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The Asian Media & Mass Communication Conference 2010 Osaka, Japan
The Lessons I’m Learning Since I was Twelve:
The Role of MMORPG in Molding the Gamers’ Knowledge
Benedict P. Agulto, Ph.D
Taylor’s University College, Malaysia
Many studies have been conducted on identifying the effects of massively multimedia
online role-playing games (MMORPGs) to gamers, but results delved mostly on its
negative implications due to games’ inherent reputation and researchers themselves
being onlookers rather than participants. To understand and, eventually, accept the
role of MMORPG in formulating and molding gamers’ knowledge necessitates a
deeper analysis of the intricate nature of the games’ content and architecture, and the
act of gaming itself. This paper approaches the arguments behind the benefits of
online games as social artifacts that require pragmatic rethinking as it is continuously
being modified, developed, and enriched not only by its creators, but by the players
themselves. The author studies these implications on the grounds that online games
are fundamentally processual and established through collaborative enhancement of
coordination, communication, and organization. To substantiate this argument,
findings are drawn through interview and participant observation by the author, while
theoretical and conceptual supports are provided using a range of social theories and
related studies.
K E Y W O R D S: Situated learning, MMORPG, World of Warcraft, Processual,
Affordance, Skill, Coordination, Modding.
1. INTRODUCTION
With the increasing prominence of gaming, games scholars are presently starting to encourage and
illuminate the media, academia, policy makers, and the public at large on accepting games as a
supplementary form and space of learning. Also, the ubiquity of computer technology and Internet
infrastructure pave the way for a stronger gaming community that prompt many to question its
importance and contribution in molding knowledge and culture. Now is by far the best time for game
scholars to undertake research endeavors that will surpass its previous ambitions. Computer games
research today has undergone drastic changes and expansion as its specificities of digital play was
first dwelled on by game scholars. Historically, the study of games may be told in many ways.
Games may be considered as systems and critiqued as artifacts; rather than modern technological
phenomenon (Aarseth, 1997; Jenkins & Fuller, 1995; Turkle, 1984). Eventually, the statute, game
rules, and structure of the game were given more focus and analytical attention (Koster, 2004;
Rollings & Adams, 2003; Zimmerman, 2003). Lastly, games were explored based on the stories it
shares to its users (Copier, 2003; Frasca, 2003).
Figure 1
Textual Description of LambdaMOO
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