If you’re a seasoned gamer, you have by now probably classified yourself as a certain type of gamer, or at the very least you have (consciously or otherwise) settled into a particular style of gaming. If someone asks you questions like “What kinds of games do you love playing the most?” and “What things do you value most in a game?” your answers could reveal some interesting insight into your unique personality, and what motivates you to play the games which bring you the most delight.
Of course, many of us don’t limit ourselves to only one type of genre or playing style. Perhaps - depending on your mood - you might feel like slashing demons in Doom on one day, swirling through the tranquil waters of Abzû on another, or building the dreamhouse you’ll never have in The Sims on yet another.
But despite some crossover, most gamers will find that overall they tend to adopt a particular player style over another - even across games of different genres. In 1996, Richard Bartle - a renowned professor and games researcher - wrote a paper that introduced the idea of four main “player types” into which gamers can be categorized, according to what motivates them the most when playing games. These are: Socializers, Explorers, Achievers, and Killers.
The Socializer
As mentioned, Socializers would naturally gravitate towards games that emphasize, well, socializing. So games such as Farmville - or basically any multiplayer-based game - would hold particular appeal. But this could extend to single-player settings too, say, in games where interpersonal relationships form a core feature, such as in the Mass Effect series.
The Explorer
The Achiever
The Killer
How Can This Be Applied To Game Design?
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