Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2014
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
First Advisor
Michael F. Dahlstrom
Abstract
Video games represent a fast-growing medium and researchers are exploring their social influence, especially regarding the risks associated with gaming. Most studies have focused on an expert's view, rather than exploring how users themselves perceive and mitigate such risks. This qualitative study fills this gap by conducting in-depth interviews with 18 players of the browser based Massively Multi-player Online (MMO) strategy game, Lord of Ultima, in order to generate a mental model of how gamers see the risks associated with playing a MMO game. Results suggest that the primary risks in the minds of the gamers are loss of opportunity and time due to pathological gaming, cyber bullying and sexual harassment, and risks due to sharing financial information or due to malicious software. The study explores the motivations and perceived benefits derived by long-term players of the game, and explores the role of trust, group effects and player perceptions of risk in players' risk mitigation strategies. Some behaviors and consequences that experts would consider a risk are considered a benefit by gamers; this has implications for risk communication strategies around gaming. It also points to the importance of considering the user model of risks. Additionally, much of the literature conflates two genres of video game that likely exhibit unique effects. Many of the risks identified in MMO Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) were not considered relevant by long-term players of this game, since participants attributed those risks as being associated with the use and manipulation of a three-dimensional avatar in MMORPGs. Thus, this study extends the focus of inquiry away from the usual MMOPRG genre to explore the overlooked browser MMO genre of video games.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-3831
Copyright Owner
Sarani Rangarajan
Copyright Date
2014
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
80 pages
Recommended Citation
Rangarajan, Sarani, "Asking the players: a mental models approach to how long-term players of a massively multiplayer online game perceive the risks associated with gaming" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14279.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14279
Included in
Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Digital Communications and Networking Commons, Social Media Commons