Playing on the Net – Systematising the Phenomenon of “Online Games”
Important components of the video and computer game landscape are “Online Games”, a portmanteau term very generally including all digital games that can be played on or via the Internet. Over the last few years, this sector has experienced an impressive growth in user numbers and revenues, but also an increasing public discussion, for instance, in respect of subsidy for business and production location, demands from media pedagogy or due to general changes in a mediatised society. In public, academic and political discussions, however, the use of the concept of “online games” is, notably vague.
Against this background, the report discusses various aspects of the phenomenon, like genres, products and markets, technology, usage and effects, or the legal framework. It unites various approaches (economic, technical, sociological and jurisprudential) and identifies three overarching criteria (complexity, persistence and player numbers), which are decisive for the form and consequences of online-games.
The expert report thus lays the foundations for decisions within media policy, for instance optimising the areas of application of media-specific legal norms. In addition, it forms an important basis both for further discussions and investigations in various disciplines, like Social Science, Economics and Jurisprudence, and for the public engagement with developments in this area.
Publications
Brunn, I.; Dreyer, S. (2008): Jugendschutz für Spiele – ein Spiel für den Jugendschutz? Was die Novellierung des Jugendmedienschutzes dem Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele gebracht hat [The Protection of Minors and Games – A Game for the Protection of Minors? What the Amendment of the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media has achieved]. In: O. Zimmermann, T. Geißler (Eds.), Streitfall Computerspiele: Computerspiele zwischen kultureller Bildung, Kunstfreiheit und Jugendschutz. 2nd Edition, Berlin, pp. 70-73.
Schmidt, J.; Dreyer, S.; Lampert, C. (2008): Spielen im Netz. Zur Systematisierung des Phänomens “Online-Games” [Playing on the Net. Systematising the Phenomenon of Online-Games”]. Hamburg (Working papers of the Hans Bredow Institute No. 19, pdf-file).
Brunn, I.; Dreier, H.; Dreyer, S.; Hasebrink, U.; Held, T.; Lampert, C.; Schulz, W. (2007): Das deutsche Jugendschutzsystem im Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele [The German System for the Protection of Minors in the Area of Video and Computer Games]. Hamburg (pdf-file).
Events
“Digitale Spiele und ihre Plattformen I: PC” [Digital Games and their Platforms I: PC], lecture by H. Dreier in the context of the lecture series “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 25 April 2007.
“Games – ein kulturelles, gesellschaftliches und ökonomisches Phänomen” [Games – a Cultural, Social and Economic Phenomenon], lecture by U. Hasebrink and H. Dreier to introduce the lecture series, “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 4 April 2007.
Lectures
"Jugendmedienschutz zwischen Recht und Nationalgesellschaften: Über die Fülle der kulturellen Hintergründe und regulatorischen Entwicklungspfade in den EU-Staaten" [Media Protection of Minors between Law and National Societies: On the Abundance of Cultural Backgrounds and Regulatory Paths in EU Countries], lecture by S. Dreyer in the context of the event "Jugendmedienschutz bei Onlinespielen: Zwischen kultureller Vielfalt und nationalen Besonderheiten" at the Medientreffpunkt Mitteldeutschland on 4 May 2010.
"Online Games – A High Level Quest for Media Regulation in Germany", lecture by W. Schulz at the Law & Technology Centre at the University of Hong Kong on 14 January 2009 (presentation as pdf-file).
"Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice und Entscheidungspfade" [Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice and Pathways for Decisions], lecture by Stephan Dreyer at the 16th Transatlantic Dialogue - "Labeling for Online-Games in the Web 2.0" in Cologne on 7 November 2008. (presentation available here)
“Gemeinschaftsbildung durch Computerspiele” [Forming Communities through Computer Games], lecture by J.-H. Schmidt at the seminar “Jugend und elektronische Medien” of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Eichholz on 24 July 2008.
“Online-Communities und kommerzielle Kommunikation – Überlegungen zur virtuellen Wirtschaft [Online-Communities and commercial Communication – Reflections on the virtual Economy], lecture in the context of the lecture series “Games Online – neue digitale Welten” [Games Online –new digital Worlds] at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (HAW) on 27 November 2007.
Games Online – neue digitale Welten?” [Games online – new digital Worlds], Introductory lecture to the series “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games – future Perspectives for interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (HAW) on 9 October 2007 (with G. Rehfeld).
"Spielerisch regeln – Virtuelle Regulierungsformen als Alternative zum Real-Life-Recht" [Regulating Playfully – Virtual Forms of Regulation as an Alternative to Real-Life-Law], lecture by S. Dreyer at the Computerspiele Camp(us) Cologne on 6 November 2008.
Contact person
Hans-Bredow-Institut
Dependance
Warburgstraße 8-10
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Tel. +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 83
Fax +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 99
Funding
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend)