Gamers Who Protest: Small-Group Play and Social Resources for Civic Action. Issue 4 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stokes, Benjamin; Williams, Dmitri
• Is Part Of: Games and culture. Volume 13:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 327
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: activism -- protest -- civic engagement -- role-play -- politics -- small group -- social capital -- MOBA -- game -- civic voluntarism -- gamers -- e-sports -- time; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Video games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Computer games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Interactive multimedia -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.4834
• DOI: 10.1177/1555412015615770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4120

Abstract

Commercial games are rarely studied for their links to civic behavior. Yet small-group games online can affect the social networks that spill into civic life (and vice versa). This study examined players of the world's most popular personal computer game, League of Legends . Such games are theorized as mirrors that reflect civic tendencies and help some players to retain social resources. Using models of civic voluntarism, the attitudes and behaviors of more than 9, 000 gamers were investigated. Gamers were shown to have relatively typical civic lives, except for unusually high rates of peaceful protest. Which gamers protest? As predicted, models for protest improved when considering how players approach their gaming (including recruiting and collaboration preferences). Dispelling some civic fears, there was no evidence that video games distracted from civic life when played in moderation. The findings support an emerging notion of protest as a playful and "expressive" civic mode.