Socialization and sociability of online video gamers in Singapore

• Main Author: Lin, Sijie
• Other Authors: Sam Han
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Social behavior
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70020
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper examines the socialization and sociability of typical online video gamers. Qualitative interviews with 12 undergraduates who spend 15 to 25 hours per week on online video games played on a personal computer coupled with participant observation on three selected game titles show that in-game socialization can vary for different gamers, leading to different outcomes for their online and offline sociability as well as social circles. Mixed results both support and challenge existing public perception of gamers, which are often negatively portrayed in popular discourse. This paper contributes to the field of socialization and sociability in sociology and fills a gap in existing research of online video gamers in Singapore.