Title: Learning through collaboration: video game wikis

Authors: Matthew Barr

Addresses: HATII, University of Glasgow, 11 University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QJ, Scotland, UK

Abstract: The wiki, wherein community-spirited players meticulously document their gaming experiences for the benefit of others, from simple guides to complex theories and strategies, has become the de facto online reference medium for video game players. This study sought to examine how players learn from one another about the systems that underpin their favourite games and how they engaged with social media - wikis, in particular - to facilitate this collaborative learning. It is argued that in collating, synthesising and disseminating the often complex behaviours observed in a modern video game, the wiki author is displaying academic proficiency in a non-academic field. Drawing on a series of interviews with gaming wiki contributors and users, the practices of those engaged in using gaming wikis are discussed, together with an account of the research methods used. In undertaking such research, a number of challenges and concerns were encountered: these, too, are described.

Keywords: video games; gaming wikis; collaborative learning; game-based learning; social media; learning environments; research methods; video game research; dark souls; meta-games; collaboration; gaming experiences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMILE.2014.063385

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 2014 Vol.2 No.2, pp.119 - 133

Received: 31 Jul 2013
Accepted: 16 Aug 2013
Published online: 30 Jul 2014 *

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