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The Virtual Social Continuum Expressed: Interaction and Community Formation in MMORPGs

The Virtual Social Continuum Expressed: Interaction and Community Formation in MMORPGs

Alan Rea
Copyright: © 2010 |Pages: 14
ISBN13: 9781605663685|ISBN10: 1605663689|EISBN13: 9781605663692
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-368-5.ch030
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MLA

Rea, Alan. "The Virtual Social Continuum Expressed: Interaction and Community Formation in MMORPGs." Handbook of Research on Social Interaction Technologies and Collaboration Software: Concepts and Trends, edited by Tatyana Dumova and Richard Fiordo, IGI Global, 2010, pp. 336-349. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-368-5.ch030

APA

Rea, A. (2010). The Virtual Social Continuum Expressed: Interaction and Community Formation in MMORPGs. In T. Dumova & R. Fiordo (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Social Interaction Technologies and Collaboration Software: Concepts and Trends (pp. 336-349). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-368-5.ch030

Chicago

Rea, Alan. "The Virtual Social Continuum Expressed: Interaction and Community Formation in MMORPGs." In Handbook of Research on Social Interaction Technologies and Collaboration Software: Concepts and Trends, edited by Tatyana Dumova and Richard Fiordo, 336-349. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-368-5.ch030

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Abstract

From the interactive textual worlds of MUDs and MuSHes to the visually rich, textured three-dimensional realms of MMORPGs, participants move from loose to strong associations forming social networks via structured guidelines and interaction patterns. These virtual world inhabitants create communication conduits, collaborate to attain goals and solve problems, or entertain themselves. In this chapter, the author uses Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, one of the most successful MMORPGs to date, to chart the various associations ranging from casual conversations to groups and guilds in which role specialization is critical to close-knit community success. The author argues that using rewards for accepted behavior creates a socialization continuum that stimulates players to interact with one another.

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