Gaming is MINE: An Application of Narrative Criminology to Gamergate

• In Event: Narrative Criminology #3: Stories Doing Good, Stories in Gaming

Abstract

In 2014, the gaming community erupted into an uproar about (alleged) ethical violations. concerning sex for positive reviews. Yet, this uproar exposed an issue more frequent and toxic to the gaming community: hostility and treatment to anyone challenging sexism practices that permeated online gaming. This controversy, known as Gamergate, has been studied throughout the years. However, what remains missing in the existing literature is an understanding of the Gamergate controversy from the perspective of “gamergaters” themselves. To address this gap, this study utilized a narrative criminology approach to offer new insight. Study results indicate that gamergaters perceived themselves to be in a larger “war” against (whom they referred to as) “social justice warriors” that were going to change the nature of online gaming. To cement their position, gamergaters used various techniques of neutralization (i.e., denial of harm and victimization and condemnation of condemners) as well as highlighted “celebrity” affiliations from high-profile individuals. Ultimately, these results show how cyber intimate partner abuse can morph into a much larger assault. Given that, it is not surprising that many prior studies (including this one) identify Gamergate as possibly setting the foundation for later large-scale cyberassault operations by the alt-right.

Authors

• Trina Knight, Kansas State University

• Kevin Steinmetz, Kansas State University

• Jordana Navarro, The Citadel

• Shelly Clevenger, Sam Houston State University