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Content Analysis of Video Game Loot Boxes in the Media

Humienny, Raymond Tyler
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2606-0565
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1546434312362585

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Journalism (Communication).
Throughout the relatively nascent course of games media scholarship, representation of video games within popular mainstream media tends to suggest an antagonistic relationship between those familiar and unfamiliar with video games respectively. Yet, this outlook fails to acknowledge the content of popular gaming media that can be equally critical of the representation of games in reporting. For instance, within the past two years, reports pertaining to video game “loot boxes” have not only shown that reward systems in certain games can structurally mimic online gambling, but games and mainstream media can cohabitate in this reporting arena. Given our nascent understanding of gaming media from a mainstream perspective, this study examines how gaming and mainstream news outlets comparatively frame this “loot box” rewards practice. A content analysis of 274 articles containing the term “loot box(es)” revealed similarities wherein both types of media outlets framed “loot boxes” with political messages, references to gambling and cast some form of normative judgment. Traditional news writing provided fewer overall frames than more opinionated types of writing. Political intervention was the greatest predictor of frames assigned by both media. Overall, the internal regulation of “loot boxes” and games industry’s opposition to government-assisted regulation are the strongest implications that warrant future study of this controversy.
Hans Meyer (Committee Chair)
Aimee Edmondson (Committee Member)
Michael Sweeney (Committee Member)
95 p.
Communication; Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media
content analysis; statistical regression; video games; framing analysis; political intervention; loot boxes; online gaming; simulated gambling; gambling;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Humienny, R. T. (2019). Content Analysis of Video Game Loot Boxes in the Media [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1546434312362585

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Humienny, Raymond. Content Analysis of Video Game Loot Boxes in the Media. 2019. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1546434312362585.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Humienny, Raymond. "Content Analysis of Video Game Loot Boxes in the Media." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1546434312362585

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.