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Why Do You Play?Competition Other players are motivated by other people, but in a competitive sense: I play the game for the challenge. In my opinion, it is far more challenging and fun to play with or against other people. In a video game, you can easily figure out the reactions of the program. With people, however, you can only be 40% sure of what they are going to do. The most appealing thing about the game is the challenge. I enjoy being challenged. I enjoy being beaten. I enjoy the twists and turns that are thrown at me. [SWG, M, 18] For DAOC, the dynamic interplay of realm war and keep takes keeps me involved. I'm not so interested in victory; in fact, some of my most memorable moments revolve around heroic actions in defeat (I stood off 16 Midgarders alone for two whole minutes - they could hardly land a hit or a spell on me - and that allowed my group to escape.) Facing live opponents is far more interesting than facing a more predictable AI. [DAOC, M, 42] Comparisons with Other Entertainment There were many responses that wouldn’t easily fit in one of the well-defined categories. For example, several players didn’t focus on what motivated them to play the game, but instead compared it with other forms of entertainment available to them. There's also the factor that I often find myself with nothing better to do; I get home from work about 1am, and of course my family is asleep. I'm typically wide awake, so playing EverQuest gives me a way to wind down, and it's a hell of a lot more entertaining than the crap they show on television after 1am... [EQ, M, 32] Gaming is an interactive time sink. I don't find television entertaining, I can seek out things I find entertaining in the game world. The most appealing aspect of gaming is getting together with friends to explore and garner items. [DAOC, M, 29] That's an easy answer. I have too much time on my hands. Day to day most single people get bored and end up spending hours in front of the Television. Sure they mow the lawn, clean the house, do laundry and then watch TV. I don't enjoy that or going out to clubs or sitting on the beach, they all lack appeal, so I play EverQuest, it surely beats watching paint dry. [EQ, M, 30] Perhaps the most interesting answer submitted was the following entrepreneurial motivation – clearly a subset of the achievement motivation, but so novel that it deserved a separate mention. Currently, I am trying to establish a working corporation within the economic boundaries of the virtual world. Primarily, to learn more about how real world social theories play out in a virtual economy. Secondly, to become rich and famous (in game). Finally, I'm trying to in some way effect the way MMORPGs are designed and played. This process is incredibly time consuming and assures that I will continue to log on daily to manage inventories and make sales. The most appealing aspect of the game is the open-ended player driven economy. Players in general seem to be stuck in a certain paradigm of how things are supposed to work. The idea of a corporate entity issuing stock and offering franchises and employment strikes them as odd. I'm not sure if this is because no one has done it before, or if it is too much reality in a game. At any rate, I appreciate that the limitations are more organic rather than being imposed by the game design. [SWG, M, 30]
Comments
i totally agree with you on that MMORPGs are were socializing. my parents keep on saying "its only make belive, theres noone real in the game, go out and socialize with real people". In a sense i belive that MMORPGs forge stonger friendships than some RL ones. saving a friend you have known for 2 years and helping him wiht ghard quests makes you feal good with your self and you become better friends. An example of this is in my guild. first week people did not really talk to me very much and i had a megre welcome into the guild but after dieing a couple of times(more than a couple =\ ) to save them i became much closer they now see me as a good friend and im a officer now =) Posted by: Jamie on April 22, 2004 11:50 AM
Right on you guys I totally respect what you're doing. I am older in highschool and I recently had A big bullying incodent, I am not too strong in reality and A while ago I was suspended from playing MMORPGs. Lately I have been protesting to be able to play again. MMORPGs give me a sense of strenghth something that I don't always have. When I'm online and I'm battling somebody and I win I feel Impowered. I guess MMORPGs are kind of an escape from the harsh world of reality for me, I don't know why there is so much negative reinforcement following them. Posted by: metal on May 2, 2004 5:48 PM
I play for simple reasons actually. Posted by: operator on May 5, 2004 12:37 PM
You've got to be kinddig me-it's so transparently clear now! Posted by: Dahrann on January 3, 2012 1:35 AM
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Current Issue: Vol. 7-1 (03/09/2009) |
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Tribal design by snoopydoo.
Crusader graphic by Gravity.
All other materials available at The Daedalus Project are copyright 2003-2006
by Nick
Yee.