Gaming Etiquette: Table of Contents
- Introduction to Gaming Etiquette
Etiquette More Generally in Relation to Gaming
Gaming etiquette includes, at a basic level, respect for the gaming equipment and for any involved in the play scenario. Players must respect themselves when playing as well as other players.
play Etiquette in Relation to Gaming - Gaming Etiquette in General
For gamers and Nongamers
In General for Players and Those Watching
As a Gamer in Public
Note that etiquette itself is often emergent because etiquette--while being prescritive and descriptive--arises from individuals' interpretations of unwritten social rules: "Emergence can come about through complex programmed mechanisms that simulate adaptive agents and systems, but it can also happen on an experiential level, where extremely simple rules give rise to complex social or psychological relationships among players." (Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman, Rules of Play, 159).
Play Etiquette in Relation to Gaming
Everyday gaming etiquette builds from the basic etiquette of respect for gaming equipment and for the player alone to include others during game play. Others may be players or nonplayers and they may be familiar or unfamiliar players. When working with other players, several situations regularly require etiquette rules, including greetings and introductions, dealing with rudeness, and introducing new players and nonplayers.
Greetings and Introductions
--acknowledge the other person politely and introduce them to the game;
Dealing with Rudeness
Gold farming accusations, harrassment
Notes on play etiquette (whoever reads Homo Ludens will do some of this)
- Introducing New Players
When introducing new players to gaming, two key points must be kept in mind:
- share and assist: allow the new player to play in a way that makes playing fun;
- and choose a game that is inviting for new players
For the first of these points—share and assist—whenever you introduce a new player to gaming, you should introduce the new player in a manner that allows the new player to actually play. All too often, gamers introduce new players to games by showing the new player the newest, coolest, or best game. Then, the gamer proceeds to play the game, describing the best parts instead of allowing the new player to play. This misstep occurs when gamers are overly excited to share gaming with new players and want to show new players the best that games have to offer. Clearly, the quickest way to show a new player the best of gaming is for the gamer to play and explain the game to the new player. However, the point of introducing a new player to a game is to have the player play and to learn to play at their own pace and with their own gaming style.
For the second of these two points—choose a game that is inviting for the new player—
has an easy learning curve and that the new player can jump into, perhaps a game that more than one person can play at once (mario karts, ddr, not halo--why)
Introducing new nonplayers, letting them know enough about gaming so that frustrations don't build - Sharing
- Taking Care of Peripherals (Controller etiquette (sweaty hands))
- Multitasking: eating, talking,
- Managing Tempers
- Xbox Live vs Computer
- MMO
funerals: http://www.shoutwire.com/comments/8726/
myspace memorials - Specific Game Genres: FPS (talking smack okay)
- Consoles
- Arcades
- Handhelds: Online, in Public, Physically Connected, and None of the Above
- Alternative/Augmented Reality Gaming (ARG)
girls and the ? mario boxes and fears over bombs - Gaming Forums Netiquette
- Walkthrough Etiquette
- Gaming Media Etiquette
- Gaming Blogs Netiquette
- Gamer Expectations of Game Designers and Gaming Media, or Implied Game Designer
and Game Media Etiquette
not claiming that games can do certain things and then releasing games without those components
not releasing games dramatically late, nor switching consoles nor limiting backwards compatability
not complaining about particular gaming groups (some groups appreciate this, others don't--very clique-ish to complain about a particular console's players or ) - Further Reading
- References
Gaming Etiquette
Laws, Ethics, Unwritten Rules, & Etiquette
Rules of behavior in gaming are governed by laws, ethics, and etiquette. Law-based rules often come in the form of End User License Agreements (EULA) which govern the use of software more generally as well as games in particular. Ethics and laws together stipulate regulations regarding explicit cheating and unacceptable gaming behavior. Because of the relative youth of electronic gaming--added to gaming's incredible complexity--many gaming situations cannot be adequately addressed under ethics or laws. Instead, unwritten rules and etiquette help to establish general guidelines for successful game play.
Unwritten rules exist in all areas of society and culture, including all areas of play. Unwritten rules often fall within larger definitions of culture and more limited definitions of etiquette. These rules are often taken quite seriously and infractions are often equated to personal affronts or violations of custom. Unwritten rules can be beneficial, easing proper communication, and they can be detrimental, reinforcing negative social biases. Without their explication and interrogation, unwritten rules will continue to operate in fluid, and often highly problematic, ways. Unwritten rules can be used as rules of etiquette, which can aid in ensuring proper communication and a friendly environment for that communication.
Etiquette, while also having a problematic history whereby its rules could be used to separate and oppress socio-economic classes, is quite friendly in its more recent incarnations. Good gaming etiquette aids communication and helps to establish common ground for friendly game play and a friendly game play environment.
Unlike rules and laws, games do not require etiquette to be played. However, etiquette allows games to be played in a way that is more enjoyable and more pleasant for most players. Like other online forms, etiquette is not required, but it is generally desired and appreciated. Also like other online forms, serious infringements of etiquette also often classify as legal or ethical violations and are treated as such, with the perpetrators having their accounts limited, suspended, or revoked. Less serious infringements are often left to social-based enforcements, often meaning other users "shame" the infractors into proper behavior. Social-based enforcements that are not specifically addressed present a major problem for gaming social environments because they allow for the rule of the masses without any sort of system to check against. An expressly defined gaming etiquette gives players and nonplayers an explicit reference point, and a reference point which they can address and work to change when those rules prove unfair or illegitimate for whatever reason.
Etiquette itself is about "respect, consideration, and honesty" (Peggy Post 3).