Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:34:53 BST CiteULike: jirlong's Zhang http://www.citeulike.org/user/jirlong/author/Zhang CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/jirlong/article/1689859 <i>Games and Culture, Vol. 1, No. 4. (October 2006), pp. 338-361.</i> From Tree House to Barracks: The Social Life of Guilds in World of Warcraft Dmitri Williams Nicolas Ducheneaut Li Xiong Yuanyuan Zhang Nick Yee Eric Nickell Games and Culture, Vol. 1, No. 4. (October 2006), pp. 338-361. 2007-09-24T16:05:22-00:00 2006 Games and Culture 1 4 338 361 Sage Publications game gaming mmog virtualworld wow http://www.citeulike.org/user/jirlong/article/1531671 <i>Games and Culture, Vol. 1, No. 4. (1 October 2006), pp. 338-361.</i><br /><br />A representative sample of players of a popular massively multiplayer online game (World of Warcraft) was interviewed to map out the social dynamics of guilds. An initial survey and network mapping of players and guilds helped form a baseline. Next, the resulting interview transcripts were reviewed to explore player behaviors, attitudes, and opinions; the meanings they make; the social capital they derive; and the networks they form and to develop a typology of players and guilds. In keeping with current Internet research findings, players were found to use the game to extend real-life relationships, meet new people, form relationships of varying strength, and also use others merely as a backdrop. The key moderator of these outcomes appears to be the game's mechanic, which encourages some kinds of interactions while discouraging others. The findings are discussed with respect to the growing role of code in shaping social interactions. 10.1177/1555412006292616 From Tree House to Barracks: The Social Life of Guilds in World of Warcraft Dmitri Williams Nicolas Ducheneaut Li Xiong Yuanyuan Zhang Nick Yee Eric Nickell doi:10.1177/1555412006292616 Games and Culture, Vol. 1, No. 4. (1 October 2006), pp. 338-361. 2007-08-03T00:45:42-00:00 2006 Games and Culture 1 4 338 361 game gaming mmog virtualworld wow