Gamers – The Types of Video Game Enthusiasts
A gamer is a video game enthusiast who plays games as part of a hobby, for fun, to socialize with friends or family or for a competitive edge. Gamers are often seen as a stereotypical young, male consumer with a propensity for overuse injuries like tendonitis and neck and back problems. But a growing body of academic research shows that gaming can actually be good for you and can even help you connect with other people.
A gaming culture has emerged that allows gamers to monetize their passion by creating content around their game play. They can live stream their gameplay on platforms like Twitch and YouTube and make money through viewer donations and sponsorships. They can also become e-sports athletes who compete in tournaments and televised events. And some of them even use their passion for gaming to create a career, finding jobs in areas like game design, production, marketing and advertising.
Most people who consider themselves gamers are those who play multi-player games. These include role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons where players must complete a long list of main quest objectives to finish the game as well as many smaller side missions that flesh out the story. Multi-player online games (MMORPGs) and virtual reality and augmented reality are also popular with gamers as they provide an opportunity to socialize in the real world with other players while playing video games.
Gamers can be found in a variety of occupations including software engineers, game developers, video editors and social media managers. They are also a hugely important demographic for gaming companies because they drive sales of new consoles, hardware and games. They are also a key audience for advertisers and marketers who want to reach a highly engaged and targeted audience.
Some gamers find ways to monetize their gaming activities by building communities online and creating content around their gameplay. They can be called streamers or vloggers and are often seen as influencers who have a strong impact on the gaming industry. In addition, some gamers have a passion for retro gaming and collect old games and consoles.
When developing a video game, understanding the different types of gamers can help develop balanced gameplay experiences that appeal to all players. A framework called the Bartle Player Taxonomy identifies four types of gamers: Achievers, Explorers, Socializers and Killers. Understanding these types can help developers create games with a wide range of gameplay experiences that appeal to all gamers, improving long term player retention and community building. Achievers are primarily focused on progressing through the game, reaching milestones and winning rewards. Explorers enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of a game, uncovering hidden areas and easter eggs and mastering game mechanics and lore. Socializers prefer to socialize with other players and enjoy forming friendships and communities within the game world. Killers are primarily focused on competing with and asserting dominance over other players, often through PvP mechanics and ranked systems.