Griefer
A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game that deliberately irritates and harasses other players.
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[edit] History
The term was applied to online, multiplayer computer games by at least the year 2000 as illustrated by postings to the rec.games.computer.ultima.online USENET group.[1]
[edit] Overview
A griefer is a player who does things in a game to deliberately cause annoyance ("grief" in the sense of "giving someone grief") for the griefer's own enjoyment (or "lulz"). Such a player is a particular nuisance in online gaming communities, since griefers often cannot be deterred by penalties related to in-game goals.[2]
Due to its popularity amongst some users, instances of griefing have increased. Websites such as "griefermadness" have formed online communities where visitors can view griefing videos and images.[3]
Exact griefing methods differ from game to game. Common methods include:
- Intentional friendly fire or deliberately performing actions detrimental to team members' game performance
- Using third-party hack programs
- Any methods of reversing another player's progress (such as "unbuilding" in Minecraft)
- Falsely accusing others of griefing behavior
- Written and/or verbal insults
- Exploitation of unintended game mechanics
- Stealing other players' items and/or experience (when done for the purpose of harassment, not self-gain)
- Spamming
- Spawn camping
- Twinking
- Acting out-of-character in a role-play setting
- Saying or doing something just to irritate, upset, or otherwise harass someone
- Creating multiple subscription accounts
- Purposely not assisting the team (e.g. "feeding" (deliberately helping the other team by getting "killed"), wasting key game elements)
- Collusion with the opposition, referred to as "ghosting"
- Repeatedly trying to steal another player's kills so that their time is wasted
- Blocking another player's way so they cannot move or get out of a particular area
- Luring many monsters or one big one to chase the griefer and then rushing to where he wants to unleash them. The line of monsters in pursuit looks like a train, and hence this is sometimes called "training".
The term is sometimes applied more generally[4] to mean a person who uses the internet to cause distress to others as a prank,[5][6] or to intentionally inflict harm, as when it was used to describe an incident in March 2008, when malicious users posted seizure-inducing animations on epilepsy forums.[7][8]
[edit] Combating griefers
Many subscription-based games actively oppose griefers, since they drive away business.[9] It is common for developers to release server-side upgrades and patches to annul griefing methods. Many online games employ gamemasters that reprimand offenders. Others have opted for a crowdsourcing approach, where players can report griefing. Malicious players are then red-flagged, and are then dealt with at a gamemaster's discretion. As many as 25% of customer support calls to companies operating online games deal specifically with griefing.[2] Blizzard Entertainment has enacted software components and rules for its forums to combat griefing.[10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Google Groups: August 14, 2000 rec.games.computer.ultima.online
- ^ a b Martin Davies (Thursday June 15, 2006). Gamers don't want any more grief. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2006/jun/15/games.guardianweeklytechnologysection2
- ^ Griefer Madness Community Blog
- ^ Dibbell, Julian (2009). "Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers, the Sociopaths of the Virtual World". In Johnson, Steven. The Best Technology Writing 2009. Grand Rapids, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. pp. 9–19. ISBN 9780300154108. http://books.google.com/?id=6r-pcB5WL8wC&pg=PA9&dq=best+technology+writing+2009+Julian+Dibbell&cd=1#v=onepage&q=. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ Nick Douglas, Internet's Most Wanted: A Rogue's Gallery, Jan 25 2007,
- ^ Craigslist Griefer Ordered To Pay Up Over Both Copyright And Privacy Violations (accessed April 26, 2009)
- ^ Kevin Poulsen, March 28, 2008, "Hackers Assault Epilepsy Patients via Computer", Wired.
- ^ Cory Doctorow, March 31, 2008, "Griefers deface epilepsy message-board with seizure-inducing animations", Boing Boing.
- ^ Pham, Alex. (September 2, 2002) Los Angeles Times Online Bullies Give Grief to Gamers. Section: Main News; Page 1.
- ^ "Official forum changes, real life names to be displayed". http://www.wow.com/2010/07/06/official-forum-changes-real-life-names-to-be-displayed.
[edit] External links
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Look up griefer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Globe and Mail: Frontier justice: Can virtual worlds be civilized?
- "Ready, set, game: Learn how to keep video gaming safe and fun."
- Documented incident of griefing during a virtual interview, see also Anshe Chung
- Research Paper on griefing. To view this PDF paper, the host website requires a subscription to the digital library.
- "Feature: The Griefer Within", GamePro.
- Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers,, WIRED MAGAZINE: ISSUE 16.02
- Griefer Madness: Terrorizing Virtual Worlds
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