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The struggle and enrichment of play: Domestications and overflows in the everyday life of gamer parents


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Gamer parents’ regulations of play

Type of regulation Description How regulations were enacted by gamer parents
Co-play Playing together to mode-rate play Co-play was a way to have fun and to bond, but also to ensure children were playing approved content and a way for parents to contribute actively to the framing of both content and play experience.
Spatial Rules about where to use game technologies in the home Making common spaces (like the living room) into gaming spaces, both for sociability and surveillance.
Time Having set times or a limited amount of time to play Some parents had time limits; others rejected the usefulness of time regulation in favour of a focus on the effects gaming had on the children's mood.
Technical Using technical features such as parental settings to limit playtime or content Used to restrict purchases of apps and games and keep track of Internet use, but with limited utility, as kids would eventually reject the regulation and find workarounds.
eISSN:
2001-5119
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
2 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Social Sciences, Communication Science, Mass Communication, Public and Political Communication