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)

   As discussed in class, Richard Bartle identified four player types in multiplayer games, as discussed here and here: 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 include a copy of your results in your homework submission.
   3.   Were the results similar to your opinions about yourself player-vs-player games? Explain
   4.   What are your opinions about this test, versus a personality test like Meyers-Briggs?

2.   (6 points)

   A less scientific test (vs. Meyers-Briggs or Bartle test), 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 include a copy of your results in your homework submission.
   2.   Look at your ability scores and read the descriptions for your class, race, and alignment. How well do the results represent you? Explain
   3.   What type of information do you feel this test gives that the Bartle test and other personality tests (like Myers-Briggs) do 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. Likewise, slide 13 of the "Goals and Player Elements" slides indicate a few more motivations.

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

4.   (6 points)

   The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) annually releases statistics about the video game industry. Looking at a couple of their reports, answer the questions below:

   1.   (2 points)   The "Purchasing & Spending Trends" section of 2024 Essential Facts shows the total annual sales (in dollars) for the U.S. in recent years. How do the 2023 annual sales for the game industry compare to the 2023 annual sales of the movie industry?
            Note:   When googling the 2023 movie sales, consider only U.S. box office movie sales for 2023   (i.e. ignore DVD/Blu-Ray sales figures, which are hard to find).
   2.   Also under the "Purchasing & Spending Trends" section of the report, of the top 10 best selling games, what percentage of them had a Mature (M) ESRB rating? How does that compare with the percentage of games that received a Mature (M) rating in 2023 (see "Parents, Kids & Video Games" section)?
   3.   (2 points)   Looking at the "Player Perceptions & Attitudes" section, it discusses the benefits of playing video games from a gamer's perspective. Provide a summary of those benefits.
   4.   Also under the "Player Perceptions & Attitudes" section of the report, which two generations would rather play video games than watch a movie?