Online games as 'third places'
by Zack Stern 
{ Sep 20th 2006 at 5:55PM }
The latest issue of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication includes an article exploring how MMOs are becoming "third places." This established term comes from home and work being the first two places people people congregate; Starbucks credits much of its sprawl on exploiting the coffee shop as a third place, rather than pushing customers out the door.Assistant professors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign extensively discuss how we're meeting each other more often in game worlds. They say the interaction gives a useful sense of community and may even be replacing physical third places. The writers argue that while the online communities aren't the same as those in-person, they shouldn't be dismissed as unimportant.
We've always enjoyed the multiplayer aspects of gaming and playing games with friends, even if just passing off the controller. With frequent press about games and MMOs as the latest scapegoat, we like seeing articles like this taking a deeper look into into how these worlds are constructive.
[Via del.icio.us]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben18 @ Sep 20th 2006 7:46PM
I've been in my guild for over a year now, and I'd consider a few of my online friends as close as my 'real' friends. My bro actually spends more time on WoW than I do (about 6-8 hours a night usually every day of the week). I know that is insanely unhealthy, but often times he (as in his character) is just standing around chatting in ventrillo. Some of my guildies live in California, I'm in Az, and we've thought about meeting up sometime to have a lan party. So all I'm saying is mmo's really can become a 3rd world or real to many of us, and I wish mainstream people could understand that.
Miharu @ Sep 20th 2006 7:59PM
I don't think the third place can only be online games, but online communities also. Like IRC and message boards. I also mostly enjoy in WoW and Ragnarok Online (I don't play that anymore) when I'm just chatting and having good time with my friends in the game.
V1L3 @ Sep 20th 2006 8:21PM
These guys are WAY behind. "Third Place" is soooo late 90's.
The whole advertising campaign for the PS2 in Europe and the Pacific was based on the slogan "Playstation 2 - The Third Place."
Soon to be superseded by Nintendo's new slogan for Wii, "Nintendo - Probably in Third Place Again."
RevJonathan @ Sep 20th 2006 9:49PM
3-
While I disagree with Nintendo being in third....still clever.
kuri @ Sep 21st 2006 3:58AM
I found this article intriguing, and it really does put MMORPGs into perspective as a place we frolick to for non-binding interactivity.
The main difference between Lineage 2 and Halo 2, if I may pick two random separate-genre games, is that third party attachment is much greater in the former by design. Halo 2 is mostly match-up-and-play from what I have experienced, with light social interaction in game lobbies, friend list messages, and occasional clan interaction. Within MMORPGs, by contrast, you have a guild mechanic built-in, which supports this extremely complex bridging/bonding relationship described in the article.
In my opinion, the guild mechanic is what makes the game a third place in a stronger sense than any online FPS currently released, disregarding a few exceptional clans.
I've been in the game world, and I can attest- MMORPGs are the new gathering spot for the young and old, casual and hardcore, male and female, etc. just how bars, arcades, clubs, and movie theaters act as these in real life.
But anyway, read the article. It's long, but worth it.
Hazywood @ Sep 21st 2006 4:06AM
@ 3&4
You both misunderstand what is meant by the "third place." Illustration below (Note: by "We" I mean Americans).
Think of two different people whom, if you saw them together, would incline you to a) do a double take, b) call the police, or c) shatter your reality. For instance, with choice b, a young child and someone who does not look like his/her father might cause you to call in a missing child. The third place is a location where seeing any sort of this combination together wouldn't be so strange; where meeting new people *is* the norm, rather than happy random chance. It's kind of like meeting people at a bar, only you might meet just about anyone rather than someone you're looking to buy a drink for.
If you're having trouble imagining this kind of place you're probably from the US (and this is why the study is significant enough to make the press rounds). As a nation, we tend to be much more isolated from our neighbors than our counterparts in other countries. We don't places the tendency is to meet new people for the sake of it. We lack Italian piazzas or French cafes or random encounters at crowded eateries in Mexico where any random two people might drop what they're doing to say hello and meet a new face.
Academics have actually been spending a decent amount of time fretting about where all the communities have gone in America. That two researchers found them in MMO's is actually pretty significant.
Ndric @ Sep 21st 2006 7:38AM
Don't kid yourselves.
virtuadept @ Sep 21st 2006 9:32AM
Articles like this always crack me up. Online gaming is no replacement for meeting real people in person. Period. All of this talk about "gaming communities" and stuff is just an excuse for people to not feel bad about being socially inept rejects of the real world. I may be in the same boat but at least I realize it's the SS Minnow and not the Love Boat or even Carnival Liberty.