Roger Caillois and e-sports: on the problems of treating play as work
Gespeichert in:
| Deutscher übersetzter Titel: | Roger Caillois und E-Sport: über die Probleme wenn man Spiel als Arbeit behandelt |
|---|---|
| Autor: | Brock, Tom |
| Erschienen in: | Games and culture |
| Veröffentlicht: | 12 (2017), 4, S. 321-339, Lit. |
| Format: | Literatur (SPOLIT) |
| Publikationstyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
| Medienart: | Elektronische Ressource (online) Gedruckte Ressource |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| ISSN: | 1555-4139, 1555-4120 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1555412016686878 |
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online Zugang: | |
| Erfassungsnummer: | PU201803002078 |
| Quelle: | BISp |
Abstract
In Man, Play and Games, Roger Caillois warns against the “rationalization” of play by working life and argues that the professionalization of competitive games (agôn) will have a negative impact on people and society. In this article, I elaborate on Caillois’ argument by suggesting that the professional context of electronic sports (e-Sports) rationalizes play by turning player psychology toward the pursuit of extrinsic rewards. This is evidenced in the instrumental decision-making that accompanies competitive gameplay as well as the “survival” strategies that e-Sports players deploy to endure its precarious working environment(s). In both cases, play is treated as work and has problematic psychological and sociological implications as a result.