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Learning Conversations in World of Warcraft
Bonnie A.
Nardi, Stella Ly, and Justin Harris
University of California, Irvine
forthcoming in Proc.
HICSS 2007
Abstract
We examine learning culture in a popular online
game, World of Warcraft.
We analyze the...
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1
Learning Conversations in World of Warcraft
Bonnie A.
Nardi, Stella Ly, and Justin Harris
University of California, Irvine
forthcoming in Proc.
HICSS 2007
Abstract
We examine learning culture in a popular online
game, World of Warcraft.
We analyze the way
players learn this complex game through chat
conversation with peers.
We describe three kinds
of learning: fact finding, devising
tactics/strategy, and acquiring game ethos.
We
investigate learning in the zone of proximal
development as specified in cultural-historical
activity theory.
We examine the emotional tenor
of learning conversations, noting their drama,
humor, and intimacy.
1.
Introduction
World of Warcraft is one of the most
popular online video games, with 6.
5 million
active subscribers in North America, Asia, and
Europe [1].
Produced by Blizzard Entertainment,
it is a massively multiplayer online game
(MMOG) in which players are connected
through the Internet in persistent worlds.
Players
develop characters th
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