Article Index :: Front Page
Video Game Fans as Textual Poachers
By Bobby Bokista - 12.22.04
Introduction
Video games commonly spawn fan community websites. Many of these websites begin the same way: a one-way resource to find out information on how to beat the game, secrets and tips, lists of characters, an explanation of the story, and usually the author's opinion as to why the game is so great. This type of website does not provide the reader a chance to talk back, though, and many readers are left desiring more. A reader might be able to send an e-mail to the webmaster, but this does not allow him or her to connect with other readers. Part of the fun in playing a game is discussing the experience with other people. Newsgroups provided an opportunity for these fans to talk to each other, but were located on separate parts of the Internet. In order to consolidate this distance, fan websites implemented message boards-also known as forums-directly on their websites. By coupling a large amount of information with a two-way communication device, true communities could form around the website. These online fan sites bring together people with a range of interests in gaming and each person brings new experiences and talents to the group. The type of fan participation varies from site to site; some encourage more participation and some are mostly one-sided. Henry Jenkins' study in Textual Poachers: Television Fans & Participatory Culture can by applied to the website Starmen.net, a fan community dedicated to the 1995 game EarthBound for the Super Nintendo. Certain adjustments must be made to Jenkins' study of television, however, to fit both video games as the text and the Internet as the form of cultural output.
Home •
Introduction •
Studying as a Fan •
Textual Poaching •
EarthBound •
Forming a Community •
What Poachers Make •
The Perfect Poach / Conclusion
Article Index :: Front Page
|
|
