- Home
- ACADEMIC
- Film & Media
- Game Studies
- Fractured Gaming Cultures
Payment for this pre-order will be taken when the item becomes available
- Delivery and returns info
-
Free UK delivery on orders £30 or over
You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
Description
Christine Tomlinson demonstrates how embracing and engaging with personal identity-both positively and negatively-has led gaming culture to evolve past the monolith of the stereotypical “gamer” image that exists within the popular imaginary to offer marginalized players safety and community online.
In light of the dichotomy between the hegemonic ideals of who a “gamer” should be-stereotypically young, heterosexual white boys and men-and the reality of diverse gaming audiences, Tomlinson observes how marginalized players have formed their own communities grounded in shared identity and experience. These communities, she contends, allow players to produce new individual and shared gaming identities and cultures as acts of resistance and resilience, through which they can reclaim a position in an often-hostile environment and a slowly changing industry.
Ultimately, Tomlinson argues that while these alternative communities should not need to exist, they have paved the way for a fracturing of gaming culture that provides marginalized players with safe and productive outlets for discussion and community.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. The Gaming Landscape
2. Diverse Players, Diverse Desires
3. Sharing Community and Shared Attributes Among Players
4. Streaming, Struggle, and Sociality
5. Identity, Engagement, and the Limitations of Company Actions
6. Community, Culture, and Creating Paths Forward
About the Author
Index
Product details
| Published | 16 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 176 |
| ISBN | 9781666960228 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 4 bw illus |
| Dimensions | 229 x 152 mm |
| Series | Emerging Insights into Esports |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
-
Toxicity has become synonymous with online gaming, yet we know little about how these behaviors impact already marginalized players and communities. Fractured Gaming Cultures by Christine Tomlinson fills this critical gap by examining how these groups navigate and experience toxic gaming cultures. While toxicity's evolving nature is alarming, this book also reveals hope: even in hostile environments, players are creating spaces where they build meaningful identities and communities. This book provides a clear-eyed look at some of today's most pressing cultural challenges in games and sheds light on possibilities for cultural change, from game players and the industry that shapes these worlds.
Rachel Kowert, Visiting Researcher at University of Cambridge, UK, and Founder of Psychgeist

























