an article by Tom Brock and Emma Fraser (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK) published in Information, Communication & Society Volume 21 Issue 9 (2018)
Abstract
This article applies sociological theories of ‘craft’ to computer gaming practices to conceptualise the relationship between play, games, and labour.
Using the example of the game Dota 2, as both a competitive esport title and a complex game based around a shared practice, this article examines the conditions under which the play of a computer game can be considered a ‘craft’. In particular, through the concept of ‘prehension’, we dissect the gameplay activity of Dota 2, identifying similarities with how the hand practices craft labour.
We identify these practices as ‘contact’, ‘apprehension’, ‘language acquisition’ and ‘reflection’. We argue that players develop these practices of the hand to make sense of the game’s rules and controls. From this perspective, it is the hand that initiates experiences of craft within computer gameplay, and we offer examples of player creativity and experimentation to evidence its labour.
The article concludes with a discussion on the need for future research to examine the quality of gaming labour in the context of esports.
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