ABSTRACT
Games are something that inspires real passion in players, so it is not surprising that frequently, communities arise around games. These can be communities of fans, as in professional sports, or communities of players, as in World of Warcraft and Fortnite, or communities of designers, as in Minecraft and Little Big Planet. Games that foster community give the players a steady stream of things to talk about. Player expression is not limited to online games—consider the expressive power in charades or Pictionary. Some games, such as first-person shooters, make player vs. player combat the heart of the game. Creating systems that make it difficult for players to seize things that are not rightfully theirs is one way to make griefing difficult. One thing griefers enjoy is using shocking and disturbing language in front of other players. For some players, the game itself isn’t as enjoyable as teasing, tricking, and torturing the other players.
