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Roger Caillois and E-Sports: On the Problems of Treating Play as Work

2017; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1555412016686878

1555-4139

Tom Brock,

Social and Cultural Dynamics

In Man, Play and Games, Roger Caillois warns against the “rationalization” of play by working life and argues that the professionalization of competitive games (agôn) will have a negative impact on people and society. In this article, I elaborate on Caillois’ argument by suggesting that the professional context of electronic sports (e-Sports) rationalizes play by turning player psychology toward the pursuit of extrinsic rewards. This is evidenced in the instrumental decision-making that accompanies competitive gameplay as well as the “survival” strategies that e-Sports players deploy to endure its precarious working environment(s). In both cases, play is treated as work and has problematic psychological and sociological implications as a result.