?” – I include as “we” those who would have been here if they hadn’t been out ”Networking” until 2:30am this morning • I do mean the question quite literally: why are any of us in this location right now ? • This is actually a meaningful question… 1 Deep and meaningful Put another way • Point of fact: you are All goinG to DIE • Given this information, why are you here ? In this converted balLroOm ? • Why aren’t you in – paris? – China? – Darfur? – Bed? – World of warcraft ? • Hmm, I guess some of you are in there… 2 Short answer • Well, you’re here because you’re mMorpg developers and this is a mmorpg developers’ conference – officially, “networked game development” conference… • [aside: I’m gonna call them virtual worlds , not mMorpgs ] – I’m not giving up on my book’s title yet , dammit! • But this leads to another question: Another question • Why are you [mmorpg] virtual world developers? • Why aren’t you – regular game developers? – Novelists? – Truck drivers? – Nuclear power station software engineers? – Lawyers? – level 80 on runescape with 2 blue masks, 2 green masks, 2 santa hats and a red party hat ? • “Because it would cost me $5,100 on ebay” (44 bids, 13 hours to go, and simbatamer realLy wants it) 3 hackers • Notice the subtitle answers • Some posSible answers: – You’re a vw developer Purely by acCident – You wanted a
    [Show full text]
  • 8 Guilt in Dayz Marcus Carter and Fraser Allison Guilt in Dayz
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Sydney eScholarship FOR REPOSITORY USE ONLY DO NOT DISTRIBUTE 8 Guilt in DayZ Marcus Carter and Fraser Allison Guilt in DayZ Marcus Carter and Fraser Allison © Massachusetts Institute of Technology All Rights Reserved I get a sick feeling in my stomach when I kill someone. —Player #1431’s response to the question “Do you ever feel bad killing another player in DayZ ?” Death in most games is simply a metaphor for failure (Bartle 2010). Killing another player in a first-person shooter (FPS) game such as Call of Duty (Infinity Ward 2003) is generally considered to be as transgressive as taking an opponent’s pawn in chess. In an early exploratory study of players’ experiences and processing of violence in digital videogames, Christoph Klimmt and his colleagues concluded that “moral man- agement does not apply to multiplayer combat games” (2006, 325). In other words, player killing is not a violation of moral codes or a source of moral concern for players. Subsequent studies of player experiences of guilt and moral concern in violent video- games (Hartmann, Toz, and Brandon 2010; Hartmann and Vorderer 2010; Gollwitzer and Melzer 2012) have consequently focused on the moral experiences associated with single-player games and the engagement with transgressive fictional, virtual narrative content. This is not the case, however, for DayZ (Bohemia Interactive 2017), a zombie- themed FPS survival game in which players experience levels of moral concern and anguish that might be considered extreme for a multiplayer digital game.
    [Show full text]