Re-thinking foundations: Theoretical and methodological challenges (and opportunities) in virtual worlds research

摘要

This article identifies a set of persistent methodological and theoretical challenges to research on Massively Multi-player Online Games (MMOGs), and to studies of virtual worlds more generally. Critically examining some of the onto-logical, epistemological and ethical lacunae and, in some cases, missteps that characterize well-respected, well-publicized and oft-cited research in what is now a prominent field of scholarly enquiry, this discussion addresses the need for firmer theoretical foundations to support more innovative, more rigorous and more accountable studies of digitally re-mediated, MMOG-based work, play and sociality.