Chapter 2 of Edward Castronova’s book Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games looks at the motivations of users and their attraction to virtual worlds. These motivations are divided into four types by Richard A. Bartle:
1. Explorers – People who come to see what is there and to map it for others. They are happiest with challenges that involve the gradual revelation of the world. They want the world to be very big, and filled with hidden beauty that can only be unlocked through persistence and creativity.
2. Socializers – People who come to be with others. They are happiest with challenges that involve forming groups with others to accomplish shared objectives. They want the world to have extensive social infrastructure and shared activities: towns, clubs, arenas, weddings, hunting parties.
3. Achievers – People who come to build. They are happiest with challenges that involve the gradual accumulation of things worthy of social respect. They want the world that allows all kinds of capital accumulation and reputation-building. They want the ability to increase the power of their avatar, to build new structures, to hoard wealth, and to change the world itself.
4. Controllers – People who come to dominate other people. They are happiest with challenges that involve competing with others and defeating them. Also described as “griefers,” they want worlds that allow users to intervene in the activities of other users, so that a record of domination and control can be established. To them, it is all sport.
Castronova, E. 2005, Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games, The University of Chicago Press, USA, pp.72-73
