Why We Play Games Part A Parents Guide To Online Gaming

Xbox 360 Video Games Plus PC Gaming.

 RSS  feed      Home      
The best games Overload Your Console

Free music downloads - Cell phone ringtones - FREE Unlimited MP3 Downloads - iPod movie downloads - Free psp games - All psp games


Share |

Unlimited Games and Music

You are free to use content from this page in your blog or website, in return for a link back to this page from that blog or website.



Why We Play Games, Part 1


There exists some ephemeral quality that separates gamers from the rest of humanity, some thing that makes us, us and them, not us. I've never been able to quite put my finger on it, but it is inescapably there. Today, in hopes of moving closer to that essential quality of gamerosity, we examine part of what makes us tick. In particular, we take a look at what draws different types of gamers to the hobby. Every gamer plays for different reasons, but there are common threads that tie the experience together.

Many gamers are motivated by the challenge a game can present. Success in a game may be governed by any of a wide variety of abilities. A First Person Shooter requires twitch reflexes, a steady hand and the ability to remain calm under pressure. A word puzzle game may require an extensive vocabulary and the ability to rethink the uses of old words, but no measure of speed. A sports simulation might well require an in-depth knowledge of the topic, in addition to arcade skill, but is unlikely to have terribly much concern for linguistic acumen.

The common thread is that all of the games challenge some subset of a player's abilities. This challenge can be a powerful motivator. The Challenge Motivated gamer is drawn to a game that tests their skills, preferably one that tests them to their limits. The gamer may also be motivated by the natural improvement that comes from working at peak. They are driven then, not only to excel, but to improve. Challenge Motivated Gamers thrive whenever a game pushes their skill set of choice, but may be disinterested in games that fall too far away from the target.

Competition is a close cousin of challenge. Many gamers are driven by the need to prove they are the best, to be pitted against their fellows and come out on top. Competition minded gamers range from those looking for a challenge in a fair fight to the sort of win-at-all cost leet speaking infants that give us all a bad name. Competition can be easy to take too far. There is nothing inherently wrong with being driven by competition. To some extent, competition is merely challenge taken to the extreme. It is only when it leads to mistreating your fellow player that it begins to become less a motivation and more an unfortunate personality quirk. Competition Motivated players thrive on those games where they are pitted against one another with the outcome dictated by skill at playing the game. They will often wane in those environments that either require cooperation, such as many MMORPGs, or in games where skill plays a much smaller role, such as in less sophisticated card or dice games.

Next week we will take a look at some other common gamer motivations, including Creativity and Escapism.

Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games articles and reviews. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for free plus enjoy thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at GrandMatrix Free Game Downloads


Cat 1249


Sony PSP Slim & Lite Core Pack Blk Handheld 1 Game Holiday Bundle w/ Accessories
ebay image$240.09 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:08:03 PST
Buy It Now for only: $264.22
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Uncharted 1 & 2 Double Pack Playstation3 Game SONY
ebay image$29.99
End Date: Wednesday Feb-29-2012 15:54:05 PST
Buy It Now for only: $29.99
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Xbox 360 GAMES SPLATTERHOUSE & WATCHMEN THE END IS NIGH PARTS 1 & 2
ebay image$45.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:08:09 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

NINTENDO 64 N64 GAME SYSTEM 2 CONTROLLERS AND 6 GAMES
ebay image$45.88
End Date: Wednesday Feb-29-2012 11:23:02 PST
Buy It Now for only: $45.88
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

50 Classic Games (Nintendo DS, 2009)
ebay image$9.50 (2 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:08:36 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

CARS (greatest hits) SONY PLAY STATION 2 GAME RATED E FOR EVERYONE LOW PRICE!!!
ebay image$2.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:09:03 PST
Buy It Now for only: $8.99
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Tetris PLUS - PS1 PSone Playstation 1 2 - Complete
ebay image$6.95
End Date: Tuesday Feb-28-2012 13:09:30 PST
Buy It Now for only: $6.95
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

SMACK DOWN SHUT YOUR MOUTH SONY PLAY STATION 2 GAME RATED T FOR TEEN USED LOW $$
ebay image$1.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:11:55 PST
Buy It Now for only: $4.99
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Ace Combat Assault Horizon (Sony Playstation 3) Namco Bandai Region 1
ebay image$42.90
End Date: Monday Feb-27-2012 15:47:35 PST
Buy It Now for only: $42.90
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

MEN IN BLACK MIB ALIEN ESCAPE SONY PLAY STATION 2 GAME RATED T FOR TEEN LOW $$$
ebay image$2.99 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:12:27 PST
Buy It Now for only: $8.99
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Nintendo Wii New Super Mario Bros. Bundle: 2 Games, Travel Bag, Yoga Mat & MORE!
ebay image$268.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:12:52 PST
Buy It Now for only: $296.09
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

F1 2011 (Playstation 3, 2011)
ebay image$24.95
End Date: Thursday Mar-1-2012 10:41:06 PST
Buy It Now for only: $24.95
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Nintendo Wii New Super Mario Bros. Bundle: 2 Games, Travel Bag, Yoga Mat & MORE!
ebay image$268.00 (0 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 5:20:32 PST
Buy It Now for only: $296.59
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Nintendo Wii Black Console (NTSC) Only, No Games, Cables,Controllers, or Sensor
ebay image$99.99
End Date: Thursday Mar-8-2012 19:38:45 PST
Buy It Now for only: $99.99
Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Home Business Plan

Peel Away Ads Marketing And Advertising without Pop-Ups, Fly-Ins or Pop-Unders
home | Games site map | custom google search | Privacy policy
Copyright © 2011 www.dovada.net.au Australia Web Hosting