The Proteus Paradox: How Online Games and Virtual Worlds

The Proteus Paradox: How Online Games and Virtual Worlds Change Us—And How They Don't

Proteus, the mythical sea god who could alter his appearance at will, embodies one of the promises of online games: the ability to reinvent oneself. Yet inhabitants of virtual worlds rarely achieve this liberty, game researcher Nick Yee contends. Though online games evokeÂ freedom and escapism, Yee shows that virtual spaces perpetuate social norms and stereotypes from the offline world, transform play into labor, and inspire racial scapegoating and superstitious thinking. And the change that does occur is often out of our control and effected by unparalleledâ€”but rarely recognizedâ€”tools for controlling what players think and how they behave.

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Using player surveys, psychological experiments, and in-game data, Yee breaks down misconceptions about who plays fantasy games and the extent to which the online and offline worlds operate separately. With a wealth of entertaining and provocative examples, he explains what virtual worlds are about and why they matter, not only for entertainment but also for business and education. He uses gaming as a lens through which to examine the pressing question of what it means to be human in a digital world. His thought-provoking book is an invitation to think more deeply about virtual worlds and what they reveal to us about ourselves.
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Country USA
Manufacturer Yale University Press
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2013-12-04
Format Kindle eBook
EANs 9780300199291

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Yale University Press
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2013-12-04
Format	Kindle eBook
EANs	9780300199291

The Proteus Paradox: How Online Games and Virtual Worlds Change Us—And How They Don't

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