Is the Video Game a Cultural Vehicle?

Abstract

Following the exportation of Japanese media products such as TV dramas, Japanese culture and products have swept across many Asian countries, especially Taiwan. Based on the historical background and unique characteristics of games, this study investigates the cultural effect of Japanese video games on players in Taiwan. This study also presents an analysis of the differences between TV and the video game as cultural vehicles. We used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results indicate a relationship between game-playing behavior and the identification of Japanese culture. However, the relationship between video game playing and consumption was nonsignificant. This shows the power of video games in nation-building but not in nation-branding, in contrast with TV. This study presents a discussion of the findings to shed light on the cultural effects of video games.

Brigman Award Winner: A Model for Conscientious Play: The Moral Tightrope of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

“…This concept of “real enough” becomes all the more important when one considers that Chen found individuals' cultural attitudes can be and are shaped by the games they play. In this mixed method study, Chen found that people living in Taiwan had an increased interest in and desire to adopt cultural attitudes of Japan after playing Japanese games. This demonstrates the persuasive power of games.…”

Hitting Restart

“…Scholars have suggested that video games are cultural texts in their own right, featuring interactive learning and visual storytelling (Buckingham & Burn, ; Salen, ). Cultural texts can be defined as literary products of a society that are in turn instigators of culture that communicate meaning (Chen, ; Steinkuehler, ). Examples include J.R.R.…”

The Significance of Playing Dress Up Games on Children’s Materialism

“…A study by Chang and Zhang (2008) investigated the significance of materialism in influencing attitudes and motivation to play online games, but it is still uncertain whether playing games affects players' values regarding consumerism. Meanwhile, other studies indicate playing games does affect consumption preference in which heavy players' preference for consuming media products from Japan were higher than mild and light players (Chen, 2013). Thus, it is hypothesized that heavy dress up players will be more materialistic than those who do not play as heavily.…”