Emitexts and Paratexts: Propaganda in EVE Online. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carter, Marcus
• Is Part Of: Games and culture. Volume 10:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: EVE Online -- paratexts -- emitexts -- propaganda -- online communities -- metagame; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Video games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Computer games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Interactive multimedia -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.4834
• DOI: 10.1177/1555412014558089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4120

Abstract

In EVE Online, powerful alliances of thousands of players wage long war campaigns over in-game sovereignty, wealth, power, and status. The larger of these wars involve—two to three battles a day across multiple time zones demanding thousands of players and considerable in-game wealth. As with real wars, the morale of combatants plays a crucial role in the success of a campaign. In this article, I discuss the propaganda produced as a component of these wars and the crucial role that it plays in EVE 's virtual warfare. Leveraging broader Internet memes; "nerd" tropes; in-jokes; game history; and racial, cultural, and sexist stereotypes, these evocative images serve to bolster support and demoralize opponents. I argue that propaganda can be conceptualized as a form of paratext that emerges from within the game as part of play, rather than a peripheral industry that surrounds it. Consequently, I propose the term "emitext" to define this persuasive media.