Massively multiplayer online games (MMOG’s) are a specific form of online computer games that allow for millions of people to simultaneously play online at any time. This form of online gaming has become a huge phenomenon worldwide both as a popular past time and a business endeavour for many individuals. There are more than 16 million people worldwide who subscribe to fantasy role-playing online games. Although such games can provide entertainment for many people, they can also lead to problematic Internet use (PIU). PIU has also been referred to as Internet addiction, and can cause significant problems in an individual’s functioning. The study aimed to enhance a greater understanding of the phenomenon of male adults’ experiences PIU with MMOG’s. More specifically the study aims to identify if PIU with MMOG’s can be considered a form of Internet addiction within South Africa. Furthermore, assisting in the further development of online addiction diagnosis and treatment strategies. The study utilised an interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) and participants were purposively sampled. The data was collected using semi-structured individual interviews. Furthermore, Braun and Clarks thematic analysis was used during data analysis while incorporating the four major processes in phenomenological research, namely 1) epoche, 2) phenomenological reduction, 3) imaginative variation and, 4) synthesis. Themes that emerged from the analysis of the participants’ experiences included, initial description of use, motives for continued use of MMOG’s, consequences of PIU with MMOG’s, perceptions of PIU with MMOG’s, and treatment considerations. This study provided a thick description of South African and international literature and combines the literature with the themes that emerged from the participants experiences in order to produce discussions based on the findings of this qualitative study. Conclusions, recommendations, and limitations of this study informed future research on cyber citizenship by providing a detailed understanding of the context of South African male adults’ experiences of PIU with MMOG’s.

本論文重新探討自我調節的情緒管理(self regulation of emotion regulation)並提出個人能夠因應自己的實際情緒 (actual affect) 而把其反饋和調節至接近理想的情緒 (ideal affect)上。 / 為了解自我調節的情緒管理所涉及的過程以及其影響，我隨機安排94位香港的女大學生處於緊張(高激發負面/ high arousal negative)或者悶氣(低激發負面/low arousal negative)的情景當中，隨後邀請她們選擇高激發正面(high arousal positive) 或者低激發正面(low arousal positive)的產品，以及試玩她們所選擇的電子遊戲來調節管理之前受影響的情緒。結果顯示：參加者比較偏向選擇低激發正面的產品。同時，參加者完成任何一種電子遊戲也降低了之前所受的負面情緒。曾處於緊張情景的參加者在玩後增加冷靜；而曾處於悶氣情景的參加者在玩後則減少冷靜。是次研究的結果支持上面提出的說法，即是：當人自我調節和管理情緒時，人能夠縮短實際情緒和理想情緒之間的差距從而管理負面的情緒。 / This study reviewed the literature in self regulation of emotion and suggested that individuals would modulate negative actual affect to turn it into positive ideal affect. To examine emotion regulatory mechanisms and outcomes, 94 Hong Kong female Chinese undergraduates were randomly assigned to either nervousness (high arousal negative) or boredom (low arousal negative) conditions. Next, they selected either high arousal positive (HAP) or low arousal positive (LAP) products in decision making tasks. Based on their selection, they then played HAP or LAP video game to perform emotion regulatory tasks. Although participants chose LAP over HAP products, participants decreased induced negative affect after playing the selected video game. Also, participants from the nervousness condition increased low arousal positive affect in calmness and those from boredom condition decreased it. Current findings suggested that individuals minimized the discrepancy between actual and ideal affect to regulate negative emotions. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Ho, Yuen Wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-41). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract (English) --- p.ii / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- : Introduction --- p.1 / Emotion Regulation: A Consensual Process Model --- p.1 / Emotion in Self Regulation and Self Regulation of Emotion --- p.3 / Emotion Regulation: Processes of Interaction between Actual and Ideal Affect --- p.4 / My Present Study --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- : Method --- p.13 / Participants --- p.13 / Materials --- p.13 / Affect Induction Tasks --- p.13 / Product Decision Making Tasks --- p.14 / Product Testing Tasks --- p.15 / Measures and Procedures --- p.16 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- : Results --- p.22 / Actual and Ideal Affect before affect induction tasks --- p.22 / Manipulation of Nervousness and Boredom --- p.22 / Individual Product and Activity Preferences in Product Decision Making Tasks --- p.25 / Actual Affect in and after Product Testing Tasks --- p.26 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- : Discussion --- p.31 / References --- p.37 / Appendix --- p.42 / Chapter I --- Consumer Preferences Questionnaire --- p.42 / Chapter II --- Game Evaluation Questionnaire --- p.43 / Chapter III --- Suspicion Questionnaire --- p.44

[Truncated abstract] Online games are an exciting new trend in the consumption of entertainment and provide the opportunity to examine selected antecedents of online game-playing based on studying the cognitive, experiential and habitual factors. This study was divided into two parts. The first part analysed the structural relations among research variables that might explain online game-playing using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques. These analyses were conducted on a final sample of 218 online gamers. Specific issues examined were: If the variables of Perceived Game Performance, Satisfaction, Hedonic Responses, Flow and Habit Strength influence the Intention to Replay an online game. The importance of factors such as Hedonic Responses and Flow on Satisfaction in online game play. In addition to the SEM, analyses of the participants? reported past playing behaviour were conducted to test whether past game play was simply a matter of random frequency of past behaviour, or followed the specific pattern of the Negative Binomial Distribution (NBD). … The playing-time distribution was not significantly different to the Gamma distribution, in which the largest number of gamers plays for a short time (light gamers) and only a few gamers account for a large proportion of playing time (heavy gamers). Therefore, the reported time play followed a simple and predictable NBD pattern (Chisquare=. 390; p>.05). This study contributes to knowledge in the immediate field of online games and to the wider body of literature on consumer research. The findings demonstrate that gamers tend to act habitually in their playing behaviour. These findings support the argument that past behaviour (habit) is a better explanation of future behaviour than possible cognitive and affective explanations, especially for the apparent routinesed behaviour pattern on online games. The pattern of online game-playing is consistent with the finding of the NBD pattern in television viewing, in which the generalisability of the NBD model has been found in stable environments of repetitive behaviour. This supports the application of the NBD to areas beyond those of patterns in gambling and the purchase of consumer items. The findings have implications both for managerial and public policy decision-making.

This dissertation presents a framework which supports a group-based exploratory approach to learning and integrates 3D gaming methods and technologies with an institutional learning environment. This provides learners with anytime-anywhere access to interactive learning materials, thereby supporting a self paced and personalised approach to learning. A simulation environment based on real world data has been developed, with a computer games methodology adopted as the means by which users are able to progress through the system. Within a virtual setting users, or groups of users, are faced with a series of dynamic challenges with which they engage until such time as they have shown a certain level of competence. Once a series of domain specific objectives have been met, users are able to progress forward to the next level of the simulation. Through the use of Internet and 3D visualisation technologies, an excavation simulator has been developed which provides the opportunity for students to engage in a virtual excavation project, applying their knowledge and reflecting on the outcomes of their decisions. The excavation simulator enhances the student learning experience by providing opportunities for students to engage with the archaeological excavation process in a customisable, virtual environment. Not only does this provide students with an opportunity to put some of the theories they are familiar with into practice, but it also allows for archaeology courses to place a greater emphasis on the practical application of knowledge that occurs during the excavation process. Laconia Acropolis Virtual Archaeology (LAVA) is a co-operative exploratory learning environment that addresses the need for students to engage with archaeological excavation scenarios. By leveraging the immersive nature of gaming technologies and 3D multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs), LAVA facilitates the adoption of exploratory learning practices in environments which have previously been inaccessible due to barriers of space, time or cost.

This thesis is a reception analysis using qualitative interviews to investigate the formation of cultural groups around computer-game LANs present in Rhodes University. It also looks at how issues of social inequalities evident on the university's campus impact on the participation of students in these LANs. The findings of this study are that the participants have established a community around the practice of computer LAN-gameplay based on values developed through the combination of the material and gameworlds. It serves as a home-on-campus for them; where they can fully explore their passion for games thus reaffirming their identity as gamers on a campus where being a gamer is viewed negatively. In this light, computer-game playing is not just a practice these participants perform, but a culture they live out every day. This is a culture predominantly lived out by men. One of the reasons for this is because most women have been raised to believe to have negative predispositions about digital gaming e.g. that it is childish, addictive and anti-social, but also that computer are meant to be used by men - women use them only when it is absolutely necessary, for example, that it is childish, for academic-related purposes. As a result, not many of them will use computers for any otherreason for fear of being socially criticised. In addition, the gaming culture being dominated by whites is due to the fact that admittance in to this community is still unaffordable for the majority of black students on the Rhodes University campus as a result of their social backgrounds.