Online Video Games Research Articles

Exploring Barrier-Free Esports for Visually Impaired and Sighted Individuals: An Examination of Rapid Key Tapping Speed

Esports involves competition conducted through online computer games, a format that allows individuals to compete together regardless of age, sex, or physique. However, due to preconceived notions about individuals with visual impairments, their abilities are occasionally underestimated or overestimated. Furthermore, while esports heavily depend on visual elements, there has been little clarification on which abilities can be performed equally by both sighted and visually impaired individuals and which abilities differ. This study examined whether rapid tapping speed, a skill potentially utilized in esports, is affected by visual impairment, testing the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in tapping speed between visually impaired and sighted individuals. By identifying skills that show no differences and those that do, this research lays the groundwork for designing environments where all participants can equally enjoy activities, including the appropriate use of handicaps. The study employed a 30 s rapid tapping speed evaluation model in which participants were asked to tap a key on a computer keyboard as quickly as possible. The total number of taps, initial speed, and speed maintenance were measured over three trials, and temporal changes, such as deceleration, were assessed. No significant differences were observed between groups in the total number of taps, initial speed, or speed maintenance, indicating that tapping speed is not dependent on visual impairment. Thus, a rapid tapping ability can be equally demonstrated by both visually impaired and sighted individuals, highlighting the potential for increasing inclusivity in esports. These findings highlight the potential for creating inclusive esports environments that accommodate visually impaired players, thereby promoting broader participation.

Social Capital in Online Gaming Communities: A Systematic Review Examining the Role of Virtual Identities.

The growth of online video-game players has seen a parallel growth in online gaming communities. Membership in these communities has been well known to play a vital role in shaping social connections and fostering social capital. This systematic review explored the role of interacting virtual identities in shaping the relationship between membership in gaming communities and social capital as an outcome. Online databases of Scopus, APA PsycNet, Web of Science, the Digital Game Research Association Digital Library, and the Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library were screened (January 1, 2000-October 23, 2023). From an initial pool of 5,720 studies, 33 were finalized for inclusion after quality assessment. Results highlight that interacting identities affect players' experiences of social support and social capital. The extent to which positive social interactions were experienced and social capital was accumulated depended on (a) the number of interacting salient identities and (b) the degree to which salient identities were marginalized in the respective gaming community. Prevalent identities in different social contexts (the non-virtual world, online gaming communities, and specific virtual worlds) and how their interactions affect social capital have been discussed. This study contributes to theory by demonstrating how intersecting identities influence social capital dynamics in virtual spaces. It also offers insights for community managers on creating inclusive environments that enhance positive social experiences and social capital accumulation.

A network analysis approach to understand the relationship between online problematic gaming, defense mechanisms, and psychopathological symptoms

ABSTRACT Problematic gaming (PG) refers to a dysfunctional pattern of online gaming behaviour that negatively affects individual functioning. The present study adopted a network analysis approach to investigate the patterns of reciprocal associations between PG, defense mechanisms, and psychopathological symptoms. Participants were 1,036 adult Italian online video game players (Mage = 29.94, SD = 8.85; females = 388) who completed self-report questionnaires. We used a regularised partial correlation network analysis (EBICglasso) to investigate the network structure of the relationships among PG, defense mechanisms, and psychopathological symptoms. Centrality measures were computed. The highly influential nodes in the network concerned both psychological symptoms (anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms) and defense mechanisms (projection and autistic fantasy). Furthermore, the escapism feature of PG was detected as a prominent bridge symptom in the network. Our findings suggest that negative affect and immature defense mechanisms might play a pivotal role in PG, and that withdrawal in the virtual world may also exacerbate psychological symptoms. Therefore, better understanding the role of escapism and related immature defenses in PG might have important implications for theory and clinical practice.

Who Am I Inside the Screen? Construction of Virtual Identity in Multiplayer Online Videogames and Its Psychological Functions.

Virtual environments like online videogames offer increasingly more people the opportunity to socialize purely within the digital plane. These interactions, often done through customizable avatars, have brought about the concept of the "virtual-self," understood as the multiple identities that can be expressed in virtual environments. This can take many forms and fulfill different psychological roles, from portraying the individual's ideal-self to allowing them to explore what it feels like to be someone completely different. In this study, we used a constructivist perspective to put forward a typology of the different ways in which players construe their virtual identities in online videogames. We administered the repertory grid technique to 202 online videogame players to measure their perceived discrepancies between their actual-self (how they see themselves), ideal-self (how they wish to be), and virtual-self (how they see their main character in a game of their choice). After conducting a cluster analysis, we found three main patterns of virtual-self construal. The projection-type, where players with a high actual-ideal discrepancy created a virtual character resembling their ideal-self; the exploration-type, where players with a lower actual-ideal discrepancy tended to create a character that was different from both their actual and ideal selves; and the proximal-type, where players created characters that were similar to their actual-self. This typology can be a useful resource for any videogame research that wishes to include an identity perspective, as well as in the diagnosis and treatment of internet gaming disorder.

Mainland China's 2021 restrictions on under-18s' video game time were imposed when older 2019 restrictions already applied: Omitting the historical regulatory context is misleading.

Investigating the impacts of addiction policymaking following implementation is important. Effective policies should be considered for emulation elsewhere, whilst ineffective policies should be repealed. Zhou etal. (2024) reported how Mainland Chinese under-18s responded to the 2021 restrictions on their online videogame playtime, which were intended to curb online gaming addiction. However, Zhou etal. failed to mention that Mainland China had previously tried to achieve the same regulatory aim by imposing rules in 2019 that were more lenient than the 2021 rules but nonetheless restricted under-18s' gameplay time. These 2019 restrictions were neither acknowledged as crucial background in the introduction section nor accounted for by Zhou etal. when interpreting their results, thus giving readers the incorrect impression that the 2021 rules were the first ones introduced and that under-18s' gameplay time was not restricted at all prior to 2021. Importantly, Zhou etal.'s entire sample of young people therefore consisted not merely of 'heavy gamers' as they euphemistically described them as, but'counterplayers' who actively contravened the 2019 rules. The misleading omission of this context is a major limitation and misrepresentation. The results should be interpreted accordingly and not overgeneralised.

Komparasi Visual Karakter Hero Video Game Mobile Legends dan Arena of Valor

Video games have become a medium of entertainment that is needed by almost everyone. One of the most popular categories of online video games today is MOBA. Mobile Legends and Arena of Valor are examples of the most played MOBA games. These two games are similar in the visual aspect of their hero characters because they are inspired by predecessor characters such as legendary figures, mythological creatures, or even inspired by categories of creatures on earth which are then combined with humans. Mobile Legends has 4 hero characters that are visually similar to Arena of Valor. This makes both games modify, add, or even change the visual elements of each hero to avoid plagiarism. The modification of these heroes makes each character have its own impression/value. Analysis of visual elements is carried out by comparing the visuals of heroes from two games that are similar using matrix system theory so that the impression/value created by each visual can be found. The results of the visual analysis of the heroes of the two games that have been compared will determine which visual character is more suited to the impression presented.

Influence of parental mediation and social skills on adolescents' use of online video games for escapism: A cross-sectional study.

The widespread use of video games among adolescents has raised concerns about their impact on psychological and social development. This study aimed to assess the effects of different types of parental mediation on adolescents' tendency to use video games to avoid negative emotions and determine the relationship between adolescents' interpersonal skills and their reliance on online video games for escapism. Participants were 452 adolescents from 15 middle and high schools. Data on sociodemographic information, gaming habits, parental control of online gaming, interpersonal skills, and reasons for playing online games were also collected. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the data, with online video game escapism as the dependent variable. Results supported the study's hypothesis that both parental mediation and adolescent interpersonal skills significantly predict the use of online video games for escapism. Higher levels of parental monitoring were associated with a lower tendency of adolescents to use video games to escape negative emotions, while parental mediation supporting autonomy showed a similar but weaker protective effect. At the same time, parental monitoring was also found to be associated with lower interpersonal skills, notably higher impulsivity, narcissism, and stress in social situations. In addition, adolescents with higher levels of impulsivity were more likely to use video games for escapism. These findings highlight the importance of balanced parental involvement and the development of adolescents' social skills to mitigate the risks of problematic online gaming. Interventions should promote effective parental mediation strategies and enhance adolescents' interpersonal skills to reduce their tendency to use video games as a coping mechanism for real-life challenges. Effective parental mediation and improved interpersonal skills are critical for promoting healthier gaming habits and reducing adolescent escapism.

How To Tame a Toxic Player? A Systematic Literature Review on Intervention Systems for Toxic Behaviors in Online Video Games

Toxic behavior is known to cause harm in online games. Players regularly experience negative, hateful, or inappropriate behavior. Interventions, such as banning players or chat message filtering, can help combat toxicity but are not widely available or even comprehensively studied regarding their approaches and evaluations. We conducted a systematic literature review that provides insights into the current state of interventions literature, outlining their strengths and shortcomings. We identified 36 interventions and qualitatively analyzed their approaches. We describe the types of toxicity being addressed, the entities through which they act, the methods used by intervention systems, and how they are evaluated. Our results provide guidance for future interventions, outlining a design space based on known systems. Furthermore, our findings highlight gaps in the literature, e.g., a sparsity of empirical evaluations, and underexplored areas in the design space, enabling researchers to explore novel directions for future interventions.

Правовой анализ доходных видеоигр

The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth legal analysis of the phenomenon of profitable video games, the copyright holders of which, unlike the owners of online computer games of previous generations, recognise the copyright of users in the works created or processed by them, and provide players with the opportunity to dispose of their intellectual rights to make a profit. The work employs scientific methods to analyse contentious relationships in the legal aspects of profitable video games and compares different approaches to their regulation. The fundamental legal differences in the conditions for using free and profitable video games have been identified and analysed. The paper provides the systematisation and discloses the legal nature of methods players use to generate income within network computer games. The research discovers the legal, organisational, and economic reasons and risks leading to the non-recognition of user copyrights and the imposition of a ban on their disposal by copyright holders of free video games. A mechanism has been discovered and disclosed that allowed the owners of profitable video games to eliminate intellectual and legal risks, recognise gamers’ copyrights to the works they created and launch the legal circulation of rights to them. The work analyses the model for using the blockchain infrastructure and non-fungible tokens as its elements for fixing and disposing of rights to user-generated gaming artefacts. The smart contract as the legal instrument of blockchain platforms is critically analysed. Authors made their proposals to improve the legal efficiency of a smart contract by adding a system of standard public licenses. The scientific novelty of the work lies in explaining the legal nature of the phenomenon of profitable video games and the mechanism for disposing of copyrights within them, as well as in proving the absence of identity between a profitable video game and such an object of special regulation as gambling. The practical significance of the article consists in the applicability of its results for improving the legal regulation in the context of the complication of the ecosystem, the growth of the market and the scale of the audience of online computer games.

How expansion to the Nintendo Switch impacts PC players’ game usage and spending: A study of an omni-channel strategy

Offering multiple retail channels for browsing and purchasing—an omni-channel strategy—is a well-established approach for modern retailers. This strategy is also increasingly adopted by ‘online-first' digital services such as social media and video gaming to expand consumer reach and enhance customer engagement. However, unlike the potential complementary relationships between physical and digital channels, it is unclear whether a firm’s channel expansion within the digital area (e.g., online to mobile) benefits firms or merely redistributes existing demand without growth. Using the context of a major online video game, we assess whether creating a mobile console version of an existing PC-based game causes meaningful behavioral changes among existing users. We find that mobile console adoption significantly impacts mobile channel adopters’ engagement, with a 31% increase in games played and a 6.9% increase in voluntary spending. Further analysis reveals that mobile console adopters enjoy the game over a broader range of hours, suggesting increased (ubiquitous) access is the mechanism behind this positive impact. Additionally, mobile adopters make more frequent purchases, although they do not necessarily spend more per purchase. We also observe that the impact of the mobile game is more pronounced among players at high risk of churning and those with sparse voluntary spending. Finally, our analysis shows that new mobile players experience a slight but significant dip in in-game performance. This finding suggests a need for game developers to help players mitigate the downside risk of transitioning between two distinct user environments.

Estereotipos de género y videojuegos online en jóvenes universitarios de la ciudad de La Paz

Gender stereotypes (GE) are beliefs related to the ought and/or behaviors of men and women that perpetuate gender discrimination in different spaces; one of these is the virtual world. Where Dota-LOL online video games are found. Thus, the objective of this article is to know what attributes are assigned by young university students to the characters and to identify the beliefs attributed to the female characters. From a qualitative ap proach that assumes subjective reality, a deep and reflective analysis, 11 interviews were conducted. Confirming that in this type of video games women are assigned related roles: care, empathy, weakness; to men: leadership, aggressiveness, coldness, protector.

Evaluation of the impact of an online video game as an educational intervention on sexual health and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infection: A randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundThe incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is increasing, especially among young people. Tools are needed to increase knowledge about sex education and STI prevention and treatment. Gamification can be a good training tool for both young people and health professionals. The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of a training intervention on STI prevention, detection, and treatment in primary care professionals.Methods/designMulticentre cluster randomized controlled trial.Groups of primary care professionals will receive an intervention (online video game on sex education and STIs [SEXIT]) and will be compared with control groups that will not receive the intervention. Group assignments will be randomized by clusters.The study will consist of a pre-post evaluation of the intervention: a knowledge test will be administered before and after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention. This test will also be carried out on the same time sequence in the control groups. The impact of the training intervention will be assessed over a 6-month period, focusing on various variables associated with the clinical management of STIs. This evaluation entails the clinical records of diagnostic tests and antibiotic prescriptions related to the clinical approach to STIs.The required sample size is 262 (131 per group).DiscussionCompared with those in the control group, improvements in knowledge and clinical behavioural outcomes after the intervention are expected for participants in the intervention groups. We plan to develop an educational video game to increase the knowledge about sexuality, STIs and violence.Protocol registered at ISRCTN with reference number ISRCTN17783607.

“You Feel Like You’ve Found a Place Where You Belong”: Symbolic Interactionism and Online Social Video Games in the Age of COVID-19

This paper investigates how players perceive and understand the sociality afforded by online social video games (OSGs), framed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing data from semi-structured interviews ( n = 20), we apply Blumer’s concept of symbolic interactionism to explore the ways in which video games take on new meanings in co-constructed, collaborative and contributory digital spaces. We argue (a) that games offer a meaningful social experience, (b) that this sociality flourishes due to the perceived lack of social risk particularly due to OSG characteristics of perceived or real anonymity, (c) that this works to facilitate social development, and (d) that these characteristics were valuable in the context of a pandemic at a time of reduced social interaction. Our contribution shows that online video game spaces alter the risk profile of forming and maintaining connections by reframing interaction as the cooperation toward shared goals.

Gaming with a Feminist: Sexism and Perception of Sexist Incidents in Online Video Games

Gaming with a Feminist: Sexism and Perception of Sexist Incidents in Online Video Games

Legal nature of the metaverse

Representing a network of virtual worlds, the metaverse ultimately forms a complex object of legal regulation due to the possibility of its normalization according to the provisions of different branches of law. The present work sets out to reveal the legal nature of the metaverse from a legal perspective. The selected methodology for determining its legal nature consists in comparing objects that are similar to the metaverse, but are already regulated by legal provisions. Such objects include the Internet, websites, multiplayer online video games, and virtual space in general. In order to identify their similarities and differences, the metaverse is compared to the specified objects. While the multifaceted nature of the metaverse permits its definition from a Russian legal perspective as information, as an object of intellectual property, or as a means of communication, the metaverse resembles the compared objects only in the most general way, while their differences are so significant that reducing its legal nature to only one of them does not fully account for its salient characteristics. By analogy with other spatial categories, but taking into account its specific features, the metaverse can be considered as a virtual space sui generis. While there is a lack of current legal regulation to support such a conclusion, future legislation of the metaverse should be built with this in mind.

Trustworthy High-Performance Multiplayer Games with Trust-but-Verify Protocol Sensor Validation.

Multiplayer online video games are a multibillion-dollar industry, to which widespread cheating presents a significant threat. Game designers compromise on game security to meet demanding performance targets, but reduced security increases the risk of potential malicious exploitation. To mitigate this risk, game developers implement alternative security sensors. The alternative sensors themselves become a liability due to their intrusive and taxing nature. Online multiplayer games with real-time gameplay are known to be difficult to secure due to the cascading exponential nature of many-many relationships among the components involved. Behavior-based security sensor schemes, or referees (a trusted third party), could be a potential solution but require frameworks to obtain the game state information they need. We describe our Trust-Verify Game Protocol (TVGP), which is a sensor protocol intended for low-trust environments and designed to provide game state information to help support behavior-based cheat-sensing detection schemes. We argue TVGP is an effective solution for applying an independent trusted referee capability to trust-lacking subdomains and demands high-performance requirements. Our experimental results validate high efficiency and performance standards for TVGP. We identify and discuss the operational domain assumptions of the TVGP validation testing presented here.

Motives for Playing Video Games as Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Croatian Players of Online Video Games

Motives for Playing Video Games as Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Croatian Players of Online Video Games

Pathways Into, Desistance From, and Risk Factors Related to Cyber-Dependent Crime: A Systematic Narrative Review

ABSTRACT Cyber-dependent crime is a growing global threat. However, research on cybercrime offending throughout the life course, especially on the factors leading to initiation and desistance of cyber-dependent crime remains underdeveloped. This paper synthesizes the literature on pathways into, desistance from, and risk factors related to cyber-dependent crime (hacking, malware, and DDoS attacks), and identifies research gaps. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a systematic search and identified 86 eligible documents published as of February 2022. Results reveal a pathway into hacking through interest in technology and online videogames, which continues with social learning from peers involved in hacking activities, and thus leads to the world of cybercrime. Desistance from this pathway is influenced by a cost-benefit analysis and maturing. We also identified 27 risk factors for the initiation process in cyber-offending that are consistent in the literature. The most significant ones were being young, male, having low self-control, deviant peers, and frequently using the Internet.

Exploring the Potential of Video Games in Enhancing Language Learning

In the past few years, computer games have become popular as immersive language learning tools which help students to improve their language skills. This paper seeks to find out if video games can be used to improve language learning and to see the positive aspects of video games for this task. The participant for this research is based on 58 participants who had taken an English language class at a university in Johor; from which eight volunteers were selected for the interview. In our study we used mixed-method approach, and a survey was carried out by asking students questions about their general perceptions of the usage of video games for learning in the English language as well as getting to know challenges that students are facing while using these games to practice the language. Overall, they had a positive attitude towards video games in an educational environment. The findings highlight the significance of putting technology integration into education since online video games are a very convenient tool in stimulating their active participation learning English and communicative diversity.

Playing online videogames-more than just entertainment? A qualitative study of virtual social participation in persons with spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects many aspects of life, physically, emotionally and socially. Engaging in online videogames holds the potential to facilitate increased social interactions for individuals with SCI. The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of the experiences people with SCI have with using online videogames as an arena for social participation. A focus group interview was conducted with seven participants with SCI, aged 15-35, all experienced in using online videogames as a method of socializing. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The participants highlighted that playing online videogames way of maintaining social connections and expanding their social network. However, they faced challenges due to limited knowledge and negative attitudes from others regarding use of videogames as a social arena. Three main themes were developed from the findings: "Disabling social barriers", "Attitudes towards gaming" and "Gaming-connecting people". Healthcare professionals should consider videogames as a leisure activity and facilitate their use, recognizing their potential for social interaction and well-being. Prioritizing activities that promote social interaction is crucial for good health.