Video Game dan Pertemanan:(Studi Etnografi Kelompok Gamer Otacom)

Muhammad Wendy Dwianzah, Ardian Indro Yuwono

2015 | Skripsi | Ilmu Komunikasi

ABSTRACT Video Game is one of the latest form of new media. It succeeds into drawing many people to play. Males, females, young, and even the old ones. As a result, video games has gained popularity over the years. Naturally, the people playing video games, or “gamers”, as we call them, has their own community in any size. Many of these communities are based on interest similarity on certain games. Often times, these people form relationships and strengthen them over time. This social phenomenon indicates that this kind of new media can bring people together and can be used to socialize. It is interesting to see how gamers within a community maintain their relationships through the interest of video games, which is the core interest of this research. Otacom is one of the gamer communities. Formed both from interest similarity and existing friendships between the members, Otacom has lasted more than nine years despite its small size of members. Through ethnographic research on this community, it was found that the members keep their friendship close and long-lasting through many ways. Video game, as the main driving force, serves as their main activity and talking topic, the “icebreaker”, the bridge that connects their interests, and also shapes the community’s culture and traditions. Aside from video games, the members also bond through other usual, non-gaming activities such as hanging out and travelling together. All of their activities, gaming or not, are geared toward the needs of the members, and serves as a means to know each other better.

Kata Kunci : Permainan Elektronik