Social interaction and first-person shooters

The term first-person shooter (FPS) describes a video game genre where players participate in weapon-based combat all in the first person, or from the perspective of their character. One of the more notable features of FPS games is its compatibility for networked, then later online, multiplayer gaming, where players could bring their skills to a national and then later a global arena. Ironically, in a genre consisting of players hunting and killing other players, FPS games are found to include a source of rich communication and social interactions between players.

Communication online consists of a mix of both verbal and non-verbal interactions. Like in the real world, these interactions have individual meanings, social norms, policies, and a set of subsequent reactions to these interactions. All these interactions are aided and have become possible with advancements and the developing of game technology and design.

Online interactions between individuals is not a new medium for socialization. Console creators such as Microsoft (Xbox gaming console) and Sony (PlayStation gaming console) advertise their console releases referencing the idea of "the Third Place." The metaphor of "the Third Place" references an idea invented by Ray Oldenburg in 1989. He described "the Third Place" as a distinct arena other than one's home and workplace, which is conductive to socializing. As Oldenburg described it: “Third places exist on neutral ground and serve to level their guests to a condition of social equality. Within these places, conversation is the primary activity and a major vehicle for the display and appreciation of human personality and individuality. Third places are taken for granted and most have a low-profile. The character of a third place is determined most of all by its regular clientele and is marked by a playful mood.”

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Wikipedia