The latest in the most popular head-to-head fighting video series, Super Street Fighter IV by Capcom, now features spectating functionality. Coupled with audio chat, players can both watch and participate in matches with anyone in the world. We describe a video analysis of over 36 hours of gameplay in SSF4. Our results show that players can deftly structure audio when spectating to transform gameplay in SSF4. This new hybrid spectator sport in which boundaries between actor and audience are blurred exhibits three significant characteristics: the audio recreates the arcade culture, appropriates “invisible” but real players, and symbolically creates power relations between mute and speaking gamers. We also present exploratory evidence that suggests a starkly different experience for female gamers who wish to audibly join in virtual spectating.
Content
Author and article information
Contributors
Norman Makoto Su
Patrick C. Shih
Conference
Publication date:
July
2011
Publication date
(Print):
July
2011
Pages: 269-278
Affiliations
[0001]School of Information and Library Studies
University College Dublin
Dublin 4, Ireland
[0002]Department of Informatics
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-9440