Evolution of Evolution of GamersGamers

Perceptions of GamersPerceptions of Gamers

What is gamer culture?What is gamer culture? The language of gamers (l33t speak, The language of gamers (l33t speak, for example)for example)

The “shared social experiences” of The “shared social experiences” of the gaming community.the gaming community.

The icons of representation…The icons of representation…

Therefore,Therefore, A gamer is anybody that identifies A gamer is anybody that identifies with the symbols of gamer culture orwith the symbols of gamer culture or

anybody who “avidly” play games oranybody who “avidly” play games or anybody who exists in this anybody who exists in this “friendship group.”“friendship group.”

The gaming culture and the definition The gaming culture and the definition of what is a gamer is will change as of what is a gamer is will change as new types of games are developed.new types of games are developed.

““Off-Line” RPG GamersOff-Line” RPG Gamers Original “High Original “High School Gamer”School Gamer”

A extension of A extension of “otherness”“otherness”

““King GeekKing Geek”” This group is This group is associated with associated with a lack of a lack of “socialization “socialization training.”training.”

MUD GamersMUD Gamers The Mud environment The Mud environment allowed for further allowed for further removal from reality.removal from reality.

MUD-ers were linked MUD-ers were linked through a common through a common interest.interest.

Visual and audible Visual and audible identifiers of gamers identifiers of gamers are replaced with are replaced with textual cues (Gumpert textual cues (Gumpert & Drucker 1994, 169 & Drucker 1994, 169 to 170). to 170).

LAN GamersLAN Gamers ““Shared Collegiate Shared Collegiate Gaming Experience”Gaming Experience”

Computer labs were Computer labs were considered “gaming considered “gaming central.”central.”

People, when they People, when they found out about the found out about the gaming, treated the gaming, treated the “geeks” with most “geeks” with most respect to get a respect to get a seat at the table.seat at the table.

The “selling out” The “selling out” of gaming culture.of gaming culture.

Clan GamersClan Gamers A training ground A training ground for new gamers.for new gamers.

People who have People who have been in the clan been in the clan for a long time for a long time are treated with are treated with respect.respect.

The clan politico The clan politico system rules most system rules most of the clan.of the clan.

Professional GamersProfessional Gamers ““Star Tennis Star Tennis Player” mentality.Player” mentality.

Gaming as a career Gaming as a career path vs. gaming as path vs. gaming as fame/celebrity fame/celebrity generation generation (Rothenbuhler, (Rothenbuhler, 2004).2004).

Represents the Represents the meta-media issue.meta-media issue.

Collectable GamersCollectable Gamers Representative of Representative of the real world the real world artifacts of artifacts of gaminggaming

Powered by the Powered by the collectable market collectable market (“eBay,” “Yahoo! (“eBay,” “Yahoo! Auctions”) as a Auctions”) as a way of driving the way of driving the game and the value game and the value of games.of games.

Causal GamersCausal Gamers The more The more “mainstream” model “mainstream” model of gaming (of gaming (DFC DFC Intelligence, 2004).Intelligence, 2004).

Part of the everyday Part of the everyday routine.routine.

Has a future as a Has a future as a “multi-player “multi-player experience” with experience” with connected platforms connected platforms (Bogost, 2004).(Bogost, 2004).

¿Quad Vaud?¿Quad Vaud? Gamers are linked Gamers are linked by a common by a common culture and common culture and common interest.interest.

Gaming and Gamers Gaming and Gamers are moving toward are moving toward the mainstream of the mainstream of society.society.

It is a sense of It is a sense of “otherness” that “otherness” that forms the identity forms the identity of gamers.of gamers.