The Public Archaeology of Death - Howard Williams
Here lies ‘ZOMBIESLAYER2000’, May He Rest in Pieces: Mortuary Archaeology in MMOs, MMORPGs, and MOBAs
The Public Archaeology of Death - Howard Williams
Rachael Mary Nicholson [+]
Independent Scholar
Rachael Mary Nicholson graduated with an Archaeology degree from the University of Chester in 2016.
Description
Increasingly, mortuary archaeology is manifesting itself in virtual environments via online games as an integral part of contemporary culture. This chapter presents a review of some of the key ways by which mortuary archaeology is apparent within online gaming genres. The focus will be on MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Play Games) and MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas), focusing on a select number of games to illustrate the following themes: death as a mechanic for players, the use of permanent death, and games as mortuary spaces.