Media Discourse Surrounding Game Regulation, Online Game Community and Gamers' Participation

This study examines how the issue of game regulation has developed and influences public perception by exploring ideologically differing media outlet's distinct use of frames and sources as well as how games, game play, and game related activities shape the social and political behavior of gamers in the Korean context. While media representation of gaming and gamers is mostly negative, this study examines prosocial aspects of gaming such as the democratic potential of games and gaming communities, including the conditions in which gamers are or become politically conscious. In particular, the contribution of games as a community building and social learning space and various prosocial gamer behaviors to participatory behaviors will be discussed. This study attempts to expand the previous research on the potential learning and fitness benefits of gaming to political contexts by providing evidence on Korean gamers' social participation as the most important expansions of gamers' citizenship rights and the motivation for policy change.;The most significant findings of current study include: (1) media relies not only on elites' sources and frames but also interacts with social actors or interest groups regarding game issues; (2) mainstream media was ambivalent about game issues and tended to define gaming and gamers in sensationalistic ways (violence/addiction); (3) while the dynamics of media effects on public attitudes towards game regulation are complex, exposure to game related news content significantly impacted public attitudes; (4) media discourse operates as a mobilization cue for gamers and potentially encourages them to further action; (5) gamer's communicative ecology (game genre, media, game co-playing, game discussion) and community activities under the communication mediation model play a significant role in the democratic procedure and citizenship of gamers; (6) participation in game cultures (socialization via game playing) fosters collaboration (guild experience, community involvement) and potentially leads to sociopolitical consequences under the unique environment of game play; and (7) social capital garnered through game play as well as self-identification as a gamer has sociopolitical implications that positively contribute to online and offline participation.