Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games Research Articles

Identity formation in adolescent and emerging adult regular players of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG)

The aim of this study was to investigate the process of identity formation in adolescent and emerging adult regular players of massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Moreover, considering the association between involvement in these games and addiction, we took into account also the role of internet addiction. A total of 176 regular players and 239 controls, not playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games, aged between 15 and 30 years completed: the Utrecht-management of identity commitments scale, evaluating three identity processes, i.e. commitment, in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment; and the dependence subscale from the use abuse and dependence on internet questionnaire, in order to evaluate internet addiction. A multivariate analysis of variance evidenced that controls were higher on commitment and in-depth exploration, whereas players were higher on reconsideration of commitment and internet addiction. A structural equation model in which the three identity processes affected simultaneously internet addiction and regular involvement in massively multiplayer online role-playing games showed that reconsideration of commitment was positively associated with internet addiction and the probability to be a player, whereas in-depth exploration was negatively associated only with the probability to be a player. Being a regular player of massively multiplayer online role-playing games seems to be associated with a troubled path in the process of identity formation.

Drawing Inspiration from World of Warcraft: Gamification Design Elements for Behavior Change Technologies

Human–computer interaction (HCI) researchers are increasingly designing technologies for behavior change, drawing on different perspectives, theories and models. In recent years, a new approach has started to be explored within the HCI community: gamification is more and more used by researchers and designers to drive users’ behaviors toward specific directions. However, this design technique has showed several limits, especially for the choice of game elements to be employed. Drawing inspiration from the videogame world, this research wants to suggest the employment of game elements that could contribute and support behavior change processes in different settings. Looking at the Massively Multi Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) as a source of inspiration, an ethnographic study in World of Warcraft (WoW) has been conducted. We found that WoW is capable of driving its players’ behavior by employing incentives and penalties, as well as by providing social support and favoring mentorship. By creating a persistent world, supporting the recollection of players’ past memories, leveraging narratives and designing the time of play, WoW further affects players’ habits, increasing their retention in the game world. Findings from the fieldwork grounded the development of a set of design strategies that suggest how to use such elements in the design of interactive systems addressed to change users’ behaviors: for example, they recommend to design incentive systems that exploit different scheduling, as well as to create digital mementos to trigger positive memories that may support the change. Such strategies were then compared with game elements that can be found in other MMORPGs to allow for a greater generalization, and discussed with reference to HCI literature.

Shoot at first sight! First person shooter players display reduced reaction time and compromised inhibitory control in comparison to other video game players

Studies have shown that regular video game use might improve cognitive and social skills. In contrast, other studies have documented the negative outcomes of excessive gaming vis-à-vis health and socioprofessional spheres. Both positive and negative outcomes of video game use were linked to their structural characteristics (i.e., features that make the game appealing or are inducements for all gamers to keep playing regularly). The current study tested whether active video gamers from main genres (massively multiplayer online role-playing games, online first person shooter, multiplayer online battle arena) differed in a laboratory task that measured inhibitory control. Eighty-one gamers performed the Hybrid-Stop Task, assessing restraint (go/no-go trials) and cancellation (stop-signal trials) processes of a prepotent response. They completed additional self-reported questionnaires measuring demographics, problematic video game use, impulsivity traits, and depressive symptoms. Results showed that when confounding variables were controlled for, participants who favored online first person shooter were characterized by accelerated motor responses yet reduced abilities to cancel a prepotent response. No differences between groups were identified regarding the restraint process. The findings of this pilot study might have clear implications for video gaming research by supporting the critical importance of distinguishing between video game genres when considering their specific potential benefits and detrimental effects.

In a League of Their Own: Exploring the Impacts of Shared Work History for Distributed Online Project Teams

Project management is fraught with challenges, particularly for teams that are distributed and interact online. Conflict between subgroups is one challenge that may occur during the course of a project. Using social identity theory, this research explores how subgroups arising from individuals’ shared work histories impact a project team. A massive multiplayer online role-playing game provided the context for our exploration. Results suggest that there are positive and negative consequences to project team members with shared work histories. Our findings have implications for practice and suggest potential opportunities for future research.

Encouraging Free Play: Extramural Digital Game-Based Language Learning as a Complex Adaptive System

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games like World of Warcraft are ideally suited to encourage and facilitate second language development (SLD) in the extramural setting, but to what extent do the language learners’ actual trajectories of gameplay contribute to SLD? With the current propensity to focus research in digital game-based language learning on vernacular games, or commercially-available games that are designed with entertainment in mind, it is vital to focus on the extramural setting in which these games are designed to be played, while still being subject to rigorous and empirical analysis. This paper examines the extramural gameplay and language learning trajectories of four university German language learners as they play World of Warcraft with native German speakers. Positioning learners’ experiences within a complex adaptive systems framework (Larsen-Freeman & Cameron, 2008; de Bot & Larsen-Freeman, 2011), the change that each learner undergoes while playing the game over the course of four months is explored in detail. Understanding the game environment as an affinity space (Gee, 2005) helps to substantiate how a game, independent of instructor guidance or classroom intervention, can still promote SLD amongst language learners of varying experiences and proficiencies. The results of this study suggest that numerous factors influence the success of a language learner’s extramural gameplay experience, but that these factors must be analyzed in conjunction with the emergent internal and external resources of the complex adaptive system as language learners play and interact with other players in a context removed from the traditional classroom.

The Relationship between Player’s Value Systems and Their In-Game Behavior in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

This study examines the relationship between player’s value systems and their actions in playing a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Online survey data from 1,577 players were paired with their behavioral metrics within the game. A number of correlations were found between the scores of value system and the in-game metrics. Participants that scored high on the Red value system tend to spend more real money in the game, level up their character and ability as quickly as possible, and seek other achievements in the forms offered by game world. These characteristics for fun, power, and immediate gratification are also predicted by the Red value system. The finding provides valuable information on how to better design, evaluate, and understand enjoyment in games. The results also show the possibility of using the game as a platform in inferring players’ value systems and in training people to develop certain skills.

The Interplay between Real Money Trade and Narrative Structure in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

A narrative structure is one of the main components to constitute the genre of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). Meanwhile Real Money Trade (RMT) enables a player to adjust an ex post level of challenge by skipping the narrative structure of a game. However, RMT may concurrently disturb a player who enjoys game following the narrative structure hierarchically. In pursuance of developing the knowledge about the relationship between RMT and the usage of MMORPG, we investigate the role of the strictness of predetermined narrative structure. We present the dual structure of societies to describe a player that arbitrarily decides to reside in a virtual society. Then we adopt the social nominalism to explain how individual motif of playing a game is expanded to the nature of game. Finally, we argue that a game with weakly predetermined narrative structure is more positively associated with RMT volume, since these games arouse a player’s sentiment of fun by relying more on their socially oriented motivation. With empirical evidence from the Korean MMORPGs market, we proved the hypothesis.

World of Worry: Examining the dark side of World of Warcraft

Online gaming has become a significant sensation in today's society, most notably with massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). These games attract large crowds (Figure 1), some more populated than a small country, all interacting together within a fantasy world. As the Internet has developed throughout the years, so has the online gaming culture. According to Forbes, in 2014, more than 400 million players played MMORPGs globally [8]. The most popular MMORPG is World of Warcraft, which has an estimated 11 million subscribers [5]. This article investigates and analyzes how World of Warcraft has created a complicated online gaming community and resulted in detrimental effects on real-life relationships by conjuring issues such as bullying and addiction.

An Improvement of Ipv7 Scheme of Adaptive Overlay Network

IPv7 must work. Although such a hypothesis might seem unexpected, it has ample historical precedence. Given the current status of knowledge-based symmetries, cryptographers clearly desire the study of telephony. We concentrate our efforts on disproving that hierarchical databases and massive multiplayer online role-playing games are continuously incompatible.

Learning strategies and learner attitudes in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game cube world

Learning strategies and learner attitudes in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game cube world

Learning strategies and learner attitudes in the massively multiplayer online roleplaying game cube world

The rapid progress of technology has revolutionized learning and in the field of computer assisted language learning, the use of digital games has expanded significantly. One type of game that has been attracting interest is massively multiplayer online role-playing games (henceforth mmorpgs). Recent research has drawn attention to the potential of these games as arenas for language learning (Peterson, 2013). This paper will analyze the findings of exploratory research focusing on the use of the mmorpg Cube World involving a group of efl learners based at a university in Japan. Data analysis of text chats, learner feedback and in-class video recordings revealed that the interactive language exchanges between players when they communicate and collaborate with each other in the game appear potentially beneficial for language learners. The data further showed that the participants viewed language learning through Cube World as fun and motivating. This suggests that learner participation in network-based mmorpgs provides an arena for learner centered social interaction that offers valuable opportunities for target language practice. mmorpgs offer the potential to enhance communicative competence; however, this research also highlights the need for additional studies.

Online Media Business Models: Lessons from the Video Game Sector

Today’s media industry is characterized by disruptive changes and business models have been acknowledged as a driving force for success. Current business model research manages only to grasp static descriptions while in reality media managers are struggling with the dynamics of the industry. This article aims to close this gap by investigating a new paradigm of online media business models. Based on three video game case studies of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre, this article explores a novel theoretical approach to explain the changes that can be made within business models. The article highlights the importance of changing processes within online media business models and emphasises that the video game sector is at the forefront of business innovation. Finally, it demonstrates that online media business model change is in a trade-off paradigm between capturing or offering potentially higher value per player vs. accessing a potentially larger player-base.

Offline personality and avatar customisation. Discrepancy profiles and avatar identification in a sample of MMORPG players

This study examined the relationship between offline personality and avatar customisation in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) players, and questioned whether the offline personality is always the starting point for the customisation of an avatar. The aims were: to analyse the discrepancy profiles which emerge when players are asked to rate their primary avatar, actual self and ideal self with respect to certain personality factors; to explore whether these profiles varied across personality factors and within players; and to analyse the relation between discrepancy profiles and the extent to which players identified with their avatars.A sample of 845 MMORPG players completed an online questionnaire consisting of a short version of the Big Five Personality Inventory and an avatar identification scale.Four discrepancy profiles (idealised, actualised, alter ego, negative hero) common to the personality factors extroversion, consciousness, agreeableness and emotional stability and stable within players emerged. They converged into four kind of offline personality-avatar relationship differently related with avatar identification that was higher when avatar was similar to self or an extension of self, and lower when avatar was other than self, or antithesis of self. The practical implication of these finding are discussed.

Psychological Predictors of Intensive Practice of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

Psychological Predictors of Intensive Practice of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

The relationships into the video games massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG)

This paper is about the relationships dynamics in the virtuality of the gamers into the massively multiplayer online role-playing game “Perfect World” in the not ocifial latinamerican server “Comunidad Zero”. The main objective of this study is to describe the dynamics of the relationships, analyzing them from the context of the game using the virtual ethnography, understanding the emotional interactions between couples, through a case study. During the development of research, were found several categories related to affective interactions of pre-attachment, manifested in virtual environments of the game and that ultimately manage to simulate the engagement dynamics of the physical contexts.

Capitalizing upon the Attractive and Addictive Properties of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games to Promote Wellbeing.

Forty years after they were first introduced to the general public, video games have become firmly established into the mainstream of entertainment media. In parallel, early adopters and enthusiasts have become active scientists. As a result, interest in video gaming practices has shifted from an exclusive niche leisure activity to extensive social, commercial, cultural, medical, and psychiatric issues. An increasing number of studies on game-based treatments for various mental health disorders suggest that these approaches have the clear potential to promote cognitive and behavioral changes as well as symptom relief (1–10). Game-based approaches for mental health disorders are still in an early stage of development and validation. Some interesting results have emerged, however. The inclusion of gaming tools within digital therapies has been assessed in several trials that studied participants with various sociodemographical profiles and disorders (11–13), including promising preliminary work in participants suffering from psychotic disorders (8, 12). Controlled studies on the assessment of digital serious games targeting depression (2, 11) and cognitive training in older adults (4) found promising findings, as did controlled studies on non-digital serious games developed to reduce delusional convictions in psychotic patients (1) or to promote smoking cessation (5). Also, two randomized, controlled studies showed that playing casual video games 30 min per day during 1 month (Tetris, Bejeweled) had positive effects on depressive and anxious symptoms (14–16). It was furthermore shown (in spite of controversy) that game and video game practice may have a positive impact through the transfer of cognitive skills acquired in the game to functional competences (17, 18), although see Ref. (19, 20). A meta-analysis (21) on the effect of video game play on information processing showed minor effects on executive functions and small to moderate effects on visual, auditory, spatial imagery, and motor skills. Another meta-analysis on the effect of brain-training games in older adults (22) showed a significant, if very small, improvement in cognitive testing after training, suggesting that some transfer of competence had occurred (albeit in a limited fashion). Data on naturalistic use (in milieu use outside the scope of specific research programs) of internet-based therapies suggest that these programs are appealing for many users, particularly so for people who could benefit significantly from such treatments (23). Naturalistic use, however, appears associated with high levels of attrition. For instance, in a study of an internet treatment program for depression, less than 4% of community users completed at least three modules out of five compared with 53.8% of participants in the controlled trial (24–26). Attrition issues were also observed across digital games-related studies. Less than one-third of the 1622 adolescents allocated to a computerized game for binge drinking prevention returned to the second session and none of them completed all five sessions (27). One of the ways to tackle the problem of attrition would be to develop interventions that succeed in increasing the commitment of the participants, possibly via the use of serious games tools (28). The important retention problems encountered in internet treatments, particularly among spontaneous community users, contrasts with the great success of games played for leisure, and, especially, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) (29), which are sometimes associated with addictive use (30, 31). This opinion paper discusses how the attractive properties of video games, particularly those of MMORPGs, given their success and online setting, could be mobilized to promote wellbeing.

Gender Difference in Internet Use and Internet Problems among Quebec High School Students.

There are presently no data available concerning Internet addiction (IA) problems among adolescents in Canada and the province of Quebec. The goal of this study is thus to document and compare the influence of gender on Internet use and addiction. The study data were collected from a larger research project on gambling among adolescents. Activities conducted online (applications used and time spent) as well as answers to the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were collected from 3938 adolescents from grades 9 to 11. The two most often employed cut-off points for the IAT in the literature were documented: (40-69 and 70+) and (50+). Boys spent significantly more time on the Internet than did girls. A greater proportion of the girls made intense use of social networks, whereas a greater proportion of the boys made intense use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, online games, and adult sites. The proportion of adolescents with a potential IA problem varied according to the cut-off employed. When the cut-off was set at 70+, 1.3% of the adolescents were considered to have an IA, while 41.7% were seen to be at risk. At a 50+ cut-off, 18% of the adolescents were considered to have a problem. There was no significant difference between the genders concerning the proportion of adolescents considered to be at risk or presenting IA problems. Finally, analysis of the percentile ranks would seem to show that a cut-off of 50+ better describes the category of young people at risk. The results of this study make it possible to document Internet use and IA in a large number of Quebec adolescents.

Problem-solving for STEM learning: navigating games as narrativized problem spaces for 21st century competencies

Identifying educational competencies for the 21st workplace is driven by the need to mitigate disparities between classroom learning and the requirements of workplace environments. Multiple descriptors of desired 21st century skill sets have been identified through various wide-scale studies (e.g., International Commission on Education for the 21st Century) and consistently within the context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, the ability to problem solve, particularly complex problem-solving, remains a crucial competency. In this paper, we look at how current contemporary spaces such as the immensely popular, massively multiplayer online role-playing game(MMORPG), World of Warcraft, (WoW) afford problem-solving skill acquisition in the context of Singaporean youth learners. Given that WoW exists as a contextual space with an overarching narrativized problem to be solved, our investigation focused on two important related constructs that underpin learners’ problem-solving trajectory—learning and identity becoming within contemporary domains of technology learning. We present findings of an ethnographic investigation of one youth gamer within the affinity spaces of WoW. Moving away from traditional mentalistic construals of problem-solving, our findings indicate that problem-solving within WoW may be characterized by a triadic-D model of domain, disquisitional, and discursive practices within self, social, and structural dialectics. Theoretical considerations for broadening the understanding of a situated and embodied notion of problem-solving and identity becoming within STEM learning are proposed.

The use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games in CALL: an analysis of research

ABSTRACTContemporary CALL research reflects renewed interest in digital games. One aspect of this phenomenon namely, use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), has expanded significantly, highlighting the need for a review. This paper analyzes findings from 10 learner-based studies that draw on accounts of SLA informed by cognitive and sociocultural theories. Analysis reveals that research conducted from the sociocultural perspective provides evidence of constructs identified as playing a central role in SLA. Analysis indicates that playing MMORPGs elicits target language dialogue involving collaboration, assistance and co-construction. Data show that MMORPGs provide access to conditions conducive to the operation of zones of proximal development. Findings show that this type of game provides access to both in-game and extramural communities of practice that facilitate language socialization. Research undertaken from a cognitive perspective shows that participation in MMORPG-based gaming facilitates production of the target language. However, this work does not provide conclusive evidence that game play elicits forms of interaction such as negotiation, that are hypothesized as playing a central role in learning in the cognitive account of SLA. Studies conducted from both perspectives draw attention to positive learner attitudes indicating high levels of motivation. The analysis reveals that although studies are subject to limitations, they have produced promising results. This suggests that further theory-led work in this area is justified, as it offers the prospect of making a significant contribution to the research base. As work continues, areas of potential interest in praxis, theory and future research are identified.

The Role of Social Interaction Element on Intention to Play MMORPG in the Future

Few studies examine how massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) players react when they are faced with constraints that prevent them from continuing to play the game or to play as much as they desire. This study used the concept of leisure constraint negotiation process and social capital construct to understand how players deal with the above situation by initiating negotiation strategies to mitigate the constraints. Using partial least squares method as the analytical tool, this empirical study showed that the social interaction element of MMORPG plays a major role in influencing the outcomes of the negotiation process. Social capital plays a role in propelling negotiation strategies, and different types of social capitals are needed to trigger different negotiation strategies. This study further demonstrates: which negotiation strategy is triggered depends on which constraints and negotiation strategies matter most to the leisure seekers. There is also a need for congruence between motivation and negotiation strategy.