Behind the Mod: On the potential of collaboration between the Minecraft modding community and heritage professionals in the field of virtual heritage

Minecraft has proven to be a valuable tool in the field of virtual heritage (Edwards et al., 2021; Langis-Barsetti, 2021; Politopoulos et al., 2019). This thesis explores potential collaboration efforts between academia and the modding community by first attempting to understand the perspectives of Minecraft mod developers. This study is guided by the research question: in what ways can the Minecraft modding community and heritage professionals influence each other? Four willing developers of historical and cultural Minecraft mods provided their perspective via questionnaire. Their responses are analysed with guidance from the established qualitative analysis methods: thematic analysis and narrative analysis (Bryman, 2012). Potential collaboration is then theorised based on the intentions, disciplinary bounds, and openness of both mod developers and heritage professionals. It is found that Minecraft mod developers and heritage professionals share many similar traits. Analysis of the...Show moreMinecraft has proven to be a valuable tool in the field of virtual heritage (Edwards et al., 2021; Langis-Barsetti, 2021; Politopoulos et al., 2019). This thesis explores potential collaboration efforts between academia and the modding community by first attempting to understand the perspectives of Minecraft mod developers. This study is guided by the research question: in what ways can the Minecraft modding community and heritage professionals influence each other? Four willing developers of historical and cultural Minecraft mods provided their perspective via questionnaire. Their responses are analysed with guidance from the established qualitative analysis methods: thematic analysis and narrative analysis (Bryman, 2012). Potential collaboration is then theorised based on the intentions, disciplinary bounds, and openness of both mod developers and heritage professionals. It is found that Minecraft mod developers and heritage professionals share many similar traits. Analysis of the developer perspectives also helped to reveal multiple ways in which collaboration efforts would be mutually beneficial. These findings are important, as this knowledge not only helps to introduce academia to the developer’s side of the Minecraft modding community, but can also be used by academics and mod developers to bring about future collaboration efforts that enhance both the modding community and the virtual heritage field.Show less

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Behind the Mod: On the potential of collaboration between the Minecraft modding community and heritage professionals in the field of virtual heritage