| The interaction between human behaviors and relationships has always been a hot topic in the academic world.With the development of information technology and entertainment industry,the focus of scholars is gradually refined,from the broad field of Internet media to the different new media platforms.Online games,which are both entertaining and social,have become a unique field for Chinese and foreign researchers to observe online interactions,explore interpersonal relationships,and reflect on real behaviors.On the basis of combing the previous researches on the relationship between online games and social relations,this study selects an online game player’s community that has a significant impact on the real activities.By comprehensively using data mining and field investigation methods,the virtual social relations of online game players are divided into in game social relations and out-of-game social relations maintained by intermediary social platforms.Combined with the strong and weak relationship theory in the field of sociology,this paper deeply observes the interaction between group members in the dual space of virtual and reality,puts forward a framework diagram of the construction and development model of social groups outside the game,tries to explore the structural characteristics of the virtual social relationship of online game players and the factors that promote and hinder the transformation from virtual to real space.Data analysis results of group chat text records of out-of-game social groups show that,1)Online game players’ internal and external interactions show a significant time difference,and social platform shows its powerful accompanying functions;2)The discussion in the out-of-game social group shows an obvious "paroxysmal" effect.Topics involving the offline information of members can lead to a large-scale centralized discussion.The whole group takes meeting the emotional needs of group members as the main purpose,also has the function of information communication and sharing;3)The existing in-game relationships among group members have a positive effect on the establishment of out-of-game relationships,but the frequency of interaction,intimacy and reciprocity among the members also affect the social relationships at different levels.Strong and weak ties play different roles in maintaining the social networks of group members;4)There is a significant positive correlation between the virtual relationship quality of group members and the possibility of real interaction: virtual social contact connects with real contact,and real contact stimulates virtual social contact.In order to comprehensively examine the unique role of social groups which outside the game in maintaining virtual social relationships and deriving real relationships,this paper also relies on specific research texts to analyze the behavior patterns of group members from the perspective of identity.Self-disclosures help game players to complete the integration of game avatars and personal characteristics,different members establish their own identity though strengthening the differences of core characteristics in the dual context of virtual reality.At the same time,the entire group established the common identity of the members through "jargon" and daily ceremony,and completes the group identity based on the emotional connection among members.Group members use identity to promote mutual trust,strengthen group structure,establish an autonomous group based on emotion and identity,and finally lead to the situation transformation of the relationship. |
