The symbolic experience of death in the structure of the computer game environment

The study reveals the specific nature of gaining symbolic experience by the player and the peculiarities of the player’s perception of “death” in the virtual space. A hypothesis is proposed that the computer game is a universal means of acquiring symbolic experience; the ontological status of death is changing. The transformation of the quality of the concept of death is achieved by combining spaces (alternative reality and reality) through the semantic field of the symbolic experience. Finally, it is concluded that, on the one hand, virtual technologies provide a new kind of symbolic experience of death which modifies attitudes towards death. On the other hand, blurring the boundaries between alternative reality and reality, fantasy and fiction, virtual space creates serious risks associated with the player’s complete immersion in the game. It leads to the formation of the phenomenon of the game of death when the boundary between life and death is removed and the life-threatening behavior is developed.