ICS News Archive

Social video games to play during the coronavirus quarantine

Socializing online is what researchers Constance Steinkuehler and Dmitri Williams call an “online third place.” Popularized by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1999, the third place concept describes a setting where individuals can gather and socialize outside of home and work such as coffee shops and bars.

The qualities of a third place — conversation, accessibility, playful mood, home away from home and more — apply to massively multiplayer online (MMO) games such as World of Warcraft (WoW). Online third places are a place where individuals from around the world can gather and socialize.

Read the full story at The Conversation.