The document discusses the relationship between pen-and-paper role playing games (RPGs) and massively multiplayer online RPGs (MMORPGs) within the German fantasy fandom and RPG scene. It notes tensions between those who see MMORPGs as replacing pen-and-paper RPGs by being easier and those who feel they lack opportunities for rich role playing and artistic self-expression. It finds the fantasy fandom has fragmented with different values and practices across online and offline communities for single MMORPGs and pen-and-paper RPGs. The adoption of the internet is disruptive to these communities as with other social groups.

1. A Storm in Dream Park
the virtualisation of the german
fantasy role-playing scene
Sebastian Deterding
Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research
Internet Research 11.0, Gothenborg, 15.10.2010
c b n

2. Research background

3. • Many studies on individual virtual(ized)
fandom communities, few on relations
and virtualisation of communities
• Assumed happy marriage of Fantasy
fandom and MMORPGs
• Assumed happy marriage of fandom
and the Internet in general
Starting points

4. The German RPG Scene
fantasy fandom
rpg scene
larp

5. • Ca. 450.000, in steep decline since late
1990s
• Focus: transportation into fantastic
transmedia worlds through shared
production and reception of artefacts,
practices and media
• Two value poles: immersionist vs.
hedonist
The German RPG scene

7. The perfect Dream Park?

8. Do MMORPGs Kill Pen-and-Paper?

9. Do MMORPGs Kill Pen-and-Paper?
»Nothing against MMORPGs, but ... I see a
black future for good old RPG with pen and
paper *whine*.
Reason: Youngsters are simply lazy, and
media sensory overload destroys their
imagination.«

10. • Split between hedonist and immersionist
• Conflict narrative: MMORPGs and TCGs
siphoning off young players and money
• Conservative media critique: MMORPGs
as convenient, dumbed-down, shallow,
passive, isolating
• Romanticist techno-criticism: No space
for artistic self-expression in MMORPGs
Reactions in the P&P community

11. • Distinct P&P playing style: rich in
reference, proper »in-character«
behaviours
• Self-segregation into »Role-Play
Intensive« servers
In-MMORPG differentiation

12. The Eternal September
http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/September-that-never-ended.html

13. MMORPGs and the RPG Scene
fantasy fandom
rpg scene
larp
mmorpg 1 scene
mmorpg 2 scene
mmorpg 3 scene

14. • Fantasy/RPG fandom is a varied
landscape differentiated by values and
practices online and offline
• Single MMORPGs and P&P RPG
players form distinct communities
• Adoption of Internet is potentially just
as disruptive to fandom communities as
other social groupings and institutions
Conclusions

15. Thanks.
sebastian@codingconduct.cc
@dingstweets
codingconduct.cc
License: Creative Commons by-nc/3.0