MMORPGs' impact on language learning motivation

 I have found a highly relevant writing about massively mulltiplayer online role-playing games. I would like to quote its section about the positive impact on motivation:

"MMORPGs supply a social infrastructure that permits likeminded
game players to form groups as evident in multiple
user dungeons and other role-playing games. The social practices that exist in MMORPGs model
cultural norms that are emphasized in game playing activities
and define the community of players. In a similar
manner, second language teaching methodology encourages
foreign language students to participate in cultural practices
associated with the target language. As a result,
students develop proficiency in the target language as they
communicate with native speakers. Video games represent
computer-based, highly participatory, multi-media environments
that engulf the player in a virtual world that appears to
be real. Therefore, video games can
close the distance between foreign language students and
contact with native speakers.
Research shows that second language students interact
more in virtual chat rooms and online discussions, suggesting
that virtual environments create non-threatening learning
environments. Additionally, online chat rooms promote a democratic
learning environment that is conducive to both introverted
and extroverted learners, evolving into learnercentered
environments in which students of different language
levels accept more of the responsibility for developing
target language proficiency.
MMORPGs supply authentic environments for learning,
complete with sufficient opportunities for students to practice,
develop and test their emergent communicative abilities.
The practice of producing language that is evaluated for
meaning by other role-playing characters constitutes authentic
dialogue between native and non-native language speakers.
Furthermore, computer games emulate the experiential
approach of second language acquisition by providing an
immersive learning experience. Moreover, text is displayed
on the screen, giving visual cues to determine context of
meaning and language content as well as identification of second language vocabulary. Thus, language becomes a necessary
artifact of successful gameplay. MMORPGs are designed
to create and support social networks of gamers. Powerful
alliances play a key factor in gamers’ abilities to defeat
enemies and accomplish tasks that are virtually impossible
to perform alone. MMORPGs sustain social interaction between
players and serve as the catalyst for fostering students’
grammatical and conversational competence as students chat
in a foreign language while playing the game. Social interaction
is a prerequisite to students’ language proficiency.
Without social interaction, students lack motivation, opportunities
for practicing target language skills, and immediate
feedback; all three components are crucial if students desire
to increase their communicative abilities in the target language.
Online role-playing games are transformed into computer
assisted language learning tools for successful second
language acquisition for novice, intermediate and advance
language students. For these reasons,
we believe that MMORPGs create an ideal learning
environment for language students."

Source: Y. Rankin, R. Gold & B. Gooch / 3D Role-Playing Games as Language Learning Tools

Tomi