2009-05-15, 12:10 AM
For those of you who ever clicked on the link in my signature, you might have already anticipated this: I finally did it! I took MapleStory to academia! ^_^ (See if you can find me!)
Anyway, on to the real point here. My name is Sebastian Campos, I'm a graduate student at York University and I am looking for people to participate in my upcoming project on MapleStory.
What are studying?
I study social anthropology, which, loosely put, is the study of cultures. As part of my graduate research (-the university degree after an undergraduate aka "Bachelor's" degree), I have chosen to study the culture of online role playing games, and I am focusing on MapleStory for my thesis (-pretty much a ~150 page essay) that I will be completing in 2010.
Why are you studying this?
Because cyberspace and online games are so interesting! Why else!? Culture is everywhere - one finds it online just as much as one would encounter it somewhere else in the world. As such, I'm interested in exploring the kinds of things that go on in MMORPGs.
Who can participate?
You must be:
*16 or older - no exceptions. My research is approved by and supervised by Ethics Review Board at York University and Tri-Council Research Ethics Guidelines, which state all human participants must be of legal age to give consent.
*Must actively play MapleStory Global. I'm sorry, but I cannot include players from other versions of MS in this study. If you've been playing for 2 weeks or 2 years, 2 hours a day or 20, it does not matter. I'm looking for a wide variety of participants, especially people who were part of the MapleStory BETA in 2005.
What will I be asked to do?
*Participants will be asked to participate in one or two 1-2 hour long interviews - most likely over the phone (-no worries, you will not be charged for the call!) or Skype. Additional information may be requested through emails.
*If you reside in Windia, I may occasionally tag along with you to hang out, etc.
*For those Maplers living in the Greater Toronto Area, provided you are comfortable in doing so, I may ask for a face-to-face interview at a convenient location.
What do I get out of this?
I'm sorry, but I can not compensate informants with money or other goods. You are participating out of the kindness of your own heart :hart:
How and when do I apply to be part of this study?
I'm accepting applications now.
If you meet the above requirements, please send an email with the Subject: "MS Participant Request" maplestorystudy@gmail.com
... and copy and complete the following:
Name: [full name, please]
Gender: [male, female, transgendered]
Age: [I don't need your birth date, just your age]
Location: [city, province/state, and country where you currently live]
Do you use Skype? [yes, no]
If you do not use Skype, would you be willing to download and use it for an interview? [yes, no. note: Skype requires a headset and/or webcam]
What forum did you read about my study? [SouthPerry]
Started Playing Maple: [a rough estimate will do]
Server(s) I Play On:
Main Character: [please provide IGN of only your main]
Level and Class of Main Character:
Gender of Main Character: [male, female]
Number of Characters in Total:
Please note: I cannot guarantee I will interview everyone that sends and email, although everyone will receive some form of response. Interviews will take place starting late June 2009.
Please, please, please - DO NOT apply by PMing me. Send your application to maplestorystudy@gmail.com
Thanks, everyone! Happy Mapling!
Anyway, on to the real point here. My name is Sebastian Campos, I'm a graduate student at York University and I am looking for people to participate in my upcoming project on MapleStory.
What are studying?
I study social anthropology, which, loosely put, is the study of cultures. As part of my graduate research (-the university degree after an undergraduate aka "Bachelor's" degree), I have chosen to study the culture of online role playing games, and I am focusing on MapleStory for my thesis (-pretty much a ~150 page essay) that I will be completing in 2010.
Why are you studying this?
Because cyberspace and online games are so interesting! Why else!? Culture is everywhere - one finds it online just as much as one would encounter it somewhere else in the world. As such, I'm interested in exploring the kinds of things that go on in MMORPGs.
Who can participate?
You must be:
*16 or older - no exceptions. My research is approved by and supervised by Ethics Review Board at York University and Tri-Council Research Ethics Guidelines, which state all human participants must be of legal age to give consent.
*Must actively play MapleStory Global. I'm sorry, but I cannot include players from other versions of MS in this study. If you've been playing for 2 weeks or 2 years, 2 hours a day or 20, it does not matter. I'm looking for a wide variety of participants, especially people who were part of the MapleStory BETA in 2005.
What will I be asked to do?
*Participants will be asked to participate in one or two 1-2 hour long interviews - most likely over the phone (-no worries, you will not be charged for the call!) or Skype. Additional information may be requested through emails.
*If you reside in Windia, I may occasionally tag along with you to hang out, etc.
*For those Maplers living in the Greater Toronto Area, provided you are comfortable in doing so, I may ask for a face-to-face interview at a convenient location.
What do I get out of this?
I'm sorry, but I can not compensate informants with money or other goods. You are participating out of the kindness of your own heart :hart:
How and when do I apply to be part of this study?
I'm accepting applications now.
If you meet the above requirements, please send an email with the Subject: "MS Participant Request" maplestorystudy@gmail.com
... and copy and complete the following:
Name: [full name, please]
Gender: [male, female, transgendered]
Age: [I don't need your birth date, just your age]
Location: [city, province/state, and country where you currently live]
Do you use Skype? [yes, no]
If you do not use Skype, would you be willing to download and use it for an interview? [yes, no. note: Skype requires a headset and/or webcam]
What forum did you read about my study? [SouthPerry]
Started Playing Maple: [a rough estimate will do]
Server(s) I Play On:
Main Character: [please provide IGN of only your main]
Level and Class of Main Character:
Gender of Main Character: [male, female]
Number of Characters in Total:
Please note: I cannot guarantee I will interview everyone that sends and email, although everyone will receive some form of response. Interviews will take place starting late June 2009.
Please, please, please - DO NOT apply by PMing me. Send your application to maplestorystudy@gmail.com
Thanks, everyone! Happy Mapling!
I'll probably send an email along later.
![[Image: exp01a.png]](http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7485/exp01a.png)