6. X-Box Live Leviathan

X-Box Live is a means of playing video games and communicating with other people across the world who own an X-Box gaming console. While playing a game such as Madden NFL, for example, online gamers can chose to show pictures, videos, or talk over a microphone. A Leviathan exists in the online-world to make sure people are not abusing their communication privileges, and are playing fairly. In Madden specifically, two Leviathans exist: one to ensure fair play online, and one to ensure fair online communication conduct.

The first Leviathan (or unseen governing body), is built into the game itself, and helps ensure fair-play. This Leviathan is not "seen", but it is very obvious to players that it exists. While playing online games that help determine an individual's rank and skill level, players may not utilize "trick plays" such as a fake-punt or onside-kick in situations that these plays would never be used in during a real-life football game. Almost all football fans agree with this idea, and therefore the Madden community supports these rules, and wants them implemented. This is how people know and understand the norm. Since it would be too difficult for two parties to come to an agreement on these rules for every individual game, these rules are built into the settings of the game by blacking out particular plays in particular situations. The standardization of rules, legitimizes the social norms, and brings a greater sense of identity to groups of players of different skill levels, because it is assumed everybody is playing fairly and your ranking is a good indicator of your actual skill level. In this sense, the Leviathan is a wanted and necessary component of online-gaming in order to standardize rules and promote group identities. The Leviathan, therefore is the actual set of fair rules built into the game itself. Players all conform to the same set of rules, which takes away some creativity, but also makes player rankings legitimate and standardized. It allows players to say they are in the upper echelon of gamers or are simply playing for fun against a friend in a different state.

The second type of Leviathan in X-Box Live gaming is based more on communication. Microsoft, the company that makes X-Box, has online-gamers agree to a code-of-conduct before allowing gamers to play online. This code of conduct acts as the governing Leviathan to make sure players are not violating social norms and are behaving appropriately in the online medium. Excessive swearing over the microphone, distribution of explicit pictures, and impersonation of another person are just some of the reasons the Leviathan (Microsoft) can suspend or terminate a user's online gaming account. The norms of social conduct are obvious, and nobody wants to be subjected to something crude over the internet where they are looking for a friendly gaming experience. In this case, there is a specific "sign on the door", however, most users likely glance over this sign, and conform to already assumed behaviors. It is the rare case that someone disregards the obvious norms, and that is when the Leviathan must enforce the laws of the particular online-space. Groups of Madden players are online to play the game, and play the game fairly. Some users choose to trash talk and/or interact with the person they are playing against, which is fine, but this interaction must be controlled and monitored. This makes sure people conform to norms and a pleasant online-group experience can be had by all gamers.

Of course, gamers can stick up for themselves by "raising the eyebrow" at someone violating rules. In a situation where a player is swearing in his trash talking, the other player might say, "OK, OK that's enough" and has the ability to warn or report that person to the Leviathan. Groups want to be governed, and are not capable of governing themselves online, so Leviathan's exist all over the Internet to protect groups and help them thrive online. Conformists to the Leviathan's rules enjoy positive gaming experiences, while those who don't conform are rejected from the online group.

Comments:
Comm 245 Blue: 6.1 - Hunting the Leviathan of Wikipedia
Comm 245 Blue: 6-1 Voice chat in online games