behavioural normacy

[rebecca]

As children, much of our adult behaviour is shaped by role-playing games in which we practise mature behaviours, attitudes, and social interactions. These requirements continue to be met by computer-based play, even in highly abstracted and fantastic scenarios.

[matthew]

Two essays that relate to this statement are ‘Realism and Subjectivity in First-Person Shooter Video Games’ by Peter Bell and ‘Multi-Player Computer Gaming: Better than Playing (PC Games) with Yourself’ by Melanie Swalwell.
‘Realism and Subjectivity’ is an interesting essay that outlines the basic perspectives from both sides of the argument on how games can define the human subject and how an individual can negotiate their own subjectivity.

‘Multiplayer Computer Gaming’ talks about how a lot of game theory discusses the anti social nature of multiplayer gaming and in creating this argument conveniently avoids mentioning the LAN party. Swalwell discusses’ the importance of social interaction within LAN party communities and the blending of these interactions between the digital and the physical.

The main points within Realism and Subjectivity are:

•Games define a subject through the actions s/he can and cannot perform within a game.

•The narrative also helps in creating a “slotted subjectivity” (p9) by defining the subjects place within the game world and creating the “course of action” (p15) the subject must take to complete the game.

•Bell identifies an Althusserian reading of these two points, by claiming that the interactivity and realism of the FPS, gives an illusion of choice within the game.

•On the other side of the argument are those who believe that people can “create their own goals… and take up subject positions different to the dominant one.” (p17)

•Such as “winning without shooting could constitute some type of negotiated subjectivity”.

The essay can be found at:
http://gnovis.georgetown.edu/includes/ac.cfm?documentNum=17

I’ve not had time to write a summary of ‘Multiplayer Computer Gaming’, however this essay can be found at: http://www.reconstruction.ws/034/swalwell.htm