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In 2016 Jason founded the Leicester Games Network, an organisation supporting Leicester’s game developers by providing networking opportunities between students and industry members. This led to Jason becoming a STEM Ambassador where he shares his knowledge and experience through events and workshops.

In 2017 Jason co-founded the Midlands Games Industry Discord, a hub for regional game developer communities from Leicester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Warwick, Coventry, and Royal Leamington Spa.
In 2021 Jason started a PhD at DMU looking at the culture and sustainability of online gaming communities, and in 2022 he became the Chairperson of the DMU Game Development Society.

• Harwood, T. and Boomer, J. (2020). Value transformation: from online community to business benefit, in Granger, R. Understanding and Negotiating Value in the Creative and Cultural Industries, Sage Publications (p243-264).
• Boomer, J., Harwood, T. and Garry, T. (2018). Value transformation in the ‘let’s play’ gaming sub-culture, Journal of Creating Value, 4(2): 229-242, DOI 10.1177/2394964318804705.
• Garry, T., Harwood, T. and Boomer, J. (2018). Value transformation in the ‘let’s play’ gaming sub-culture, Academy of Marketing Annual Conference, University of Stirling, Scotland, 3-5 July. Awarded Best Paper in Track, Consumer Behaviour, sponsored by Pearson Publishing. 

Gaming Communities, Communities of Play, Let's Plays, Machinima, Esports, Livestreaming, Influencer Culture, Participatory Culture, Game Design

MA Creative Technologies
BSc Computer Games Technology

DMU Doctoral College PhD Scholarship (2020-2021)
Academy of Marketing (2018) Best Paper in Track - Consumer Behaviour
Â鶹ƵµÀ (2016) Leicester Media School prize for Best Project - Dissertation

Title

Culture in the Design and Moderation of Online Gaming Communities

PhD project abstract

This research explores the factors (brand, technology, people) moderating and mediating cultural exchange in online gaming communities, and how adherence to and deviation from community norms influences the inclusivity and sustainability of these gaming communities.

Prof. Tracy Harwood
Dr. Bettina Bódi