 |
|
USC: gamers play against type
September 25, 2008Avid online role-players do not fit gamer stereotypes, survey finds
Participants in the role-playing game EverQuest II defy the stereotype of the overweight male teenager, researchers reported this month in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.
The average age of the 7,000 players surveyed was 31, said first author Dmitri Williams, assistant professor in the USC Annenberg School for Communication.
"We found that older players were more typical," Williams said. There were more players in their 30s than in their 20s, and playing time tended to increase with age.
In addition, while women made up only 20 percent of players, they logged more time in the game than their male counterparts.
"The hardcore players are the women," Williams said. "They play more hours, they're less likely to quit."
Players also stated that they exercise vigorously once or twice a week - more than most people - and their reported height and weight showed that they are slightly overweight, but still 10 percent leaner than the average American.
Even assuming a modest amount of under-reporting, the survey suggests that serious gamers resemble the general population in overall fitness.
The fitness data point to an intriguing difference between television and online game experiences.
The researchers cited studies showing that time spent watching television is related to poor health outcomes and fewer servings of fruits and vegetables. But EverQuest II players do not appear to fit this profile.
On the popular virtual worlds blog Terra Nova, a comment about the EverQuest II survey blamed commercials for television viewers' poor health habits (http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2008/09/who-plays-how-m.html).
The results conformed to stereotypes in some respects. Data provided by Sony Online Entertainment, which runs the game, showed that players spent a large amount of time in-game: 26 hours per week on average.
Survey respondents were roughly 50 percent more likely to have had a depression diagnosis than the population at large. The rate of substance addiction was about 20 percent higher than normal.
On the other hand, players reported slightly lower levels of anxiety than the general population.
The researchers warned against inferring that online gaming compromises mental health. It may be that individuals with mental health issues play the game as a form of self-medication, or that individuals with these issues are simply more attracted to the game, they said. The lower anxiety may reflect players' efforts to regulate their moods through play.
University of Southern California
"We found that older players were more typical," Williams said. There were more players in their 30s than in their 20s, and playing time tended to increase with age.
In addition, while women made up only 20 percent of players, they logged more time in the game than their male counterparts.
"The hardcore players are the women," Williams said. "They play more hours, they're less likely to quit."
Players also stated that they exercise vigorously once or twice a week - more than most people - and their reported height and weight showed that they are slightly overweight, but still 10 percent leaner than the average American.
Even assuming a modest amount of under-reporting, the survey suggests that serious gamers resemble the general population in overall fitness.
The fitness data point to an intriguing difference between television and online game experiences.
The researchers cited studies showing that time spent watching television is related to poor health outcomes and fewer servings of fruits and vegetables. But EverQuest II players do not appear to fit this profile.
On the popular virtual worlds blog Terra Nova, a comment about the EverQuest II survey blamed commercials for television viewers' poor health habits (http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2008/09/who-plays-how-m.html).
The results conformed to stereotypes in some respects. Data provided by Sony Online Entertainment, which runs the game, showed that players spent a large amount of time in-game: 26 hours per week on average.
Survey respondents were roughly 50 percent more likely to have had a depression diagnosis than the population at large. The rate of substance addiction was about 20 percent higher than normal.
On the other hand, players reported slightly lower levels of anxiety than the general population.
The researchers warned against inferring that online gaming compromises mental health. It may be that individuals with mental health issues play the game as a form of self-medication, or that individuals with these issues are simply more attracted to the game, they said. The lower anxiety may reflect players' efforts to regulate their moods through play.
University of Southern California
No strong link seen between violent video games and aggression
Results from the first long-term study of online videogame playing may be surprising. Contrary to popular opinion and most previous research, the new study found that players' "robust exposure" to a highly violent online game did not cause any substantial real-world aggression.
More Role-playing Game Current Events and Role-playing Game News Articles
 | World Tree: A Role Playing Game of Species and Civilization by Bard Bloom, Victoria Borah Bloom Readers can learn the detailed information about the inhabitants of the WorldTree and play their own games in its domain.... |
 | Control: The Game of Absolute Corruption (A non-d20 Role-Playing Game) by Lee Garvin, The Skirmisher Game Development Group Are you in control? Prepare for a unique role-playing experience. In Control, players take on the roles of men and women investigating a world-spanning conspiracy. Characters can be created in less than five minutes, using an exciting system of "qualities." The gamemaster (or Controler) can create any conspiracy he can imagine with Control’s build system—from ancient supernatural... |
 | The Marvel Universe Role Playing Game: Guide to the Hulk & the Avengers by Marvel Entertainment Avengers Assemble. The second supplement to the Marvel Universe Role-Playing Guide delivers Earth's Mightiest Heroes in all their glory... and most of their lineups. You'll find dozens of new super hero and super-villain profiles, as well as a few surprises, including Character Variants for the Hulk, Thor, Giant-Man, and Iron Man. Add to your campaign with Aliens, demi-gods, super-villains,... |
| THE ROMULANS: Starfleet Intelligence Manual United Federation of Plantes Star Trek The Role Playing Game by David F.; McLimore, Guy W., Jr.; Poehlein, Greg K Tepool | |
 | Tests of Skill: A d20 Adventure and Sourcebook for Fantasy Role-Playing Games by Paul O. Knorr, Michael J. Varhola, Skirmisher Game Development Group Tests of Skill is an adventure module and sourcebook designed to entertain and challenge players through scenarios and encounters that can be overcome optimally through role-playing, skill use, and diplomacy. While traditional hack-and-slash techniques can be used to complete portions of the scenarios, most groups will find that tact, thought, and appropriate use of skills, feats, and abilities... |
 | Experts v.3.5: A Comprehensive d20/OGL Sourcebook for Fantasy Role-Playing Games by Michael J. Varhola, Paul O. Knorr, Perry Frix, Skirmisher Game Development Group, Gary Gygax Experts v.3.5 is thoroughly updated, expanded, and revised version of Experts, Skirmisher Publishing’s first and most successful title, and is dedicated to expansion of the Expert non-player character class that is briefly described in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Features include: * A new layout and design and many new or improved pieces of art. * The Specialist, a new basic character... |
| DC Heroes Role-Playing Game, 2nd Ed. (Boxed Set) | |
 | Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book by Mark C. MacKinnon Welcome to the ultimate English-language guide for one of the most popular Japanese anime shows of all times! Sailor Moon is a hit with boys and girls of all ages, and is watched on Cartoon Network`s popular `Toonami` programming block every day by over one million viewers. This book offers a comprehensive Sailor Moon resource and reference section, including episode summaries, character bios,... |
 | Justice, Inc: The Role-Playing Game of the '20s & '30s [BOX SET] by Aaron Allston, Steve Peterson, Michael Stackpole "Become part of the Golden Age of adventure -- be the hero in a story you help create! Justice Inc. is designed to introduce the novice to role-playing games, but offers a challenge to even the most experienced game player." Justice Inc. contains a 96-page rulebook & an 80-page Campaign Book with adventures & background. Compatible with Champions and all Hero Systems... |
 | Programming Role Playing Games with DirectX, Second Edition (Game Development Series) by Jim Adams No game draws a player into its world in quite the same way as a role-playing game does. In role-playing games, players break through the barrier that exists between their actions and the fantastic world that they’re navigating through and instead become an inhabitant of that world. Get ready to put your creative ideas in motion and try your hand at creating your own role-playing game!... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |