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Computer Games and New Media Cultures pp 465–476Cite as

Playing Computer Games as Social Interaction: An Analysis of LAN Parties

Abstract

This chapter examines computer gaming as a form of social interaction – not in the sense of an interaction between player and game, but in the sense of being the cause for multiple player-player interactions, especially in the form of communicative acts and nonverbal actions. This chapter is closely connected to the author’s research on LAN-party communication, which analyses uses and functions of direct communication during multiplayer computer game sessions. LAN parties are not very well represented in scientific research. The few articles that exist mostly present information gained through interviews and introspection. The aim of the study presented here is to close a research gap by adding ethnographic observation data originating from field studies and from systematic research on the subject which is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods containing non-participant observation as well as analyses of conversations and video interaction.

Keywords

  • Computer Game
  • Play Computer Game
  • Mouse Button
  • Team Game
  • Game Character

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Fig. 29.1

Notes

  1. 1.

    Transcript from LAN party, 31 August 2007, time 4:46:43 – 4:47:13. This transcript and the following have been translated by the author from the recorded German dialogues. For the sake of readability, the usual transcript symbols for pauses, lengthenings, stress, etc., were eliminated and replaced with normal punctuation.

  2. 2.

    Zaremba (Chap. 28) shows that some female gamers explicitly dissociate themselves from this kind of role allocation.

  3. 3.

    Transcript from LAN party, 31 August 2007, time 4:25:20 – 4:31:13.

  4. 4.

    Transcript from LAN party, 31 August 2007, time 4:22:56.

  5. 5.

    Transcript from LAN party, 31 August 2007, time 1:18:43.

  6. 6.

    Transcript from LAN party, 24 August 2007, time 1:35:10.

  7. 7.

    Short for Counter-Strike (2000).

  8. 8.

    Transcript from LAN party, 31 August 2007, time 5:42:03 – 5:42:28.

  9. 9.

    Transcript from LAN party, 7 September 2007, time 2:29:02 – 2:28:13.

  10. 10.

    Transcript from LAN party, 7 September 2007, time 2:28:14 – 2:28:23.

  11. 11.

    Transcript from LAN party, 7 September 2007, time 2:28:29 – 2:28:39.

  12. 12.

    Transcript from LAN party, 7 September 2007, time 2:29:40.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Language, Media and Music Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Judith Ackermann

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  1. Judith Ackermann
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Correspondence to Judith Ackermann .

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  1. , Institute for Educational Science, University of Magdeburg, Zschokkestr. 32, Magdeburg, 39104, Germany

    Johannes Fromme

  2. , School of Education, University of Hamburg, Mollerstr 10, Hamburg, 20146, Germany

    Alexander Unger

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Ackermann, J. (2012). Playing Computer Games as Social Interaction: An Analysis of LAN Parties. In: Fromme, J., Unger, A. (eds) Computer Games and New Media Cultures. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2777-9_29

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