On the Ontology of MMORPG Beings: A Theorethical Model for Research

Publication Type  Proceedings Article
Year of Publication  2005
Authors  Salazar, Javier
Conference Name  DiGRA 2005 Conference: Changing Views--Worlds in Play
Key Words  MMORPG; virtual identity; virtual community; ontology; online being; theoretical model
Abstract  

In the Game Studies field, the study of MMORPG’s have been approached by four mayor research traditions: social aspects tradition, individual player issues, narratological themes and ludological themes. Although these are not mutually exclusive, focusing in one or two aspects of MMORPG’s usually means omitting elements of other themes. One fundamental theme that has been usually ommited is that of the essential characteristics, or ontology, of the online beings that inhabit MMORPGs. This paper focuses on this aspect, by providing a practical example of how, by applying a theoretical model that has at its vertex the Ontology of MMORPG Being, all the other themes and levels of analysis can be taken into account in one single theoretical framework.

URL  http://www.digra.org/dl/db/06276.36443.pdf

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