Playful Communities

We explore the intersection of culture and technology in play spaces through attention to the emergent and co-creative practices of users as they engage with games and playful environments.

From multiplayer gaming to play in theme parks, we tackle how players work with and regularly extend the gaming environments they inhabit. Researching the theme of playful communities means not only looking at social practices in games, but the role of platforms and designed spaces, issues around governance and harassment, and forms of participatory engagement.

Projects in this thread include exploring massively multiplayer online games, esports and competitive gaming, live-streaming, and play in theme parks.