Virtual Worlds Theory Flashcards
What are the four main types of players? Describe them.
Achiever - They give themselves game-oriented goals and set out to achieve them. (Do not like seeing their achievements undermined)
Explorers - try to discover as much as they can about the virtual world (Know more about the virtual world than any other player type)
Socialisers - use the game as a context to engage with other players (obvious expression of community)
Killers - enjoy acting on other (usually unwilling) players. (There are two sorts here: are busybody, mother hen - Politicians; vile dregs of humanity - Griefers)
What is a stable virtual world?
A stable virtual world is one in which the player types are in equilibrium. (This does not mean that the numbers of players of each type are the same).
What are the four types of virtual worlds?
• Game: killers/achievers in equilibrium
– eg. guild wars 2, SW:TOR, the secret world
• Social: socialisers heavily dominant
– eg. habbo, Second life
• Balanced: all types in equilibrium
– eg. ultima online, eve online, mud1
• Defunct: Empty game.
What is the main sequence for player development?
Griefer -> scientist -> planner -> friend
What is the main socialiser sequence for player development?
Griefer -> networker -> politician -> friend
What is the main explorer sequence for player development?
Opportunist -> scientist -> planner -> hacker
What is the minor sequence for player development?
Opportunist -> networker -> planner -> friend
What are the three hero’s journey phases?
– Departure – set in the Mundane World in which you live your normal life
– Initiation – set in the Other World where you go for your adventure
– Return – return to the Mundane World from the Other World
Describe the Departure phase.
In this opening phase, the would-be hero is troubled by a problem with the Mundane World that someone ought to fix.
Whatever it is, it needs something possibly unknown and definitely hard-to-get to fix it.
That something is the boon.
Describe the Initiation phase.
In initiation, which is the main phase, the would-be hero acquires the boon.
The boon is the gift of an unbeatable individual, the Father.
The father is powerful enough to destroy the would-be hero on a whim.
To obtain the boon, the would-be hero has to go to the Father and be given it.
Describe the Return phase.
the would-be hero comes back to the Mundane World from the Other World and uses the boon to solve the original problem.
This marks the End of his Hero’s Journey.
The would-be hero is now a fully-qualified hero.
