As technology continues to increase society has
become more inclined into using it as a means of communication. After all are,
are you not reading this in hopes to gain knowledge or communicate with me on a
topic of similar interests? The social media trend is an excellent example of
societies obsession with social media. Friends are formed on Facebook and
tweets are used to talk with people across the country. But these interactions
are not just limited to social media platforms.
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games,
commonly referred to as MMORPGs, have received much attention in the last few
years, not only because of their traditionally controversial storylines, but because
of the social communities forming around them. Games like World of Warcraft and
the Diablo series allow users to create online personas. These
personas intact and play in fictional worlds. Different types of relationships
sometimes friendly and sometimes even romantic are created through these
popular MMORPGs. However some critics and communications researchers find these
games to be socially destructive in regard to human interaction.
I am not an avid "gamer", however I
have experimented with some MMORPGs such as Call of Duty and The
Sims. Through my personal use of these games I have discovered the
positive and negative effects that this type of interaction can have on an
individual.
The gamer culture surrounding these types of
games brings us to one main question: Is play simply a diversion and
recreation, or does it have a role in more task-oriented activities? This
blog is meant to connect my personal experiences to the scientific research
found in numerous academic journals and accredited research by professionals in
the communications field, in order to answer that question.
Now if you'll excuse me I have to help my Sim
achieve her life long career goal.
-Kristen C
