Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jul 2009

Genre, Activity, and Collaborative Work and Play in World of Warcraft

Lee Sherlock Michigan State University

Abstract

This article examines the characteristics of collaborative work and overlapping activity systems in the popular online game World of Warcraft. Using genre theory and activity theory as frames to work out the genre ecology of gameplay, the article focuses on how players coordinate ad hoc grouping activity across and through genres. It articulates the related development of open systems in online gaming in a discussion of interface modifications (AddOns) and online information databases that players generate, drawing on De Certeau's formulation of strategies and tactics and Warner's discussion of publics and counterpublics. The article concludes by discussing implications of online gaming for an open-systems approach to information design in professional communication and for professional communication in general.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2009-07-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651909333150
Open Access
Closed
Topics
genre theory multimodality technical communication professional writing public rhetoric

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (11)

  1. Hart-Davidson et al. (2025)
    Revisiting Four Conversations in Technical and Professional Writing Scholarship…
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  2. Chamberlain (2022)
    “Our world is worth fighting for”: Gas mask agency, copypasta sit-ins, and the …
    Computers and Composition
  3. Brock et al. (2018)
    Rhetorical Genres in Code
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Sánchez (2017)
    The Roles of Technical Communication Researchers in Design Scholarship
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  5. Reardon et al. (2017)
    Quest for the Happy Ending to Mass Effect 3: The Challenges of Cocreation with …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 11 →
  1. Read (2016)
    The <i>Net Work</i> Genre Function
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Robinson (2016)
    Look Before You Lead: Seeing Virtual Teams Through the Lens of Games
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. McNely et al. (2015)
    Contemporary Research Methodologies in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Spinuzzi (2015)
    Toward a Typology of Activities
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Weber (2013)
    Constrained Agency in Corporate Social Media Policy
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Spinuzzi (2011)
    Losing by Expanding
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Cites in this index (3)

  1. Artemeva (2008)
    Toward a Unified Social Theory of Genre Learning
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Zachry (2006)
    An Interview With Bonnie A. Nardi
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Geisler et al. (2001)
    IText
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Also cites 10 works outside this index ↓
  1. Bazerman, C. & Russell, D.R. (2003). Introduction. In C. Bazerman & D. R. Russell (Eds.), Writing selves/writ…
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  3. Geisler, C. (2003). When management becomes personal: An activity-theoretic analysis of Palm technologies. In…
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CrossRef global citation count: 20 View in citation network →

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