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Articles
Submitted: 2022-01-28
Published: 2019-11-11

EVE online is not for everyone: Exceptionalism in online gaming cultures

School of Communications, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2550 Campus Road Honolulu, HI, USA 96822
EVE Online MMOGs players exceptionalism

Abstract

EVE Online is a space-themed massively multiplayer online game that has developed a reputation for being difficult and unwelcoming to new players. In this article, I explore how an emphasis on exceptionalism is present throughout discussions about EVE by its developer, the enthusiast gaming press, and survey responses of current players (N = 647). Taken together, information from these sources reinforces a public perception that EVE is a game that is of interest only to a very specific kind of player. In turn, these findings add further evidence to the long-argued position of feminist game scholars: Not all gaming communities are open to all players. Rather, who plays, what they play, when they play, and/or how often they play is shaped by the larger social context in which play occurs.

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How to Cite

Bergstrom, K. (2019). EVE online is not for everyone: Exceptionalism in online gaming cultures. Human Technology, 15(3), 304–325. Retrieved from https://www.ht.csr-pub.eu/index.php/ht/article/view/273