Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Mass Communication - Department of Radio and Television

This research aims at examining the social effects of massively multiplayer online role - playing games (MMORPGs) in terms of player{u2019}s preference to virtual life, the level of addiction, false social support and the role playing of online avatars. This quantitative study also sought to examine the cultural effects of these games in terms of the impact on cultural identity desensitization towards taboos after engaging in similar behaviors online. The impact of gender differences and the amount of online games play were also examined and difference was significant in the study results. The online survey was conducted on a sample that comprises of Egyptian online gamers of both genders from the most popular four MMORPGs. Findings proved that there were significant social and cultural effects in line with social capital theory and existing literature. However the strength of these effects were slightly different from other studies and that was justified by the social and cultural differences among different societies

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