The Manifestation of Player Discipline in Video Games

This paper explores the practices that emerge in players who are serious about their play. Using the video game as a medium through which play occurs, a duality of player discipline between the video game and the player is observed. The video game imposes and supports discipline through its rules. Players respond by disciplining themselves and establishing disciplinary practices of play that allow them to become better players. The video game is framed as a regulatory regime that directs and influences player disciplinary practices. These practices draw on elements of Foucault's discipline, specifically surveillance and control over the body. The roles of surveillance and control over the body in player disciplinary practices are examined in two games, World of Warcraft and RIFT.