What Role Do Online Games Play in Building Digital Communities?

Online games go far beyond just being a source of entertainment into an international social platform where people from four corners of the Earth can meet together.

Though the internet has created new types of virtual social spaces over time, online games have remained a constant in this ever-evolving landscape.

These are the platforms that unite players regardless of geographical, cultural or linguistic dynamics from casual mobile games to competitive eSports.

The Evolution of Online Gaming Communities

Multiplayer in a video game has the same conclusion for everyone: online gaming, where every gamer who wants to play can come across and connect by any means possible.

Online gaming now is very different from its humble beginnings on local networks or regional connections of only two gamers.

Internet technology has connected millions of people to play together in real time, thus adding a social dimension where there previously was none.

This change has evolved digital communities where players can meet, work together or burn into a rage when winning and losing alike.

Online Games as Social Platforms

Online Games as conventional social media channels have usually been unidirectional, meaning they are more passive than active–online games involve engaging and taking part.

Collaborating with other players to achieve goals, chatting with them over real-time messaging and forming a rapport having the same interest in playing.

Collaboration and Teamwork in Online Games

Online gaming can provide a new skill of working together as one team.

While online multiplayer games rely heavily on communication, and strategy to execute well.

A raid in World of Warcraft or helping lead a squad to victory in Fortnite is an example.

The Role of eSports in Community Building

I have no doubt in my mind that eSports plays a significant role here.

The latter part is the vein which has witnessed much attention with regard to online gaming.

Alongside the mainstream tournament viewing and online spectating, there lies a global culture of competitive gaming, with connoisseurs amassing millions in an event tally.

Events such as the LOL World Championship or The International bring fans from all corners of the earth under the same figurative roof, basking in a shared love for competition.

Economic Ecosystems and Virtual Marketplaces

The virtual world is full of games designed for you to make money—have you heard of the second economy?

They are like online markets, just the same as real-world economic systems and players have to make deals with each other via exchange.

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The Role of Streaming Platforms in Gaming Communities

Twitch, YouTube Gaming and Facebook gaming have drastically changed the way players interact between.

Gamers can use streaming to level up and pass through the more difficult stages of games.

However, these solitary playing sessions are turned into an experience for community interaction as they share their experiences with a global audience.

Challenges and Negative Aspects of Online Gaming Communities

Though online gaming communities bring with them many advantages, there are definitely disadvantages as well.

Toxicity, harassment and exclusion — the list of what wrongs good communities can do seems positively endless.

• Toxic Behaviour and Harassment

Verbal abuse or harassment, of course — behaviour that can transform the very idea of community within gaming into an aggressive form of toxicity.

Toxic behaviour is a significant problem and despite reporting systems being put in place, most gaming platforms lack the means to efficiently moderate.

It can scare off potential newcomers, lose current participants and disgrace the online gaming community.

• Exclusion and Gatekeeping

In the case of women and minorities, this can apply to some gaming communities too.

This leads to gatekeeping; where if newcomers aren’t berated for not measuring up, they’re outright segregated by some standard or another.

That kind of exclusionary behaviour is what stops online gaming communities from being truly inclusive and contributes to keeping the player base limited in scope.

So, that’s all we have for you about what role do Online Games Play in Building Digital Communities. We hope that this guide has helped you.