| Last week we started to get into the | | | | complexity available to them. They gravitate |
| motivation of the gamer. We discussed | | | | toward role playing and simulation, |
| challenge and its ugly stepsister | | | | environments where the world is rich and |
| competition, two of the most common | | | | believable. They tend to avoid abstract games |
| motivators. Today, we look at two more on the | | | | where the underlying reality is difficult to |
| way to forming an overall model for what | | | | believe or understand. It is a strange sort |
| moves us.Perhaps less common than the first | | | | of paradox that MMORPGS, with their |
| two motivators, creativity is nonetheless an | | | | incredibly deep histories and expansive |
| important driving force in the gamer psyche. | | | | worlds, are not as attractive to Escapism |
| Though at first gaming doesn't seem like a | | | | Motivated gamers as pure RPGs. This effect |
| particularly creative act, what with its | | | | arises from the multiplayer aspect. Players |
| formalized rules and structured systems, | | | | talking in a public channel about out of game |
| there is much more room for self expression | | | | topics or, worse, about the mechanical and |
| than one might think. Some games play to this | | | | numerical aspects of the game world may well |
| directly through unique presentations or | | | | ruin the escapists experience and cause them |
| artistic themes. Music games and many of the | | | | to seek the company of non player characters |
| Sim titles are basically just expressive | | | | or others who share their motivation.Much has |
| outlets that happen to be governed by a | | | | been made of the downside of escapism. A |
| computerized system of rules. Other creatives | | | | gamer who spends too much time in a world not |
| find their outlet in multiplayer gaming. The | | | | their own can begin to lose touch. This sort |
| modern MMORPG sports equipment and decorative | | | | of disassociation with reality can, and has, |
| combinations numbering well into the | | | | lead to all sorts of problems with work, |
| millions. The Creatively Motivated gamer | | | | school and personal relations. This does not |
| takes pleasure in designing how their | | | | mean, however, that escapism is itself an |
| character looks as well as changing how they | | | | unhealthy thing. It is a basic part of the |
| interact with their environment. Creatively | | | | human experience. The reason we vacation, |
| Motivated gamers thrive when outlets are | | | | watch moves, enjoy sporting events or go |
| available. Anything involving a high degree | | | | camping is inherently escapist. As people, we |
| of expression, decoration, or a large | | | | are often unsatisfied with out lot in life. |
| abstract component draws them. They wilt in | | | | It's natural to seek out activities that |
| gaming environments governed purely by | | | | allow us to experience something outside of |
| numbers, and in those where presentation is | | | | our day to day. Gaming is no different. |
| extremely homogeneous.Though we sometimes | | | | However, as gamers, we are an oft |
| don't like to admit it, escapism is a | | | | misunderstood community. We owe it to |
| motivation that lives in the heart of every | | | | ourselves and to the world at large both to |
| gamer. By design, a game creates an | | | | fight with information, by spreading the |
| inherently different world. Even games which | | | | positive realities of gaming and gamer |
| have as one of their primary goals simulation | | | | culture, and to fight internally against |
| of some aspect of the real world recast the | | | | obsession. No matter how good a substitute |
| player into some role they find more exciting | | | | for the real world a game may seem it is, in |
| than their own. Escaping into the role of | | | | the end, only a pastime. Leave it once in a |
| adventurer, pilot, quarterback or even | | | | while.Next week, we conclude with Social |
| zookeeper provides motivation for nearly | | | | Interaction. Then, we'll move on to some sort |
| every gamer. Escapism Motivated gamers seek | | | | of unified theory about all this.Steve is a |
| out games where the environment is rich, | | | | member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide |
| comprehensive, real. They thrive in worlds | | | | a broad range of games, puzzles, articles and |
| where suspension of disbelief is high, where | | | | reviews. |
| they can lose themselves in the depth and | | | | |