Contents:

• Overview
• Problems to be Submitted

Topics: Player motivations, Richard Bartle's player suits (player types), Psychographics, and Demographics
Related Reading: Class notes and online materials

1.   (5 points)

   The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test is one indicator of an individual's personality type. While all such personality tests are imperfect, the Myers-Briggs test (which is based on the theories of Dr. Carl Gustav Jung) is one of the more commonly used indicators.

   1.   While the full Myers-Briggs test is much more involved, following is a brief test based on Jung's theories. Take this test and print out and turn in your results:
           Jung test at similarminds.com
   2.   Do you feel that the results accurately represents you? If not, what MBTI type do you think best fits you?

2.   (6 points)

   A less scientific, though potentially more informative test for some computer gamers, is the D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) character survey. The questionaire determines your class, race, alignment, ability scores, and level.

   1.   Take the What Kind of D&D Character Would You Be? test and print out and turn in your results.
   2.   How well does the results represent you?
   3.   What type of information do you feel this test gives that the prior test does not?

3.   (3 points)

   "Game Development Essentials" defines the seven key motivations that players have for playing computer/video games as: Social Interaction, Physical Seclusion, Competition, Knowledge, Mastery, Escapism, and Addiction.

   What do you feel are your top three motivations for playing computer games? Why?

4.   (6 points)

   As discussed in class, Richard Bartle identified four player types in multiplayer games: Socializers, Killers, Achievers, and Explorers.

   1.   Which one (or two) type(s) best describe you. Why?
            Note: Answer this question before proceeding to part (b)
   2.   Take the The Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology? test and print out and turn in your results.
   3.   Were the results meet similar to your opinions about yourself as a multiplayer?
   4.   What are your opinions about this test, versus the others?

5.   (5 points)

   The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) annually releases statistics about the video game industry. Looking at the 2018 Essential Facts report, answer the following:

   1.   Within the "Purchasing" section of the report, it shows the total annual sales (in dollars) for the U.S. in recent years. How do the 2017 annual sales for the game industry in compare to the 2017 annual sales of the movie industry?
            Note:   When googling the 2017 movie sales, consider only U.S. box office movie sales for 2017   (i.e. ignore DVD/Blu-Ray sales figures, which are hard to find).
   2.   Also under the "Purchasing" section of the report, what were the top four best selling video game genres in 2017? What percentage of total sales did those four collectively account for?
      
   3.   Within that same section, of the top 20 best selleing games, what percentage of them had a Mature (M) ESRB rating? How does that compare with the percentage of games and downloadable content (DLC) receiving a Mature (M) rating in 2017 (as reported on page 9)?
   4.   Search for "VR" and "Virtual Reality" within the report. What statistics can you find with respect to Virtual Reality (VR)?