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Subversive Consumers: Breaking Rules in Virtual Worlds

This oral exam explores the governance in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) regarding deviant behavior, unintended actions, and subverting the value system. It delves into how players challenge code of conduct and intended behavior, discussing the concept of ownership and control in virtual environments. The study analyzes consumer approaches from passive acceptance to active interpretation, highlighting subversive consuming practices like the Barbie Liberation Organization's doll voice switch. Through examples like Velvet Strike and CS Ballet, the exam reflects on the openness of interpretation and the impact of subversive gamers.

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Subversive Consumers: Breaking Rules in Virtual Worlds

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  1. Subversive consumers Misbehaving in virtual worlds Oral Exam in Computer Game Culture IT University of Copenhagen June 18, 2004

  2. Governance in MMOGs… • The problem: • Deviant behavior • Misbehavior • Unintended behavior • Premise: • Code of conduct • Value system • Intended behavior Breaking the rules, or what?

  3. 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.

  4. 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)

  5. 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…”

  6. Ceci n’est pas une carotte… In the world of signs…

  7. Consumer approaches… • Passive • mindless • uncritical • just eating the carrot • Active • reflective • critical • creative • interpreting

  8. What’s in a subscription? • Handing over ownership • ’materiality’ • possession • material property • Handing over control? • intention • authorship • meaning • intellectual property

  9. Subversive consuming The openness of interpretation: • Counter intentional behavior • Undermining authorship • Breaking the code of conduct • (Mis)interpretation • Sabotage • Subverting the value system

  10. 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!

  11. Subversive gamers? Do we have examples? • Velvet Strike CS Ballet

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