Date of Publication

3-2019

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Communication Major in Applied Media Studies

Subject Categories

Communication Technology and New Media

Department/Unit

Communication

Thesis Adviser

Miguel O. Rapatan

Abstract/Summary

Let’s Plays and playthroughs have grown significantly throughout the past decade yet is still relatively unexplored. This study adds to the existing literature by focusing on Wooden Potatoes, a medium-sized Guild Wars 2 YouTuber, and his playthroughs of the Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire expansion. The study examined how Wooden Potatoes related gameplay, design, and narrative in his videos and how he commented on his playthroughs. The findings of this study showed how YouTube gamers such as Wooden Potatoes have dimensions of co-authorship. This co-authorship operates on three levels: as a gamer, as a fan, and as a YouTuber. As Guild Wars 2 is a theme park type of MMORPG with a branching hypernarrative, the research also explored a player’s mental schema through Wooden Potatoes commentary. Due to both in-game and external influences, the mental schema of Wooden Potatoes was affected and thus contributed to influencing his playthrough experience and commentary as a co-author. Finally, the findings of this study show that player values and experience are affected by the levels of co-authorship and vise-versa.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG008022

Keywords

Video games—Authorship; Video gamers

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Embargo Period

2-28-2023

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