Game Development Essentials An Introduction

Chapter 2Player Elements

who plays and why?

Key Chapter Questions

■ What motivates people to play games, and how does this affect the types of games that are developed?

■ What is the difference between geographics, demographics, and psychographics?

■ How has the player market changed over time?

■ What is the difference between the U.S. and South Korean market?

■ What are the different generations of players in the United States?

Player Motivation

• Social interaction• Physical seclusion• Competition• Knowledge• Mastery• Escapism• Addiction• Therapy • Exercise• Creative expression

Player SuitsRichard Bartle’s “Players Who Suit MUDs”

Hearts: Socializers

interact with other players

Clubs: Killers

manipulate other players

Diamonds: Achievers

interact with the environment

Spades: Explorers

manipulate the environment

Geographics

South Korea

Japan

Germany

Regional US

Geographics

PsychographicsVALS (Values, Attitudes & Lifestyles Survey)

Psychographics

Demographics

•Gender•Age •Occupation•Income •Education•Ethnicity•Religion•Political Affiliation

DemographicsEntertainment Software Association (ESA)

• 52% of players report watching less television as a result of playing games

• 47% of players are going to the movies less

• 41% of players watch movies at home less often

• 54% of U.S. households have purchased or plan to purchase one or more games

• adult women make up a larger percentage of players than boys ages 6–17

• females of all ages now make up almost 40% of the game-playing population

• men and women over 18 make up 64 percent of the player population

• 17% of players are over age 50

DemographicsGeneration

• Silent• Boom• Generation X• Millennial• Trends quiz (p. 55)

Gen XThe “Lone Hero” Generation

Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft and Half-Life’s Gordon Freeman are both depicted as lone heroes.

MillennialsThe “Teamwork” Generation

Games that incorporate cooperation—such as A Tale in the Desert and Puzzle Pirates—might be ideal games for the Millennial Generation.

Summary

• Player motivation• Player suits• Geographics• Psychographics• Demographics• Generations