Essay on The Virtual World: A Social Haven?

Clicking sounds… Button mashing… Screaming curse words and bloody murder; while League of Legends seems to be a pointless discourse community, the modernized game drastically modifies stories of legends. The League of Legends discourse community, proven with Swales’ six characteristics, establishes a foundation for the future success of eSports along with the intercommunication of people around the globe. The energizing, socializing events take place on a computer screen for approximately 30-40 minutes; nevertheless, the option, to friend another player, assists in extending that time. Accordingly, the discourse community is captivating, personally, in various ways, such as the mystery of elo, players, and the superstars waiting for the prospect

Whether it is in a real world or cyber space, meeting people seems to be an almost inevitable part of modern daily life. Meeting or interacting with new people can be stressful. When people encounter a stranger, they try to avoid or reduce it by getting as much information as possible in the course of the conversation or interaction. There is an average of two gamers in each game-playing U.S household as shown in the research of ESA Entertainment Software Association (2013). According to ESA’s Effective Facts, over 50% of Americans are playing video games that means at least one of the average U.S. household owns dedicated game console such as Xbox360, PS series, etc., Computer, or smartphone. The average age of game players is 30 years old. In that manner, the video games are not the property of the children anymore. Playing video game becomes as an important social issue. This particular study investigates video game reduces the social anxiety.

There is a complex debate over the Internet and whether it is making society smarter or dumber. For that matter the debate focuses on the Internet and the intellectuality of individuals, and if the Internet hinders or it progresses society as a whole. Other critics argue that the Internet contributes to the decline of our mental state. On the other hand, others argue that the Internet promotes and encourages literacy by its ability in providing limitless amount of information at the stroke of a key. In

M. E. Rutger Engels and Adam Lobel. The research journal explores the benefits of playing video games. Similar to Jane McGonigal, the authors of the journal state that video games can be motivational, important for social bonds, research and so much more. The source of motivation for gamers is failure, players try their best. When they do fail it does result in [A]nger, frustration, or sadness, although players often do feel these negative emotions intermittently. Instead, or as well, players respond to failures with excitement, interest, and joy” (Granic et al 71). Essentially players get a sense of optimism from playing video games. Similar to the primary source, Granic et al state that players do not give up when they do lose in a game. Instead they persevere and become better. The research journal includes a study conducted in the U.S in which it [S]howed that adolescents who played games with civic experiences (e.g., Guild Wars 2, an MMORPG, or massive multiplayer online role-playing game) were more likely to be engaged in social and civic movements in their everyday lives (e.g., raising money for charity, volunteering, and persuading others to vote) (Isabel Granic et al. 73). This is similar to Jane McGonigal statement in the primary source. She also believed playing video games leads to players feeling extremely well about themselves. This then encourages them to help others and causes bigger than

Video games have become a massive icon that has spanned decades, technology and even cultural boundaries. Whether you play on a computer, tablet, phone, or console: at some point in your life, video games have been a part of what you do. Strike up a conversation about games and you can make lasting friendships or bitter enemies. Even if they might not know the specific game, everyone knows what the genre is, and because of this, video games have taken their lasting place in our pop

Multiple identities have been increased by the creation of cyberspace communications according to "Cyberspace and Identity" by Sherry Turkle. Turkle uses four main points to establish this argument. Her first point is that online identity is a textual construction. Secondly she states that online identity is a consequence-free moratorium. Turkle's third point is online identity expands real identity. Finally, her last point states that online identity illustrates a cultural concept of multiplicity. I disagree with many aspects of her argument and I have found flaws in her argument. Technology is an area that does not stand still and consequently outpaced Turkle's argument.

Now that technological companies all over the world have set most of the seven billion individuals in the world with a computer, smartphone or tablet, it is time for better software to use with them. This is where games come in. Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello stated in a recent interview that PC gaming is the ‘fastest growing platform’. This shows the growing interest in gaming bearing in mind that gamers also have the means to play on. The term ‘gamer’ refers to an individual that plays a game or games, typically a participant in a computer or role playing game. The gaming community has grown so wide in the last few years because of the shift from single player games to multiplayer games on the internet

It shows that playing cooperatively helps increase cohesion and cooperative behavior. Not only does it help cooperation within the video game the people are playing, but it transfers to their outside behavior, even increasing cohesion with those they did not play with in the game. This article was published only two years ago, making the research done still relevant. The main author, Tobias Greitemeyer, has done research before in relation to psychology and video games, making him familiar with the subject that he is researching. This is published by the well-known source of European Journal of Social Psychology, which is well known for its articles on the subjects of psychology, much like this one. This source will be used to show the positive emotional effects, and even possible reversal of aggressive behavior, that video games can provide if they are played within the correct context. It even shows that playing a violent video game in a team context can help with improving the players cooperative

Due to this “possibility space,” people can not only imagine different scenarios, but they can be involved in and create them. Gamers expand their people skills learning “creativity, community, self-esteem, and problem-solving” because they are able to “create and interact with elaborately simulated worlds, characters, and story lines.” Thus, video games have become a vehicle for self-expression. Moreover, in the near future, these games will adjust themselves in accord with who the players are and what they like. “And more than ever, games will be visible, external amplification of the human imagination” (279-283).

In Chapter 11, Sherry Turkle claims that the online words and massive multiplayer online role-playing games, gives virtuosity and fantasy- and something more; your performances put you at the center of a new community with virtual best friends and a sense of belonging. Most people that play the virtual game “A Second Life,” feel like their avatars are used as “practice” for real life. Their lives on screen may be play, but they are serious play.

The film Second Skin provided a large coverage of the effects of massive multiplayer online games on the players and the people around them. This film was used to shed light on what actually occurs in a gamers’ life and their perspective on their “hobby”. The point that jumped out the most would be the fact that excessive gaming can be as addictive as drugs and as a result can have mental and social repercussions. The fact is that online gamers find it difficult to draw the fine line when a game is for passing time and when it officially becomes a problem.

When it comes to the topic of technology, most people will readily agree that it has been growing non-stop at a significant pace. About 16 years ago, technologies, such as computers were not a necessity in mainstream life. Since then, technology has progressed and people have become extremely reliable on. In the essay “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?” by Amy Goldwasser, she talks about the positive aspects of the Internet. According to Goldwasser, “Twenty-plus years ago, high school students didn’t have the Internet to store their trivia”(Goldwasser 238). By stating this, Goldwasser explains that over the years the Internet has become a necessity in the lives of the majority of students today. Although the Internet provides sufficient

But not all video games are violent: in fact, video games can promote cohesion through cooperation rather than competition. Multiplayer games sometimes implement a cooperative mode enabling players to use teamwork to achieve a goal instead of contending for supremacy. This cooperative multiplayer encourages “(against the stereotype of gaming as a socially isolating action) the development of team, social,

Imagine a world where geographic separation does not inhibit the social or economic mobility of people. A place where cement roads are obsolete and unnecessary and the information super highway is the only road you need to know how to navigate. Information technology becomes the glue and nails that binds our (global) society together. Development becomes a matter of installing fiber-optic wiring, cellular towers and satellite launching. World Bank projects change from road building to wire laying. Now imagine a world where there is no electricity, telephones, computers, roads or other mediums of transportation other than legs and feet. Communication exists on a face-to-face level and nothing more. An individuals’

Development in technology brings many things that people don't have many years back. One of these things is online gaming that is provided by the internet.