Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Committee Chair

Lawrence Nichols

Abstract

This research introduces the social world of gaming and looks at how one achieves the identity of gamer. The methods are a form of triangulation in order to strengthen the research, consisting of participant observation, written questionnaire, and one-to-one interviews, with an emphasis on the personal narrative. The main venues for the research were the two largest US gaming conventions, Origins and GenCon. From the data collected, elements of the world of gaming and becoming a gamer were learned and are presented. Essentially, the identity of gamer comes from the individual but is reinforced through the world of gaming.

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