Humans form groups and congregate into groups for a variety of reasons and in a variety of contexts e.g., corporations in offline space and guilds in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). In recent years a number of models of group formation have been proposed. One such model is Johnson et al’s [10] model of group evolution. The model is motivated by commonalities observed in evolution of...

In this essay, I examine differences between individual and social play and, in particular, the differences between individual and social play within digital media forms designed to promote both: massively multi-player online computer games (MMOGs). The analysis considers in most depth differences between group and solo play within the NCSoft’s and Cryptic Studios’ MMOG, City of Heroes. Based o...

Hon. Mrs. Iris Cawley, herself the mother of a five year old mongol boy, found herself leader of a group of housewives which began a special playgroup in Slough. Every feature of the group was carefully mapped out to help the children's mental development and to accustom them to mixing, rather than being kept apart from society. Every toy was bought, every game was planned, to help to teach co-...