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Massive Multiplayer Online Games as “Third Places” (And why SWG isn't any more)



Reposted from the Gen Discussion forum as to continue the
discussion.




What is a third place? The first place is your home, where you can
relax and be comfortable. The second place is where you usually are
when not at home — work; work provides social interaction and sense of
community. Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks introduced third places
as somewhere besides home or work where people can socialize and feel
comfortable. Think Cheers.

Online games are thus third places as defined by the eight characteristics of third places.

Neutral Ground: Individuals are free to come and go as they
please. In online games, players are not obligated to play; joins and
quits are not significant events.

Sence the NGE, they are now fanfairs.

Leveler: An individual’s rank and status in society are not
significant. As in the culture of early video game arcades, “It didn’t
matter what you drove to the arcade. If you sucked at Asteroids, you
just sucked.” Players on online games use a separate avatar unrelated
to their real life person, and social status is rarely invoked.

The NGE created two types of realworld ranks. Pro-NGE and Pro-PRE-CU

Conversation is Main Activity: In third places, conversation
is the main activity that the individuals participate in. While
debatable as the main activity in online games, players would not
disagree that conversation plays a crucial role. Often, conversation
drifts to real world discussion such as personal life, politics,
culture, etc.



The removal of reading, and also the
need or requirement of social activities, Have created a space in which no one
ever need to interact with others, consequently bonds are not created, and
attachments to the world are removed.


 


Creating a more transient less attached
(or loyal to the game) population.


Accessibility & Accommodation: Third places are easy to
access and accommodating to individuals. Online games allow players to
log on and off at will and there are always players online. Activity
occurs throughout all hours of the day.

This still holds true.

The Regulars: Regulars are those who give the place its
character, and attract new individuals. Guild members, who form a clan
to play the online game together, and squatters, who stay within an
area of the game, are the regulars of the online world.



I’m not sure i even need to talk
about this one. But i will. The NGE and the way it was brought about totally shattered
this concept. The regulars were tossed out with the bathwater. All the stories
of places, people and events of the past that gave the SWG world its history
and character (Differed server to server) are gone, All that is left are the
husks of what once was, and now, the screams by the current NGE (See above
entry) to remove that as well.


A Low Profile: Third places are characteristically homely and
without pretension. The population of online games follow a parabolic
curve; after the onset of players following the release, the regulars
remain while many move on to higher profile games.

Gone. Gone. and Gone. The loyal
player bace is gone. What remains is a player bace that hold no
loyailty to the game or its world, Eventuialy they WILL move on, and
not look back.

In the words of Ralf Kostler.

"I'll make an exception for the NGE. I don't think you can or should
change a game that radically out from under a user base. You dance with
the ones that brung ya, whether they are the market of your dreams or
not. They have invested their passion and built expectations about
where they want the game to go. Changing things out from under them
isn't fair in my mind, especially given how they have been loyal to you
in times of trouble. It's like dumping the girlfriend who has always
been patient and loving to chase after the supermodel who probably
won't love you back."


The Mood is Playful: The general mood of a third place is
playful and witty. Players in online games crack jokes during heated
battles, perform goofy actions with their avatars, and mock each
others’ appearances. Rarely are players overly serious about game
matters.

Not any more. At one time the
coumminity was suportave of new players. People would go out of thier
way to help others for little or no reword at all, other than bonding
and "living" in the world with the people that lived there. Pickup
groups were common, as well as wondering threw the landscape and
comming across a camp site, and shooting the S***.

Now,
its "I dont have time" " what will you give me" "I dont need that" "
only if you help me get X" " How many credits you got".

A Home Away from Home: Rootedness, feelings of possession,
spiritual regeneration, feelings of being at ease, and warmth. Online
games possess a homely atmosphere where players notice others’ absenses
and makes the overall feel of the game “warm”.

Gone. They simply dont care
anymore, there is no community, there are however 100's of people
selfserving themselves and only after what they can get to increase
their "pawnage". Events, Fundraisers, Co-op museiams and historical
socities are gone... There is nothing other than what the NGE wanted.
"Kill, loot, repeat".

Social capital is analogous to financial capital in that it can be
acquired and spent, but for social gains instead of financial gains —
for example, to be comforted or receive advice. Bridging is
when individuals connect with those from different backgrounds. The
advantage if bridging social capital include gaining access to new
information and resources. Bonding is when individuals that are
already close provide support for each other, making the relationship
stronger. In a sense, bridging provides breadth while bonding provides
depth.

In online games, players come from a diverse background so they are
usually bridging social capital. However, it’s not uncommon for a bond
to grow during an online game if individuals player together for a long
period of time.

Online games fit the definition of a third place, but as players
become more hardcore and focus more on gaming, their function as a
third place wanes.

you can read the original article (with out my comments) here




----------
"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me

"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123

"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.

How are you?" -Me

Comments

  • BlackslugBlackslug Member Posts: 6
    I agree completely.  I miss that 'third space' SWG provided.  Campsites in particular.  Used to spend hours online just sitting in camp talking to whoever wandered through.  I quite at CU but tried NGE for a month.  Found no community.  My favorite character had been my Scout/Ranger which I found now longer existed in NGE.  None of the new classes seemed to offer the ability to camp.
  • MrbloodworthMrbloodworth Member Posts: 5,615
    I think its what most of us miss the most.

    We all lived in a world.... Not a game t be run threw.

    As geeky and introverted as that sounds.


    ----------
    "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me

    "No, your wrong.." - Random user #123

    "Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.

    How are you?" -Me

  • majochmajoch Member Posts: 599

    I don't think it's geeky at all.  We had a vibrant world with a huge choice of options when we logged on.  Sometimes I wouldn't accomplish a darn thing or leave the city due to discussions with friends or PA members over whatever the topic of the moment was however, it satisfied a social niche which was my main reason for logging on. 

  • MrbloodworthMrbloodworth Member Posts: 5,615


    Originally posted by majoch

    I don't think it's geeky at all.  We had a vibrant world with a huge choice of options when we logged on.  Sometimes I wouldn't accomplish a darn thing or leave the city due to discussions with friends or PA members over whatever the topic of the moment was however, it satisfied a social niche which was my main reason for logging on. 


    Well thanks.

    ----------
    "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me

    "No, your wrong.." - Random user #123

    "Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.

    How are you?" -Me

  • dookseiddookseid Member Posts: 282
    Nice post and agree completely.
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