Roger Caillois and E-Sports

On the Problems of Treating Play as Work

Bibliographic Data

ID2978484
AuthorsTom Brock (0000-0002-0965-0945, Manchester Metropolitan University, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume12
Issue4
Pages321-339
Publication date2017-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGames and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-4120 • E-ISSN: 1555-4139
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1555412016686878
OpenAlexW2607530446
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited23

In Man, Play and Games, Roger Caillois warns against the "rationalization" of play by working life and argues that the professionalization of competitive games (agôn) will have a negative impact on people and society. In this article, I elaborate on Caillois' argument by suggesting that the professional context of electronic sports (e-Sports) rationalizes play by turning player psychology toward the pursuit of extrinsic rewards. This is evidenced in the instrumental decision-making that accompanies competitive gameplay as well as the "survival" strategies that e-Sports players deploy to endure its precarious working environment(s). In both cases, play is treated as work and has problematic psychological and sociological implications as a result

Aesthetics · Argument (complex analysis · Art · Context (archaeology · Epistemology · Professionalization · Rationalization (economics · Social science · Sociology · Work (physics · Digital Games and Media · Management and Organizational Studies · Philosophy · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Psychology

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