Exploring the Edge of Good Taste Playful Misconduct & Mischief in Online Games Ben Kirman, Conor Linehan & Shaun Lawson

Warning!? Some possibly offensive content

Playful Misconduct Anti-Social Behaviour Anti-Social Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour

Acceptable Behaviour Politeness, Courtesy in Social Interactions Fair Dealings Trustworthiness, Honour Politeness, Courtesy in Social Interactions Fair Dealings Trustworthiness, Honour

Unacceptable Behaviour Genuinely Offensive Social Behaviours –Sexist, Racist, Homophobic Unfair dealings –Scamming (Confidence Tricks) –Thievery –Taking advantage of ignorance E.g. Newbies Genuinely Offensive Social Behaviours –Sexist, Racist, Homophobic Unfair dealings –Scamming (Confidence Tricks) –Thievery –Taking advantage of ignorance E.g. Newbies

Playful Misconduct - Through Nature Confounded Expectations: –A Blacksmith that only carves wood –A Wizard that does not believe in magic Refusing to conform to social norms –Naked or mismatched characters Confounded Expectations: –A Blacksmith that only carves wood –A Wizard that does not believe in magic Refusing to conform to social norms –Naked or mismatched characters

Playful Misconduct - Through Activity Subverting Environments –Releasing armies of wild animals in public places –Making mazes from furniture –“Corpse Graffiti” Subverting Game Mechanics –Orc Roleplay in Ultima Online –Sports e.g. “Bagball” Subverting Environments –Releasing armies of wild animals in public places –Making mazes from furniture –“Corpse Graffiti” Subverting Game Mechanics –Orc Roleplay in Ultima Online –Sports e.g. “Bagball”

“Wiener Schmäh” From Austrian tourism info: –“A good natured yet snide kind of banter” –“Originates from servants mockery of bourgeois masters” –“friendly, ironic source of naughtiness - roll with the punches and enjoy” From Austrian tourism info: –“A good natured yet snide kind of banter” –“Originates from servants mockery of bourgeois masters” –“friendly, ironic source of naughtiness - roll with the punches and enjoy”

Misconduct: Corpse Graffiti

Misconduct: “Sporn” “Spore” automatically shares creatures on Internet Created creatures appear in environments No direct communication Intent is not harmful but playful “Spore” automatically shares creatures on Internet Created creatures appear in environments No direct communication Intent is not harmful but playful

“Sporn”

…and Little Big Planet

…and Second Life

Even in Non-games (e.g. Nico Nico Douga)

Combating Anti-Social Behaviour Remove Racist, Sexist, Homophobic players and content Make a safer environment for everyone Provide tools for self-policing (guilds, safe areas) Remove Racist, Sexist, Homophobic players and content Make a safer environment for everyone Provide tools for self-policing (guilds, safe areas)

Combating by Policing Teams of Content Moderators Community Policing –Player Comments –“Report this Person” Teams of Content Moderators Community Policing –Player Comments –“Report this Person”

Combating by Design Limited Interactions –No Free Text, Limited Vocabulary –No User Generated Items Lack of Anonymity –Linked to Real Identity (e.g. Facebook) –Massive effect on behaviour Limited Interactions –No Free Text, Limited Vocabulary –No User Generated Items Lack of Anonymity –Linked to Real Identity (e.g. Facebook) –Massive effect on behaviour

Combating Anti-Social Behaviour Anti-Social Behaviour Anti-Social Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour mischief !

Combating Anti-Social Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour

Summary Playful Misconduct is the edge between normal and anti-social play –“Wiener Schmäh” is a non-game example Anti-social play is a genuine problem that needs to be policed and managed However, policing anti-social play also harms the possibility of playful misconduct As game designers, we must be considerate of all play styles within our games, even if they don’t match our expectations or vision Playful Misconduct is the edge between normal and anti-social play –“Wiener Schmäh” is a non-game example Anti-social play is a genuine problem that needs to be policed and managed However, policing anti-social play also harms the possibility of playful misconduct As game designers, we must be considerate of all play styles within our games, even if they don’t match our expectations or vision