The Gamer Taxonomy
If you play video games, you are a gamer. There is a huge community of gamers out there. They have many different reasons for playing. They want to socialize, compete, and interact. They are also explorers who like to look into hidden areas of the game.
“Gaming” has become an increasingly popular pastime, especially with the advent of the internet. In fact, the Entertainment Software Association estimates that 164 million adults are currently playing video games. The number of households that include at least one gamer is also high, with roughly three quarters of these families having at least one member who plays.
While most of the media’s focus is on multi-user “worlds” facilitated by broadband connections, the actual definition of gaming may be more complicated. Some of the more common definitions involve handheld devices, while others refer to more traditional, elaborate games that can be played on a PC or through IP networks. The gamer taxonomy is a list of general behavioral categories for gamers, based on personality inventory matrixes. The taxonomy can be divided into four basic groups: explorers, socializers, achievers, and killers.
The explorers are the ones that enjoy playing the game for themselves, a good way to experience the game and learn the ins and outs. They often spend hours at a time putting in the effort to complete a task or mission. They are likely to find glitches and Easter eggs that other players might not find. They might be willing to help other gamers with their game.
The socializers are the type who like to chat and make friends. They are happy to help others with their game and may be the ones to start a heated discussion. They might even be willing to pay for ad revenue or sponsorships to promote their game.
The gamer is the person who is constantly playing video or tabletop games. He or she is probably tech savvy and puts little effort into personal hygiene. He or she also has unmet needs that gaming fulfills. For example, a gamer might need to be connected to other players for support or to get advice on a new game. This could be the case if he or she is a streamer. This means posting videos of himself or herself playing a game.
Achievers are the most active gamers, who will spend hours at a time putting in hours at a time to complete a task or mission. They also are the type that has a hard time letting go of their gaming experience. This could be the case if a game is failing in the competitive scene, as finding a new game might be necessary to improve the player’s performance. The other thing that a gamer will need is stable connectivity. A lack of this can negatively affect his or her performance.
The most obvious gamer taxonomy is the Bartle’s gamer taxonomy. It outlines gamers into four basic groups: explorers, killers, socializers, and achievers. While this list doesn’t include everyone, it does give an idea of what types of gamers are most common.