Gamers: A Study of Their Social Organization

Abstract

While the industry of gaming seems to be continuously growing within society, as does the number of gamers. This study aimed to investigate the structure and organization of gamers in their natural state. In doing so, an analysis on gaming logistics was conducted, as well as different styles of playing video games and why some may be preferred over others. However, the main focus of our research came with an analysis of gamer slang and language use in general. The popular streaming website Twitch and the video game Overwatch were used to collect most of the observational data on language and slang. Our analysis showed that public gaming lobbies are toxic environments, especially games in which communication is key, such as Overwatch. Analysis also proved that gaming slang is an important part of the social organization of this group of society. This slang is quite common on websites such as Twitch, Discord, and Reddit in communities in which gaming is consistently present. In conclusion, this study showcases the steps necessary to become a gamer, how many of these gamers enjoy gaming, the structure of the gaming community, and, perhaps most importantly, the presence of gamer slang and its importance of its recognition as the group is continuously increasing in its size.