DiGRA '07 - Proceedings of the 2007 DiGRA International Conference: Situated Play
The University of Tokyo, September, 2007
Volume: 4
ISBN / ISNN: ISSN 2342-9666
The goal of this paper is to discuss one of the well-known and widely accepted characteristics of fandom, textual productivity, in relation to the productive practices surrounding computer games. The paper will show that the social and cultural aspects of computer game playing as well as games’ structural and game-mechanical support for various forms of player participation give the traditional fan theories a slip. The paper aims to illustrate that it is not trouble-free to read certain players as fans just because their actions at first sight correspond to what we have usually considered as fandom. In addition, it suggests that we should look for new manifestations of fandom among players. The issues will be considered in part of the artificial division between the so-called (power/hardcore/pro) gamers and game fans. Examples are drawn specially from the productive practices within and beyond the games World of Warcraft and The Sims 2.