From Console Wars to Flame Wars: The Evolution of Masculinity in Video Games

Abstract

Today, gaming culture stands at a critical junction. Either it must adapt to house new diverse voices within its community, or be stationary in its old norms and mores. Specifically, female gamers are excluded from having a voice by the predominantly male presence within gaming culture. Overall, masculinity pervades gaming culture, and has since the beginning of video gaming. This thesis charts the evolution of masculinity within video game culture, examining the early days of video game arcades all the way to online culture on forums. Using print and web sources from online archives, this thesis explores how masculinity in gaming was about competition and violence, and intensified with the introduction of the Internet.