Exploring Discrimination against Video Games and Strategies for Reduction: A Review of Stereotypes, Cultural Perceptions, and Media Representation

Chengzhi Jiang

doi:10.54097/2p4mfn37

Authors

Chengzhi Jiang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/2p4mfn37

Keywords:

Video games; Cultural perceptions; Game players; Media representation.

Abstract

Video games have become an emerging field in the past twenty years, and video game culture is permeating different aspects of society and is associated with various properties of culture. This paper aims to analyse some discrimination faced by video games and video game culture and provide some suggestions on how to reduce such discrimination from different perspectives such as players and video game publishers. This paper examines a variety of previous research on video game culture, including assessments, misconceptions, and prejudices about it, as well as suggestions for decreasing negative discrimination. It shows that the discrimination towards video games is from several different perspectives, including stereotypes towards video game players, negative representation of video games in culture and entertainment and marginalization of video game culture. On the other hand, efforts have been made by game publishing companies and game players’ groups to reduce discrimination, such as strengthening industry standards and encourage more diverse media reports on video games. In order to reduce discrimination, more detailed studies need to be carried out in the future, focusing on topics like different types of discrimination.

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