Introduction
In recent years online gaming has become hugely popular as we enter an age where everything is interactive. Technology has enhanced so that playing players around the world in the comfort of your living room is now easily possible.
My aims for this project was to find out whether the introduction of online gaming has had a major effect on the video game industry and if so how has it had a effect and whether the repercussions are positive or negative
Health issues
I came across an academic source that said that if video games has no violent content in it than it can be educational and be a source of teaching kids.
Organizations such as ‘Games for change’ are trying to introduce video games into educational systems as it’s proven to help build social skills, help build reading skills, maths skills and problem solving.
With the time and the resources I had during this project i didn’t have enough time to carry out a experience to study or moniter any health issues concerning video games.
Socialising games
So from my primary results you can see that, people prefer to play online with friends rather than playing with friends whilst present.
My next question I asked was to find out in more depth why they prefer to play online rather than playing with friends whilst present.
Here is some Qualitative data that I found through my questionnaire
‘I feel online is difficult to manage’ (Online can’t replace)
‘Everything less competitive online’ (Online is easier)
‘Meeting new people’ (Online is a better experience)
Don’t have much time for game so quick and easy is my preferred ways (online is easier)
Playing players all over the world, you come across tough players and I don’t like losing (online can’t replace)
‘I like playing with friends after school so we can talk about it in school the next day’ (Online is better)
The Nintendo wii and DS is so much fun with friends and family. (online can’t replace)
The experience of beating your friends is the best feeling in the world’ (Online can’t replace)
‘Easily connected and with head set you can communicate’ (online is easier)
‘It becomes more than a game and it’s more fun (Online can’t replace)
Playing face to face is so much better (Online can’t replace)
‘Competing against people is fun and I like the challenge’ (Online is a better experience)
‘Quick and easy to get connected’ (Online is easier)
‘Online is fast instant plus it’s free (online is easier)
When my friends re together the atmosphere plus experience is so live (online can’t replace)
Because it more lively when you friends are with you (online can’t replace)
Don’t get as much banter online (Online can’t replace)
I like to link up with friends and play games more sociable (Online can’t replace)
Behaviour of gamers
During this unit I have monitored gamers using observation techniques and this is what I found out. Firstly I monitored a group teenage boys aged between 17-18 playing multiplayer mode on Fifa 11. I saw competitiveness throughout the observation in many different ways. But generally they we’re all friends and the atmosphere was more friendly and uplifting as there was a lot of celebrations. There was banter thrown around but it was light-hearted and there weren’t any outrageous behaviour.
Observation I monitored my sister which did suffer abusive language and some people online were sexist which did tick her off.
After 45 minute of playing the game I saw she was getting more and more frustrating and then decided to switch off the game in a stressful manner.
psychographic variables that I took into account was that my sister on a daily basis isn’t a angry or has a short temper so it was out of her nature to behave like that. This makes me feel that the challenging world of online gaming can reveal a competitive side which can lead to bad temper and angered behaviour online.
But I did find a source that states that it’s impossible to say whether aggressive behaviour s directly linked to competitiveness gaming.
As there could potentially be 101 things that can trigger aggressive behaviour
The Results
1) What Gender are you?
Male – 15
Female – 6
2) How old are you?
12 years old – 1
13 years old – 0
14 years old – 0
15 years old – 1
16 years old – 3
17 years old – 6
18 years old – 6
19 years old – 2
20 years old – 0
21 years old – 2
3) What games console (s) do you own?
Xbox 360 - 11
PS3 - 12
Nintendo Wii -8
PSP - 7
Nintendo DS - 7
Other – 4
4) How often do you play your game console on weekly bases?
1-2 hours – 5
2-3 hours – 2
3-4 hours – 0
4-5 hours – 3
5-6 hours – 1
6-7 hours – 2
7-8 hours - 2
8-9 hours – 0
9-10 hours – 1
10-11 hours – 2
11-12 hours – 2
12+ hours – 0
5) Is your game console connected to the internet?
Yes - 17
No – 4
6) Do you play online mode or story mode more?
Online mode – 10
Story mode – 11
7) Are you willing to pay £50 for a game now that you get more from a game? i.e. online mode?
Yes – 11
No – 10
8) How much are you willing to pay for a game without online mode?
£25-£35 – 11
£35-£45 – 4
£45-£55 – 2
£55+ - 4
9.a) Do you play multiplayer games online interactive with friends?
Yes – 16
No – 5
9.b) If Yes, Do you prefer to play online with friends or play with friends whilst they’re present i.e. (Multiplayer mode)?
Prefer Online – 9
Prefer playing with friends – 7
9.c) if so why?
Online is easier – 5
Online is a better experience – 3
Online can’t replace the company of my friends – 7
Expand on your answers –
This is what people said …
‘I feel online is difficult to manage’ (Online can’t replace)
‘Everything less competitive online’ (Online is easier)
‘Meeting new people’ (Online is a better experience)
Don’t have much time for game so quick and easy is my preferred ways (online is easier)
Playing players all over the world, you come across tough players and I don’t like losing (online can’t replace)
‘I like playing with friends after school so we can talk about it in school the next day’ (Online is better)
The Nintendo wii and DS is so much fun with friends and family. (online can’t replace)
The experience of beating your friends is the best feeling in the world’ (Online can’t replace)
‘Easily connected and with head set you can communicate’ (online is easier)
‘It becomes more than a game and it’s more fun (Online can’t replace)
Playing face to face is so much better (Online can’t replace)
‘Your friends being present is a better experience overall (Online can’t be replace)
‘Competing against people is fun and I like the challenge’ (Online is a better experience)
‘Quick and easy to get connected’ (Online is easier)
‘Online is fast instant plus it’s free (online is easier)
When my friends re together the atmosphere plus experience is so live (online can’t replace)
Because it more lively when you friends are with you (online can’t replace)
I love my friends (Online can’t replace)
Don’t get as much banter online (Online can’t replace)
I like to link up with friends and play games more sociable (Online can’t replace)
Focus group discussing about the impact of online gaming.
Mixed opinions and heated debate, Enjoyable listen (Y)
The clip you’ve all been waiting for!*excited*
Part 1 and 2 in the link below!v
Observation
Today I sat back and watched a group of teenagers play online and story mode on two different games; Call of Duty – Morden Warfare 2 and Fifa 2011 on the PS3.
The group consisted of 6 males and 1 female
Alex – Male 17 years old
Ashley – Male 18 years old
Shaun – Male 17 years old
Ries – Male 18 years old
Rashid – Male 18 years old
Kai – Male 17 years old
Michelle – Female 15 years old
The group of boys played multiplayer mode on Fifa 2011 first. It had a competitive atmosphere straight from the beginning. Each individual had they say on who will win and a lot of banter was thrown around. Before each game and during the set up of each game it was more of light heart banter throughout the group. But the atmosphere changed during each game. The 2 players against each other were quite and more focused whilst playing as each person took it seriously and wanted to win. The other group members that were spectators were mostly commentating on the game and analysis there style of play. The female Michelle wasn’t involved heavily during the time of playing Fifa 2011 as football isn’t one of her interests.
Firstly the group played ‘winner stays on’ style of play. This particular rule made each member try there hardest to stay on. The winner playing would be the player that would throw the most banter in the group despite if particular members are more competitive than others. I noticed with more and more games where confidence grew when group member Rashid won most games and stayed on for the longest. As it was evidence that Rashid had been the most consistent he could back his competitive nature therefore he was always showing off most of the time. Varies group members has different excuses why they lost and each excuse varied depending on the individual that lose. It was evident that different players take losing in many different ways. Alex and Shaun who are the most inexperienced blamed it on inexperience and claimed that if they played the game more than they could be the best out of the group. Kai in particular couldn’t take losing to well. He blamed most of his lost on the actual game itself and never once admitted that Rashid was better. Ashley is one participate that wasn’t bothered with losing and had fun regardless.
Scoring and winning games created a sudden uproar of excitement. Each player had scored and reacted similar. Each player was excited and had so much passion when scoring. It was clear that each player wanted to win and showed off celebrations every time they scored.
Although there was banter thrown around everyone said that they enjoyed playing the game as a collective and that they don’t have as much fun when playing against each other online mode. They said they only prefer online if the weather isn’t great or they don’t have enough money for travel.
Every member said online is only used when they are in a difficult position to go and see each other and go to each other house. Each group stated that they prefer playing multiplayer mode with everyone.
The final question I asked them was whether they would prefer to play story mode or go online to play others. 5 out of 7 of them stated that they would play online mode rather than playing story mode.
Another observation I did was to monitor whether there is a change in behaviour when playing against other people around the world via online. For this task I monitored my sister Michelle aged 15 playing ‘Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2’. I asked her how she was feeling before hand and what her objective is and she said ‘I’m excited to play and ready to have fun’. Whilst she was playing online mode I was looking at behaviour, competitiveness and enjoyment.
Michelle’s behaviour was calm and collective at the start and was having fun as she was playing well and her online team was winning. Online I noticed that there were a few people that were using abusive language even to team members. During the process of this observation there was 5 different occasions where my sister was discriminated against because of her gender. I notice that the first and second time this occurred my sister didn’t react to it and I asked her why she answered ‘I’m used to it and it happens on a daily bases’ but after the third, fourth and firth I noticed it started to get on her nerves and this effected the way she played in a negative way. I could see by her movement and attitude that she was getting stressed. My sister started to answer back to people and quit games before the finishing times because she was losing. This showed me that she was getting more and more competitive.
After an hour and ten minutes Michelle gave up and quit the game and switched of the game console in a stressed out way. This is a prime example of competiveness overriding enjoyment. I saw that gamers can take the game to seriously but in this case the result can be seen in two different ways it could be the discrimination that forced her to quit the game or the fact that she doesn’t take losing well.
1) What gender are you? Tick box
Male Female
2)
How old are you?
3) What game console(s) do you own? Tick box
Xbox 360 PS3 Nintendo Wii
Other PSP Nintendo DS
4) How often do you play your game console on weekly bases?
1–2 Hours 2–3 Hours 3-4 Hours 4-5 Hours
5-6 Hours 6-7 Hours 7-8 Hours 8-9 Hours
9- 10 Hours 10-11 Hours 11-12 Hours 12+ Hours
5) Is your game console connected to the internet?
Yes No
6) Do you play online mode or story mode more?
Online Mode Story mode
7) Are you willing to pay £50 for a game now that you get more from a game? I.e. Online mode
Yes No
8) How much are you willing to pay for a game without online mode?
£25–£35 £35-£45 £45-£55 £55+
9. a) Do you play multiplayer games online interactive with friends?
Yes No
b) If Yes, Do you prefer to play online with friends or play with friends whilst they’re present (Multiplayer mode)?
Prefer Online Prefer playing with friends
c) If so why?
Online is easier Online is a better experience
Online can’t replace the company of my friends
Expand on your answer
_______________________________
The format isn’t suited for tumblr therefore the layout isn’t fitted_
Focus Group -
Effects of gaming
Topics
Amount you spend on games
Time you spend on game consoles
Difference between the time you spend online and story mode?
Has online gaming increased or decreased socializing in gaming?
Has online gaming decrease the amount of times you go to a friend’s house to play?
How many times did you go to your friend’s house to play games before online gaming was introduced?
How many times do you go to your friend’s house to play games after online gaming was introduced?
Do you play online more than the game (story mode) itself?
How many hours do you play online?
Did you play more games now online gaming is introduced?
Are you more willing to pay full price for a game because you get more with it because most games nowadays have online mode?
You can buy directly from online on your console has that influence to buy more additional packages?
Do you notice whether games have a competiveness effect on you?
Do you prefer playing online with friends or going to a friend’s house to play?
Interviewing method
The first paragraph states that interviewing is one of the popular types of data collecting. It commonly used as it’s one of the most reliable sources and easiest way to find out information. Although it is extremely easy it does has its downfalls because people can always lie in interviews. Answers can be interpreted in different ways by the researcher or interviewer.
It states that media can be mediated therefore everything is processed in a certain way. The story can be changed or looked upon different depending on what questions are asked or what is documented. For example a documentary objective is to show reality and the truth but the editor decides what gets put in and what gets left out therefore it’s mediated as some elements may be left out that has great importance to the truth therefore documents are mediated.
Interviewee can also feed of the interviewer meaning that interviewer may have a set opinion therefore there questions they ask could be biased towards there personal opinion. This makes the interview completely pointless and not reliable.
Interviewing works best when it’s natural and the interviewee is comfortable. This is shown through the interviewer’s body language and representation of the microphone. Holding directly under the interviewees mouth could be quite intimidated and will make the interviewee uncomfortable.
In a focus group there could be a range of different types of people which may include loud and shy people. Therefore when leading a focus group it’s important to quite down the loud people and give opportunities for the shy and quite people to express there opinion.
