The Gamers Taxonomy
Gamers are people who routinely play interactive games, whether video games, tabletop role-playing games or skill-based card games. They engage in these activities for usually long periods of time, and often spend a lot of money on gaming-related equipment. There are a variety of different ways to define gamers, but most of them involve grouping them into specific categories based on their gameplay habits and characteristics. One of the most popular gamer classification schemes is a taxonomy created by Bartle that assigns players to one of four types.
The first category, Recreational (casual) Gamers, represents the largest segment of gamers worldwide and includes people who play video games for fun or as a social experience. They enjoy creating virtual characters and the role-playing opportunities they offer but do not feel compelled to play games in order to satisfy a need for escape or achievement. These people tend to have low impulsivity and high self-esteem. They play video games a few times per week, and for a few hours each session. They also have many other interests and hobbies that they participate in regularly.
Enthusiast Gamers represent 5% of the global gaming population and are the second most common persona type in this study. They are similar to the Ultimate Gamer persona, but with more of a focus on the community aspects of gaming. This persona is more likely to be full-time workers and has enough disposable income to purchase Day 1 releases on a regular basis. They balance gaming with other interests more evenly than the Ultimate and Casual Gamer personas, but still find time to watch streaming games, follow industry news and chat with fellow gamers online.
In addition to the social aspects of gaming, these personas value the ability to explore detailed and immersive game worlds. They also like the ability to challenge themselves by taking risks and overcoming obstacles in games, which can help them build skills in their real-world careers as well. Developing analytical problem-solving skills, such as pattern recognition and inductive reasoning, is a key aspect of gaming. For example, a player can experiment with weapon combinations in a game to see which ones work best to defeat an enemy. Then, he or she can use that knowledge in real-life situations to tackle challenging problems that may arise at work.
Despite the fact that most games are designed to be enjoyable, there are some gamers who become toxic in their interactions with other people. This can include a wide range of behavior, from using racist, sexist or homophobic language to arguing over trivial matters such as which character to choose in a new game or which team to join for a multiplayer match. It’s important for everyone to remember that these people are not representing their entire gaming community, and that they should not be treated as such. Moreover, it’s important for all gamers to take the time to reflect on their own gaming habits and behaviors to ensure they are not contributing to the negativity of their gaming community.