Last Post - Sexuality

Last Blog – Sexuality
While exploring the virtual world of WOW I couldn’t help to think that sexuality would be an issue in a game so violent and revolved around quest. But there are some sexual innuendos that vary among players. It’s nothing too explicit and nothing too revealing, but it’s a simple act that characters perform. Depending on the character either elf, oger, shaman, the characters performs elaborate dances that displays some kind of mutual interest toward the other. Or sometimes it can be a simple gesture to identify themselves as a friend and not a foe. Also I believe that sexuality and gender overlap. For female characters, they have the option to blow kisses at others, and from the discussions in class and the book reading we have learned that female characters are more prone to being a subject to protect while also receiving offerings of weapon upgrades and armor. Gender and sexuality overlap because the female characters are the only characters that blow kisses which I believe kids could identify as a girl trait. I did do a little research on the side as an attempt to obtain multiple views on sexuality in WoW. One article by Rick Nauert, suggested that 1 out of 3 players in WoW have found themselves to be attracted to another player. Through surveys Nauert has discovered that players feel more themselves online because they are not judged by their appearance, gender, age, or other personal information. The study found approximately 75% of players made “good friends” with someone else in the game environment. Characters in WoW may not be getting physical, but they sure seem to be venting or displaying information about themselves as they please. Individuals get to open up to others online without being face-to-face which allows them to escape embarrassment when something is of odd nature. WoW almost becomes a world wide web of chatting that is displayed through a virtual character. Nearly 40% said they would discuss sensitive issues with their online gaming friends, issues they wouldn’t discuss with their real-life friends. Women were more likely to do so then men. I believe the biggest factor in online gaming is that it allows people to express themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in real life. Sexuality is not necessarily displayed through the acts of the virtual players, but through online chatting that stems from virtual participation of fulfilling a quest.

WarCraft

The virtual world that I chose was World of Warcraft. I have seen advertisement just about everywhere, but I have never taken the time to actually explore the game. I’m a fan of JRR Tolkien and Robert Jordan books, so I figured I could handle a fantasy world of trolls, elves, fairies, dwarves. I started off by creating a character. Since the game is centered on quests and War, gamers have the option to either join a good or evil side. I chose the evil side because I am somewhat of an artist. I draw demons and pictures of things unknown, but mostly dark and gruesome like the characters on the dark side. I’m NOT crazy! But I thought the characters on the Evil side looked more appealing. I chose a bull like character naming him Psychochops. Psychochops stands on two legs with three long strands of braided facial hair. He has a ring in his nose and carries a large mallet. I could either be a hunter, shaman, healer, or warrior. I chose the warrior. I had the choice to change his skin color, horn color, facial expressions, but nothing about age. I started the game by roaming and conversing with other gamers. I guess they were kids because some of the characters just stood there and said nothing… but eventually would run away. Some talked to me, but they were short conversations and really I just wanted to fight. I don’t play video games and the one’s I played in the past were violent games. With a name like Warcraft I figured that’s what you do…. Fight. I quickly got bored conversing with the others so I decided to explore the terrain. As soon as I got out of my little territory a prairie dog came out of the woods and mauled me. I wasn’t even in the world for 5 minutes and I died. Not quite sure what the point of the game is. Maybe group participation to achieve a goal? There was an option about joining a quest but I couldn’t find the right person to deal me one. Does anyone think that Warcraft could serve as educational medium for children?