Hyperreality Among Defense of the Ancients 2’s Players

Abstract

This study examines the condition and practice of hyperreality among players of online game dota 2 that demonstrates a perspective called post-human, a perspective which believes that technological advancement will ease life in general. In critical term, it diminishes human sense because it believes that technology has taken over human's functions. In understanding the concept of post-human, in this study, we refer the post-human condition as hyperreality practice by focusing on the visual perception of dota 2 players during their gaming activities and the meaning about the video game for them. This study uses the concepts of simulacra, simulation, and hyperreality according to Jean Baudrillard. In hyperreality conditions , the representation that is embedded in human brain transforms imagination into reality, which can be seen from the representation of self-actualization felt by each individual, in this case dota 2 gamers or players. This study was conducted using qualitative approach and data collection derived from in-depth interview with four informants, who were chosen purposively, with two categories of students and corporate employees. This study finds obvious hyperreal practice of Dota 2 players that indicates post-human condition, in which players are more comfortable to compete and achieve something virtually. dota 2 players act like the escapists who pursue something they can be proud of not from the real world.