| In part 2 of this series we took a look at | | | | diatribe on not forgetting your real loved ones |
| Creative Expression and Escapism, two significant | | | | we'll stop following that chain of thought. The |
| motivators of the common gamer. The week | | | | important thing is that some game players are |
| before that, we covered Challenge and | | | | purely Socially Motivated. Such individuals thrive |
| Competition. This week we have a look at | | | | online, where other players can be met and |
| Socialization and try to tie it all together.Social | | | | interacted with. For these people, the heavier the |
| interaction is a subject on which we gamers take | | | | social component of the game, the better. |
| a fair bit of static from our non-gaming peers. | | | | Interestingly, many games with a high degree of |
| Sometimes this is because they mistake differing | | | | social complexity also have a large amount of the |
| priorities for introversion. Wanting to talk about | | | | mathematical complexity that may drive away |
| the relative merits of the Western Plaguelands | | | | socially motivated gamers. In pure form, this type |
| against Winterspring as a post 55 grinding location | | | | of gamer is seeking an experience that blurs the |
| isn't really any different from wanting to talk | | | | line between games and chat |
| about the strength of the Bill's secondary, its just | | | | environment.Challenge. Competition. Creation. |
| that one of them is relevant to a somewhat | | | | Escape. Socialization. Five different motivators, all |
| narrow audience (give it time.) Sometimes, | | | | of which combine to make up the motivation of a |
| however, the criticism is merited. We tend to be | | | | particular gamer. We could add more, certainly, |
| somewhat socially awkward folk, in part because | | | | but these will do for now. So where do we go |
| the hobbies in which we invest a sizeable amount | | | | with this? I'm having to physically restrain myself |
| of our time have rigid rules governing most | | | | from drawing a pentagonal map and plotting |
| interactions, making them poor training for the | | | | individual gamers on the five motivational axes. |
| free wheeling reality of human discourse. For | | | | While it would look neat and might be an |
| some gamers, the Social Interaction found in the | | | | interesting topic for an esoteric role-playing text, it |
| gaming experience is a primary motivator.Social | | | | wouldn't get us anywhere.A more useful tack, |
| activity in gaming occurs on many levels. At a | | | | perhaps, is to think about what motivates us |
| very low level, gaming can be a reinforcer for | | | | individually. Knowing yourself and what drives you |
| existing social groups. Think of a group of friends | | | | can help you figure out what sort of games you |
| getting together to play a board game or some | | | | should be playing and, more importantly, which will |
| Half Life. The social activity found in modern online | | | | never give you anything but frustration. |
| games can be much broader in scope. MMORPGs, | | | | Understanding the motivations of others can give |
| to which discussion of the current state of | | | | us insight that will better help us relate. Many |
| gaming always seems to gravitate, are essentially | | | | arguments over what to do in online games arise |
| groups of people that already share some | | | | because the different party members are |
| primary common link. The friendships formed | | | | motivated differently. A Creative and a Challenger |
| through online cooperation and friendly competition | | | | aren't likely to crave the same activities from a |
| can be one of the biggest draws of such games. | | | | night of dungeon delving. Nor are an Escapist and |
| Anyone who has ever stayed up later than they | | | | a Competitive going to even speak the same |
| should because their guild needed them or | | | | way about a game. For one, a game may be a |
| because someone asked them to has | | | | world waiting for his immersion. For the other, a |
| experienced this. These online relationships are no | | | | game is a matrix of numbers waiting to be solved |
| less real, no less significant than their offline | | | | and conquered. We all have a little of each in us |
| analogues. They are, however, different.The | | | | and if we can understand what drives us we can |
| interaction that takes place within a game is | | | | both better interact with one another and |
| structured and often, online gamers see only part | | | | increase the joy we find in gaming.Steve is a |
| of one another. It is difficult for a group formed | | | | member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide |
| around a particular activity to bond as deeply as a | | | | a broad range of pc games, puzzles, articles and |
| group of friends that exists solely for the purpose | | | | reviews. |
| of supporting one another. To avoid turning to | | | | |