Restoring ‘the Football Kingdom of the Far East’: The limited potential of video games for the development and promotion of Hong Kong soccer

M Lau, Tom Gibbons

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Abstract

Soccer videogames have become one of the most popular genres of computer videogames. Part of their appeal is that they enable gamers to virtually participate in, and gain detailed knowledge about, leagues and clubs in nations from all over the globe. In this chapter we argue that there is currently a gap in understanding regarding the potential of soccer videogames for enhancing the promotion of less well-known leagues and clubs on the global stage. We begin to address this conceptual gap through a case study on the development of soccer in Hong Kong under British rule pre-1997 and Chinese rule post 1997 in which we explore the possibilities and limitations of using one of the most popular soccer videogames, FIFA (EA Sports), to help develop and promote Hong Kong soccer. In order to achieve this, we draw upon the Eliasian or figurational concept of ‘diminishing contrasts, increasing varieties’ to suggest that soccer videogames could simultaneously help and hinder the development and promotion of Hong Kong soccer. We conclude by arguing that further research is required in order to more fully assess the potential of soccer videogames for the promotion of Hong Kong soccer and other less well-known leagues and clubs on the global stage.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDigital Football Cultures
EditorsStefan Lawrence, Garry Crawford
PublisherRoutledge
Pages154-169
ISBN (Electronic)9781351118903
ISBN (Print) 9780815360209
Publication statusPublished - 20 Aug 2018

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