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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.

CAPES / O ato de jogar é uma maneira de a pessoa que joga estar no mundo e entender o que a rodeia, de experimentar realidades diferentes e identificar-se com as discussões propiciadas pelo jogo. Utilizado como gerador de significados para a sociedade e para as pessoas, os jogos podem ser compreendidos como artefatos que devem ser acessíveis a todos os membros da sociedade, particularmente os jogos digitais, por serem uma das mídias que mais apresentam desdobramentos sociais, culturais, políticos e econômicos na atualidade. Na reflexão do papel sociocultural dos jogos digitais e sua relevância para as pessoas, surge a questão das pessoas com deficiência, sobre como essas pessoas utilizam os jogos digitais, como são dadas suas representações nos jogos digitais e como elas se envolvem no processo de desenvolvimento de jogos digitais. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa utiliza como principal método a Análise Crítica para realizar discussões sobre as etapas de conceito e elaboração dos elementos fundamentais de jogos digitais inclusivos para o gameplay, sob a perspectiva das pessoas com deficiência e à luz da teoria Interação Corporificada. Deste modo, considerar os princípios de inclusão para abordar os elementos dos jogos e articular as etapas de desenvolvimento de jogos digitais inclusivos com a Interação Corporificada, evidenciam, nesta pesquisa, como novos conceitos e perspectivas podem contribuir para subsidiar o projeto de jogos que vão na direção da inclusão das pessoas com deficiência, não somente como jogadoras, mas também como personagens e desenvolvedoras de jogos. Estas percepções propiciam novas maneiras de pensar e desenvolver jogos digitais inclusivos, de modo que na construção destes artefatos sejam considerados os desdobramentos da utilização dos jogos na sociedade, que ocorre por meio das representações, dos valores e dos significados expressados por meio dos jogos. / The act of playing is a way for the player to be in the world and to understand what is around her, to experience different realities and to identify herself with the discussions provided by the game. Used as a generator of meanings for society and for people, games can be understood as artifacts that must be accessible to all members of society, particularly digital games, considering they are one of the most comprehensive technologies nowadays, through which social, cultural, political and economic discussions are held. Reflecting on the sociocultural role of digital games and their relevance to people, arises the question about people with disabilities, how these people use digital games, how they are represented in digital games, and how they are engaged in the process of digital games development. In this sense, the present research uses Critical Analysis as the main method to conduct discussions about the stages of concept and elaboration of the fundamental elements of inclusive digital games for gameplay, from the perspective of people with disabilities in the light of Embodied Interaction theory. Thus, considering the principles of inclusion to address the elements of games and articulate the stages of development of inclusive digital games with Embodied Interaction, argue, in this research, how new concepts and perspectives can contribute to support the design of games towards the inclusion of people with disabilities, not only as players, but also as characters and game developers. These perceptions provide new ways of thinking and developing inclusive digital games, so that in the construction of these artifacts are considered the repercussion of the use of games in society, which occurs through the representations, values and meanings expressed by the games.