3. Study on Digital Diaspora in MMORPG

Title(KR)

• MMORPG에 나타난 디지털 디아스포라 연구

Title(ENG)

• Study on Digital Diaspora in MMORPG

Keywords(KR)

• digital diaspora MMORPG, EVE Online, virtual community, hybridity

Keywords(ENG)

• digital diaspora MMORPG, EVE Online, virtual community, hybridity

Author

• Hye-won Han, and Halla Jeeae Ko

Abstract(ENG)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze Digital Diaspora phenomenon in Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. MMORPG is the online virtual world that users perform diverse nationalities and identities simultaneously. EVE Online (CCP Games, 2003) differs from the other MMORPGs since it has only one server which allows players to form continuous virtual communities in EVE Universe. Using Arjun Appadurai’s global imagination as the methodology, this paper questions about the identities of players as organically linked, transnational, and deterritorial. There are two notions of diaspora: Classic Diaspora and Post Human Diaspora. This paper argues that the Digital Diaspora of MMORPG shows the aspects of Post Human Diaspora. Therefore, MMORPG not only reflects the social realities but also suggests alternative realities. With Diasporic characteristics of the virtual space, players of EVE become transnational citizen who have hybrid identity that can embrace diversities.

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