A Storm in Dream Parkthe virtualisation of the german fantasy role-playing scene

Sebastian DeterdingHans Bredow Institute for Media ResearchInternet Research 11.0, Gothenborg, 15.10.2010

cbn

Research background

• Many studies on individual virtual(ized) fandom communities, few on relations and virtualisation of communities

• Assumed happy marriage of Fantasy fandom and MMORPGs

• Assumed happy marriage of fandom and the Internet in general

Starting points

The German RPG Scene

fantasy fandom

rpg scene

larp

• Ca. 450.000, in steep decline since late 1990s

• Focus: transportation into fantastic transmedia worlds through shared production and reception of artefacts, practices and media

• Two value poles: immersionist vs. hedonist

The German RPG scene

The perfect Dream Park?

Do MMORPGs Kill Pen-and-Paper?

Do MMORPGs Kill Pen-and-Paper?

»Nothing against MMORPGs, but ... I see a black future for good old RPG with pen and paper *whine*.

Reason: Youngsters are simply lazy, and media sensory overload destroys their imagination.«

• Split between hedonist and immersionist

• Conflict narrative: MMORPGs and TCGs siphoning off young players and money

• Conservative media critique: MMORPGs as convenient, dumbed-down, shallow, passive, isolating

• Romanticist techno-criticism: No space for artistic self-expression in MMORPGs

Reactions in the P&P community

• Distinct P&P playing style: rich in reference, proper »in-character« behaviours

• Self-segregation into »Role-Play Intensive« servers

In-MMORPG differentiation

The Eternal September

http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/September-that-never-ended.html

MMORPGs and the RPG Scene

fantasy fandom

rpg scene

larp

mmorpg 1 scene

mmorpg 2 scene

mmorpg 3 scene

• Fantasy/RPG fandom is a varied landscape differentiated by values and practices online and offline

• Single MMORPGs and P&P RPG players form distinct communities

• Adoption of Internet is potentially just as disruptive to fandom communities as other social groupings and institutions

Conclusions

Thanks.

sebastian@codingconduct.cc

@dingstweets

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