Sportscapes in Virtual Reality
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Keywords: sportscapes, cultural landscapes, geography of sports, virtual reality
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract
Authors:
Neil Conner, California State University, Fresno
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Abstract
This paper explores several sportscapes in virtual reality (VR) and expands upon John Bale’s theoretical discussions on sporting landscapes, and what he refers to as the futurescapes of sports (1994, 1998). The research for this paper is divided into two case studies that examine unique aspects of VR sportscapes. The first case study investigates participatory sportscapes; so named to denote how the experiences within these virtual environments require active user participation. The second case study discusses sportscapes that are specifically designed for the spectating of sports in virtual reality. Given the growing popularity of VR – for both personal and commercial uses – it is critical for geographers to examine the socio-spatial and cultural implications of these virtual spaces. By surveying this emerging world, where the barriers between technology and the body begin to blur, this paper reveals how VR is renegotiating social experiences and the ways they intersect with(in) material landscapes.
Sportscapes in Virtual Reality
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Paper Abstract