Play Game
Play Game
 |
 Sony PlayStation Vita Latest Model Black Handheld System Wi Fi  US $200.00
|
 Sony PSP 3001 PlayStation Portable System Black US $53.00
|
 Sony PSP 2000 Piano Black Handheld System BUNDLE US $49.99
|
 Nintendo Wii New Super Mario Bros Pack Red Console NTSC Extra Games US $100.00
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink Handheld System US $9.00
|
 Nintendo Wii White Console NTSC US $300.00
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Onyx Black Handheld System TWO GAMES BUNDLE US $49.99
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt and Black Handheld System US $56.00
|
 Nintendo 64 Console System w Controller and Wires COMPLETE Free Shipping US $64.99
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Crimson Black Handheld System Excellent Condition US $89.00
|
 Play Station 2 with 14 games included US $36.01
|
 Broken PlayStation 3 40 GB US $25.00
|
 Nintendo Wii Bundle 5 Games 2 Mario Kart Wheels Wii Motion Plus WOW US $88.09
|
 Nintendo ds lite with naruto covers US $46.00
|
 Broken PS3 40 GB US $25.00
|
 Nintendo DSi Black Handheld System US $50.00
|
 Nintendo GAMECUBE Black Console system NTSC 2 US $20.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade 512 MB White Console 3 Red Rings RROD NTSC US $9.98
|
 RARE 1982 ColecoVision System NEW in Box NEVER OPENED Coleco Vision US $999.00
|
 PS3 Uncharted Bundle 33 Games 2 Controllers 2 Controller Chargers HDMI US $305.00
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Crimson Black Handheld System FREE SHIP DOESNT POWER ON US $19.00
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 PS3 40 GB Console NTSC CECH G01 US $102.50
|
 NAMCO MS PAC MAN PLUG PLAY TV GameJakksGalaga Mappy Xevious andn US $19.99
|
 Sony PlayStation Vita Latest Model Black Handheld System Wi Fi Auction 1 US $212.50
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 160 GB Charcoal Black Console US $147.50
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 Slim Latest Model 160 GB Charcoal Black Console NTSC US $410.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Latest Model Halo Reach and Fable 3 250 GB Matte Black US $200.00
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 Slim Latest Model 320 GB Charcoal Black Console CECH 2501B US $202.50
|
 Sony PlayStation Vita Latest Model Black Handheld System Wi Fi Auction 2 US $188.00
|
 Nintendo Wii With Games controller and Charging Kit Works GREAT Bundle US $99.99
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim 4 GB Black Console with controller and Game US $180.00
|
 Sony Playstation 3 PS3 Piano Fat CECH G01 Upgraded To 60GB 276 Firmware US $255.00
|
 Nintendo Game Boy Color Lime Green Handheld System US $15.95
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim Latest Model 4 GB Black Console NTSC US $152.50
|
 Nintendo Game Boy Color Atomic Purple Handheld System US $9.99
|
 BUNDLE ORIGINAL MICROSOFT XBOX 8GB VIDEO GAME GAMING CONSOLE HALO W CONTROLLERS US $74.99
|
 Nintendo® DS Lite Crimson RED Handheld System US $29.95
|
 Nintendo Wii White Console NTSC Bundle US $750.00
|
 NEW Sealed Nintendo 3DS Aqua Blue System US US $150.00
|
 Sony PSP 1001 Black Handheld System with 1 game Smackdown vs Raw 2009 US $94.99
|
 SONY PLAYSTATION 3 PS3 60GB PIANO BLACK CONSOLE BACKWARDS COMPATABLE US $230.00
|
 Nintendo DSi for parts bad screen US $16.38
|
 Nintendo NES Action Set Gray Console NTSC US $37.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim Latest Model 250 GB Matte Black Console PAL US $152.50
|
 SEGA SATURN CONSOLE 29 GAMES RESIDET EVIL PANZER DRAGOON D SPORTS US $106.00
|
 Sony PlayStation PCH 1101 Vita Portable Game Console US $138.27
|
 BROKEN 80GB SONY PLAYSTATION 3 PS3 FOR PARTS OR A FIX WITH CABLES US $64.95
|
 Nintendo DS Lite White Handheld System WITH ORIGINAL BOX w neoprene case US $70.00
|
 Nintendo Game Boy Advance Jasco Special Edition Glacier Handheld System US $10.00
|
 NIB Zone 3D Interactive Gaming Console Super Bundle 100 Games Included US $24.99
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink Handheld System WITH ORIGINAL BOX w neoprene case US $70.00
|
 Nintendo Wii White Console NTSC LOT US $99.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim 4 GB Black Console NTSC Bundle US $140.00
|
 Nintendo DS Black Handheld System BROKEN Power Switch Battery Included US $12.50
|
 Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Pearl Blue Handheld System PLUS HOT WHEELS Game US $20.00
|
 Sony PSP 3000 Piano Black Handheld System WITH little big planet and fifa soccer US $80.00
|
 Microsoft RKB 00001 XBOX 360 4GB Console US $103.50
|
 Sony PlayStation 2 Slim Charcoal Black Console Large Bundle US $29.99
|
 Nintendo DSi Light Blue Handheld System 2 Games US $84.66
|
 Nintendo DSi White Handheld TESTED US $41.09
|
 Nintendo 64 Smoke Grey Console used with 3 games US $27.00
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 40 GB Console US $152.50
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 320GB Console Slim Black US $141.19
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 60 GB Piano Black Console NTSC Guaranteed to work US $131.50
|
 Playstation 3 40 GB disassembled all parts works US $16.59
|
 Sony PSP 2000 Piano Black Handheld System US $41.07
|
 LeapFrog Enterprises Leapster2 Learning Game System Green Handheld US $18.50
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 White Works 100 Comes with all Cords US $120.00
|
 Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Silver Handheld US $16.00
|
 Nintendo Wii Black Console NTSC US $107.50
|
 TURQUOISE GAMEBOY COLOR W POKEMON YELLOW Pokemon Yellow needs refurbishing US $14.91
|
 Nintendo Wii White Console NEW US $129.99
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 60gb system CECHA01REFURBISHED US $99.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360Modded White Console US $300.00
|
 The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina of Time Nintendo 3DS US $189.08
|
 Nintendo 3DS red BROKEN FOR PARTS US $56.00
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 80 GB Piano Black Console w 2 Games US $117.50
|
 Clear Purple Nintendo GAME BOY COLOR System TETRIS Game GBC NICE US $24.99
|
 SpongeBob SquarePants Jakks Pacific brand Plug n Play Game US $24.99
|
 Ms Pac Man Jakks Pacific brand Plug n Play US $33.99
|
 Nintendo DSi XL burgundy BROKEN FOR PARTS US $25.01
|
 4 xbox 360s US $100.00
|
 Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade 512 MB White Console NTSC US $30.00
|
 Nintendo DS Lite White Handheld System USED US $10.00
|
 Nintendo 3DS Latest Model Flame Red Handheld System NTSC US $107.50
|
 Nintendo DS Lite cobalt BROKEN FOR PARTS US $10.79
|
 xbox 360 broken rrod system only US $24.99
|
 Hannah Montana PlugPlay TV Game US $5.00
|
 Lot of 3 WORKING Sony PlayStation 2 Black Console NTSC SCPH 50001 N US $137.50
|
 A Great Ninentdo Wii Bundle US $76.00
|
 NINTENDO Wii CONSOLE GAME SYSTEM RVL 001 WHITE US $41.00
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 80 GB Piano Black Console PAL CECH K04 US $99.99
|
 Sony PlayStation 3 40 GB Console NTSC CECH G01 Complete Needs Repair NR US $54.00
|
 Nintendo DSi XL Bronze Handheld System US $63.00
|
 Nintendo DS Lite Onyx Black Handheld System US $95.00
|
"I PLAY GAME" SONG BY TAY ZONDAY
A short evaluation of the effect role playing games have on the formation of social networks by Joshua Swanson
Here I intend to examine how role playing games, in particular online role playing games, alters the social networks formed by those who play them. I will look at older pen and paper role play games (RPGs) such as Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) as well as newer games based on computers, such as Might and Magic and World of Warcraft.
A role play game is any game where the players assume a role other from that which they occupy in normal life. It is usually marked by some sort of special and unrealistic characteristic, such as a capacity for magical spells or cybernetic implants, neither of which is regularly available in ordinary life. There are many varieties of role play game, but the most popular and well known are those that descend from Dungeons and Dragons, so these are the ones I will be concerned with here.
Now the most popular games are computer games, of which an entire genre is devoted to RPGs, and which have become increasingly popular. The original dungeons and dragons, however, is what is known as a pen and paper game meaning that only a pen and paper is required to play it. As a side note, this is not in fact true- it also requires several dice. Still, in an era devoted increasingly to the computer, the older games remain surprisingly popular.
Pen and paper RPGs generally involve a small group of players, generally 4-7, gathering regularly to play. Because these games involve long term character progression, it makes it difficult to introduce new players to an ongoing campaign and so a group, once formed, rarely changes until it disbands. On the other hand, the close cooperation required of players in the game will serve to bring them closer together and form a strong sense of teamwork. This means that DnD players are usually much closer to each other then is usual for a group of friends, and so it can be very easy for one person to expand their network of contacts to include those of their friends. However, because at heart the purpose of the game remains playing out an entirely different character it is not unusual to find that it is used as a form of escapism, and the players prefer not to discuss their life outside. This serves to make them even more isolated because they build no contacts during the game, thus effectively wasting time that could have been used in another more inclusive hobby. In the end it depends on the characters of the players, and seems to have no impact other then to bring like-minded people together. So if the group is very social, it will greatly aid the expansion of their social networks. If it is introverted, then it will do nothing for them.
Computer games are an entirely different matter. Single Player Games such as Might and Magic may e dismissed out of hand, as they are no different then any other games and the impact of games as a whole is not under discussion. However, MMORPGs are a completely different matter. There are many forms of MMORPG, but without exception they allow or, more usually, encourage players to form player-run organisations. Usually called clans, or sometimes guilds, these organisations allow players to band together to aid each other and to compete with the other groups. Most of the players of these games use them as a form of escapism, fleeing from the drudgery of normal life to a place where their efforts are rewarded. In RPGs, everything you take visibly contributes to your growth as a player, and your status can instantly be seen by the items you use and your skills in combat. Once in the game, though, it is highly interactive and the anonymity provided by the internet encourages interaction on an equal level. It is easy to form friends, although such friendships are extremely fluid and liable to shift without warning. Clan members, however, usually form close bonds of mutual support, willingly lending a hand to another member or leaping to their defence.
Sometimes, although it is the exception rather then the rule, membership in a clan or friendships formed online will extend to real life. This is the exception because there are simply so many people, from all over the world, that it is highly unusual to meet someone online that lives geographically close to you. Still, many people do continue acquaintances formed in a game through instant messaging such as MSN messenger or ICQ. It isn't common for one player to introduce two others in an online game, because there is really no need nor reason to. Thus while a large number of contacts will be built up in the course of normal interactions, few of these will lead to a second level of contacts, and even fewer will ever be contacted to outside of the internet.
So the formation of social networks is greatly aided by playing online role play games, but this network is separate and distinct from the one occupied in real life, outside of the game. It is considered bad form to publish contact details or webpage addresses online, but friendships are often maintained through instant messaging. As instant messaging is also often used to maintain real life social links, this can lead to an overlap between the online and offline networks.
Pen and paper games have little effect on social networking, and are effectively no different then any other social club, but online games are something else. As more and more activities are carried out online, the dividing line between reality and cyberspace grows more diffuse and faded. So it should not appear unusual that networking is being carried along with the other activities into the online world. In conclusion, pen and paper games do nothing for networking that any other club does not, yet online role play games can have a tremendous impact enable a much larger pool of contacts to form within an entirely different society.
Written by Joshua Swanson, PHP programmer and sometime philosopher. You can read more of my stuff here, or check out my free MMORPG Qrealm
This and other unique social networking articles are availble from The Uber Article Directory - more than just a mere article repository.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/A-short-evaluation-of-the-effect-role-playing-games-have-on-the-formation-of-social-networks/51961
