Community of Iranian Game Nets: Features, Facilities and Communication Functions
Document Type : Scientific-Research Article
Authors
1 PhD in Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor of Communication and Propaganda Department, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Culture and Communication, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Associate Professor, Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Today, computer games have overtaken the Hollywood film industry, which Boellstroff believes that it should be called the gaming age. On the other hand, the communities that have emerged in the development of computer game technology in different societies and cultures, as a community, even in Iran, have such an attractive study and knowledge that the media field resulting from the presence of this new media should be considered by communication researchers and social researchers. Therefore, this article tries to answer the question that what are the characteristics, communication functions and facilities of game nets in Iranian society from a media and communication field of study? The researcher, based on the Participant observation method observed 35 game nets in Tehran and along with 53 semi-structured interviews with the users of these game nets, analyzed the obtained data using the content analysis method (Wolcott model). As a result, 10 types of game nets related to location, architecture and facilities were identified in Tehran. The superficiality and shallowing of group communication determine the strengthening of communication at the neighborhood level, and also provide gamers and administrators of these communities with at least 12 types of possibilities. This article, for the first time, provides a historical overview of the evolution of game nets in Iranian society, along with suggestions for policy makers in this field.
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