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The Archives
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05.10.10Sociologists Get a Second LifeIntimacy in Warcraft, BDSM in Second Life, and Internet gaming cafes in China are the frontiers of sociology research, as outlined in an article on Ars Technica which highlights most of the major articles and studies that have gained attention over the past few years. For anyone starting out in a study of virtual worlds, or for a teacher starting a class on the topic, I can't think of a much better reading list, with pointers to the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research and Tom Boellstorff's Coming of Age in Second Life. Highlighting A World of Wacraft Reader, I was reminded ...
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02.17.10Lost Leader: Journal of Virtual Worlds Research Dilutes Its BrandI've spent two weeks recovering from the previous four. And I don't mean some sort of health thing, I mean recovery from some sort of shift in thinking that has left me kind of dazed and confused. I mean, here's the thing: after spending the better part of the past few years worrying about whether virtual worlds had a place in the digital landscape, I suddenly discovered that they do, and that the questions have become more profound. I've talked about this before: I find myself surprised when I don't get grilled on cartoon characters and 'escaping reality' anymore. People ...
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06.30.08Call for Papers on VW CultureThe Journal of Virtual Worlds Research is asking for contributions to its forthcoming issue dedicated to culture in virtual worlds. The editors of this issue, Mark Bell and Mia Consalvo, are looking for articles from 'academic researchers and practitioners' that explore the culture and experience of VWs. Here is a list of topics, culled from their site, that the editors are looking to explore in this issue: • Definitions of Virtual Cultures • Ethnographies of Virtual Worlds • Social mechanics and networking in Virtual worlds • Historical development of Virtual Worlds • Identity • Differing goals of play versus non-play centric spaces • Emergent practices, player-generated content, activities • ...
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