Additional Funding Sources

This research was supported by Boise State University.

Abstract

My project focused on gender inequality in online gaming environments. Using observation, participation, participant observation, semistructured interviews, and a story completion exercise, I explored the online environments of two popular massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). The customer journey map for online gaming experiences is riddled with pain points, even before factoring in the stress of gender-based harassment in these forums. I spent approximately sixty hours in set-up and without my stakeholder as a guide, I am sure it would have taken longer.

During my interviews and story completion exercise, I discovered that most online players of MMORPGs are accustomed to these pain points and do not really mind the work of setting up or the expense of pay-to-play, as long as the game is worth it. My story completion aimed to find out what makes it worth it to invest time and money into a game. The results were better than I expected, gamers know what they want, they just do not have an available platform to get it from. Working with my stakeholder, I created some prototypes for an online ratings and social media site that fulfills all of these needs and provides a safe community for gamers.

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Gaming and Gender Inequality

My project focused on gender inequality in online gaming environments. Using observation, participation, participant observation, semistructured interviews, and a story completion exercise, I explored the online environments of two popular massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). The customer journey map for online gaming experiences is riddled with pain points, even before factoring in the stress of gender-based harassment in these forums. I spent approximately sixty hours in set-up and without my stakeholder as a guide, I am sure it would have taken longer.

During my interviews and story completion exercise, I discovered that most online players of MMORPGs are accustomed to these pain points and do not really mind the work of setting up or the expense of pay-to-play, as long as the game is worth it. My story completion aimed to find out what makes it worth it to invest time and money into a game. The results were better than I expected, gamers know what they want, they just do not have an available platform to get it from. Working with my stakeholder, I created some prototypes for an online ratings and social media site that fulfills all of these needs and provides a safe community for gamers.

 

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