Living With Games:An Investigation Into Young Online Game Players

Since the new century,online game has developed rapidly in China,attracting many players to join it.Youth group is an important part of online game players.As a subculture,the evaluation of young online game players by the outside world generally tends to be negative.Although media reports have gradually returned to rationality in recent years,the stereotypes of game players have been widely accepted by people,so players will still be affected by public opinion.This article selects young online game players as the research object to observe and participate in their online life.At the same time,the author conducted in-depth interviews with some players.After understanding this group,the author found that their true appearance is different from the online game player’s image in mainstream cognition.Different from extreme cases in the eyes of the public,young online game players are not simply addicted.They carry out social and consumption activities in online games.In this process,new language culture and consumption were born.Facing the dual inclusion of mainstream culture in ideology and commercial markets,players will inevitably be influenced by public opinion and condemn themselves,or fall into the vicious circle of consumerism when they consuming for game and their favorite characters;but there are also people who dare to resist and maintain their own lifestyle.For young online game players,online game is no longer just a means of entertainment.It has become a carrier of players’ childhood memories,as well as a tool for players to consolidate real social interaction and a gauge for evaluating others.Although online game has become an important part of the lives of young players,they can still rationally weigh the virtual and reality,learning from the experience of indulging in games,and try their best to avoid online game’s negative impact.Correcting the public’s misperceptions and reshaping the player’s image requires not only the promotion of external forces,but also the players themselves to make changes to show a good image to the outside world.