world of scriptcraft. the collective remaking of computergames
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at 4S in 2009TRANSCRIPT
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World of Scriptcraft? Gamers’ collective remaking
of computer games
Kristine Askwww.kristineask.com
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Computergames as code
• How can computer games help us understand code and coding?
• Negotiating the code is a goal in it self
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From code to script• A semiotic approach to user/technology
relationships
“A large part of the work of innovators is that of
“inscribing” this vision of a the world in the technical object.”
Akrich 1992: 208
• Data: – 9 Qualitative interviews with players– Ongoing deep ethnographic work in player community: playing,
participating, observing, talking
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The Game in question:
MMORPG
Virtual world
Up to 30 000 players
Avatars used to interact with the world
A game platform of many subgames
Primary game: Killing monsters
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Raiding•Large groups of players fighting challenging
monsters
•From emergence to mainstream
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Raiding = play or work?
Raiding: •Set times•Team effort•Complicated•Little reward for much input•Organized
•Work can still be fun
•Raiding is instrumental, yet passionate
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De-scripting a virtual monster
+
24 other avatars
VS
MeBoss monster: Kologarn
• Decoding the clues of the encounter is part of the challenge
• Requires coordination and attentiveness• Limited time to complete
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Example: Kologarn
Kologarns abilities are: • Shockwave: Damages all
– Says “Oblivion!”• Stone Grip: Targets 3 and locks them in his hand
– Says: “I will squeeze the life from you!”• Focused eyebeam: Targets and follows players
– Visual: Blue streams across the floor
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Extending the code: In game re-scription
• Addons: Usermade software– Bossmods
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• Translator, timekeeper and commander
•Bossmods – The raids 26th member
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Extending the code: Out of game re-scription
• Code extends outside the game
• Forums as the arena for continuation
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The extended code of Kologarn
• 3 page thread
• Suggestions regarding problems and solutions:
“If you're melee and being targetted, just stripe left and follow the left edge of the room to the back. The beams should end before you run into the main raid. 1 time last night someone stripe to the right leading the beams right through the MT* spot. Not cool.”
*MT is a player with a specific task: ensuring the monster only target the most resilient
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• Maps to explain positioning
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• Links to relevant webpages:– Movies, Strategies, Databases
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• Logs
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From extending code to re-scription
• Indexicality• Reaction to the script, re-scripted as
more
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Collective re-scription
• The re-scription is done by the community– Bossmods are taken for granted– Forums used to recount, interpret and plan– Assembly of tools/technologies:
• Films• Guides• Logs• Forums• Game