Reciprocal innovation in modding communities as a means of increasing cultural diversity and historical accuracy in video games

Due to the growing power and versatility of home hardware and software, the participatory design and modification, or modding, of commercial video games has become increasingly common. This paper examines and defines emergent features, the tendency of modders to inject aspects of themselves in the game, to advertise their outside interests, and to increase the historical value of the game by dramatically altering previously unimportant game features. The production process for emergent features tends to generate multiple, equally viable user-modifications which often serve mutually exclusive purposes. The paper concludes with the educational implications of reciprocal innovation.