Abstract
Online video games contain a variety of features that facilitate or encourage social interaction among game players. We explored the meaning of the experience of online game playing, seeking to uncover the personal meanings that game players ascribe to their online gaming experiences. Guided, semi-scripted personal interviews were conducted with 16 participants aged 17 to 34. A psychological-phenomenological analysis of participant narratives was conducted following procedures set out by Giorgi (2009). Four descriptive themes were identified: social rewards, experiential enhancement, growth and identity, and tension reduction. Participants described online gaming as an overwhelmingly positive, rewarding experience shaped by their social interactions with others in the game. We propose that as games offer more and more options for positive social interaction, concerns about detrimental effects of online video games may be attenuated.
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