Game Streaming Revisited: Some Observations on Marginal Practices and Contexts

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Lin Holin Sun Chuen-Tsai Liao Ming-Chung
2019 DiGRA '19 - Proceedings of the 2019 DiGRA International Conference: Game, Play and the Emerging Ludo-Mix

The focus of this paper is on the spectating phenomenon of live streaming gameplay, which has been described as “marginal.” After reviewing important non-gaming factors capable of bringing game streaming from the analytical margins to the center, we discuss the larger context in which game streaming is embedded, plus its implications. Data were gathered via in-depth interviews with game stream viewers, analyses of game streaming-related forum posts, and an online survey. According to our observations, game streaming should not be viewed as only a game-related phenomenon or extended gameplay practice, but also as a type of cross-media entertainment involving multiple media consumption characteristics—a form of stage performance, a space for social interaction, and as entertainment similar to hosted variety shows and reality television. Consumers tend to move among multiple streaming activities serving assorted media functions in search of entertainment, with their identities changing according to personal time restrictions and social situations.

 

Processing Play; Perceptions of Persuasion

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Svahn Mattias
2009 DiGRA '09 - Proceedings of the 2009 DiGRA International Conference: Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory

This is a theoretical position paper exploring a projecting of the paradigm of dual process modeling of perception onto the perception of “play”. In this process, a model is proposed that sheds new light on the understanding of how “play” is understood, perceived and processed by the player. The paper concludes with a discussion on what implications the model can have on play analysis, game design and the understanding of persuasion through play, a.k.a. persuasive gaming, serious gaming, advergaming etc.