Citasa Presentation

Women’s Online Gaming Communities: Don't Hate the Game, Hate the Players… Tracy Kennedy Microsoft Communities & Technologies Research Group Redmond, Washington CITASA MC 3.0 Second Life – August 2007

Why are Online Gaming Communities Significant…
… to Social Researchers?
What role do online gaming communities play in gaming experiences both inside & outside the game?
Revisit traditional notions of community & examine convergences of Physical & Virtual Spaces
What do people talk about?
What roles do community members play?

Why are Online Gaming Communities Significant…
… to Female Gamers?
What socio-cultural barriers or obstacles exist inside/outside the game for non-traditional gamers?
Harassment & Hostile gaming spaces
Stereotypes
Women don't game
Women don't know how to game
Women only play puzzle games or 'casual' games

Case Study: GamerchiX
Online Forum -XBox Live
In July: 2700 Female Gamers
Private/Public: Membership Only & Moderated
Have a Manifesto
June 19th 2007 ‘snapshot’ of the forum
410 topics posted
11301 replies
124686 views
Topics Coded into 15 Broad Areas
Sub-coded into 3 themes: Gaming Support, Relationship Building & Social Support

How is the GamerchiX Community Structured?
Social Processes – Discussion Topics
Gaming Support:
Any topic related to Games & Gaming
200 topics & 6072 replies
Relationship Building:
Play invites, F2F Meetings, Interactive posts, Looking for friends, Introductions
Social Support:
Encouragement & Help for Offline Personal Issues & Online Harassment

Today’s focus: Social Support
Women post topics about…
Personal issues:
Depression
Weight & Diet
Problems with spouses/partners & family members
And of course……

….Harassment
Verbal abuse
Porn photos & exhibitionism on webcams
Team killers (only kill the chicks!)
Exclusionary practices (booted from games)
Invites for cybersex
Harassment occurs :
During game play
Outside of game play
In discussion forums outside GamerchiX

Harassment
“ Hey Ladies! I hope you can help me on this one. I'm being harassed by two guys that used to be on my friends list. They keep sending me friend requests over and over even after I decline them. They're even doing it with their alternate accounts. Is there any way at all for me to block them from sending me friend requests??? I've searched all over and I can't find a way to block them. This is day 3 of all this and it's getting quite annoying. I can't believe how childish some people are. =”

Harassment
“ Well me and my friend were playing split screen on <gamertag> on GOW. A guy joins the room and I boot him since I was just about to invite my friend. The guy keeps coming back – about 3 times, and he sent me messages saying curse words and more. I message him and tell him - I’m not scared of you so leave me alone - He sends me a pic message with him holdin the xbox controller in one hand and a gun that’s real and its pointing to the camera, i immediately blocked communication with him, what should i do about this person?????????”

How does the community respond?
Example:
Community support
for a fellow
GamerchiX who was
harassed

Different Roles in the GamerchiX Community
Social Roles – Community Involvement
Initiators:
People who primarily post topics
212 GamerchiX posted topics (less than 10%)
Repliers:
People who primarily reply to topics
Hybrids:
People who post & reply
Lurkers:
People who do neither & just observe/read

Why is community so important to Female Gamers?
Meeting people with common interest (gaming)
Sharing stories – not alone
Help on how to stop abuse & harassment
Creating safe spaces to discuss sensitive topics
Creating safe online gaming places – gaming with friends, groups & clans
Mentoring & learning

Community (still) Matters!
“ GamerchiX has really given me an opportunity to meet some wonderful ladies. I've been online so much more than I was before and have become much more vocal when I game because I'm not afraid of getting talked down to.”
“ I feel GamerchiX has encouraged us ladies to become more vocal and active on Xbox LIVE without having to worry about being hit on, cussed out or kicked out of a game just because we are girls.”
“ Girls of all ages and from all backgrounds have a safe environment to chat and play without fear of negative comments and remarks.”

Conclusions
Women do game!
They are just careful about which social spaces to play in
Women know how to game!
They do it well & they play more than just puzzle games
Community is important!
Solidarity helps overcome (gendered) barriers & obstacles
Community is multifaceted!
Members have different roles and ways in which they participate
Social support is diverse & complex; it includes non-gaming + gaming related discussion
Community is not limited to virtual spaces
GamerchiX is a good community model!
A diverse, safe, secure and encouraging community of female gamers

….game on!
Tracy L.M. Kennedy
Microsoft Communities & Technologies Research Group - Redmond, Washington
PhD Candidate – Department of Sociology
Graduate Fellow - Knowledge Media Design Institute
NetLab Research-Coordinator
University of Toronto
725 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON. Canada, M5S 2J4
www.netwomen.ca/Blog
[email_address]

Citasa Presentation

by Tracy Kennedy on Aug 12, 2007

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