Fan culture in games

-- BY HARSHA VARDHAN

[THE fan] and [the culture]??

• Fans a.k.a aficionado or supporter• a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as

a band or a sports team.• Enthusiasm shown through fan club memberships, fan

conventions, fan mails etc• Culture is a very diverse term• 3 important meanings of culture• 1-high culture (excellence of taste in fine arts and humanities)• 2-integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and behavior• 3-The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that

characterizes an institution, organization, or group

Fan culture…

• The behaviour exhibited by a certain ‘fan’ or a group of ‘fans’.

• A pool of sharing common ideas• Building of ideologies based on the area of

interest.• Becoming a part of a forum to represent

themselves as a fan.

Characteristics of a fan …

• Strong interest leads to change in lifestyles influenced by the sport. (buying rbk as becky endorses it)

• Desire for external involvement.(fan clubs and pubs)• Possession of an object related to the area of interest (ball

signed by sachin)• Social interaction with another fan (e-mails, chat rooms, face

2 face, etc)• Different levels of fan culture based on the intensity.

Fan culture and technology

• Has existed even before the advent of tech• With new form of tech the culture evolves• Internet has brought fans from different areas together• Increased scope of discussions on the internet especially on

s.n.s• Tech is just a tool, the interested people have used these tools

as per their requirments• Variety of creativity and creative tools• Fans have taken mainstream media products to the next level• Fan communities, websites, digital films etc.

Fan culture on the net

• Construction of virtual communities• Fanzines-unofficial magazines by fans• Blogs • Streaming videos• Fan site• fandom• Fan art• Fan club• Fan fiction• Fan labour• Fan loyalty

conclusion

• The invasion of tech has taken fan culture to higher levels

• Tech provides a platform for expression (especially the web 2.0)

• Sports merchandise popularity• Ease of access to info• Helps differentiate the strata of fandom

Thank you jai bolo man utd !!