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Subversive consumers. Misbehaving in virtual worlds. Oral Exam in Computer Game Culture IT University of Copenhagen June 18, 2004. Governance in MMOGs…. The problem: Deviant behavior Misbehavior Unintended behavior Premise: Code of conduct Value system Intended behavior
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Subversive consumers Misbehaving in virtual worlds Oral Exam in Computer Game Culture IT University of Copenhagen June 18, 2004
Governance in MMOGs… • The problem: • Deviant behavior • Misbehavior • Unintended behavior • Premise: • Code of conduct • Value system • Intended behavior Breaking the rules, or what?
Yesterday I bought a carrot in RL… Possible uses: • Eat it • Feed it to my pet • Bake a cake I am free to use (and even abuse) the carrot.
Yesterday I bought a carrot in SL… ”No go, Mr. We can’t allow that in here. You’re banned…” ”But it’s my carrot – I bought it.” ”I bake the cake – you eat it” DEVELOPER (producer) – GAMER (consumer)
Handing over virtual worlds… • Images / Symbolic assets • Meaning • Authorship • Intention • Value system • Code of conduct • Set of values • Rules of behavior Making room for interpretation. ”I didn’t buy what you sold me…”
Ceci n’est pas une carotte… In the world of signs…
Consumer approaches… • Passive • mindless • uncritical • just eating the carrot • Active • reflective • critical • creative • interpreting
What’s in a subscription? • Handing over ownership • ’materiality’ • possession • material property • Handing over control? • intention • authorship • meaning • intellectual property
Subversive consuming The openness of interpretation: • Counter intentional behavior • Undermining authorship • Breaking the code of conduct • (Mis)interpretation • Sabotage • Subverting the value system
Barbie Liberation Organization • Method: Switching the voice boxes of 300 Barbie and G.I. Joe dolls and handing it back to the stores, who would resell them • Outcome: Barbie dolls going ”Dead men tell no lies!” and G.I. Joes saying ”Want to go shopping?” Subverting the value system of the corporations!
Subversive gamers? Do we have examples? • Velvet Strike CS Ballet