Focused on the prize: Characteristics of experts in massive multiplayer online games

Jing Wang; David A. Huffaker; Jeffrey W. Treem; Lindsay Fullerton; Muhammad A. Ahmad; Dmitri Williams; Marshall Scott Poole; Noshir Contractor

doi:10.5210/fm.v16i8.3672

Focused on the prize: Characteristics of experts in massive multiplayer online games

Jing Wang^*, David A. Huffaker, Jeffrey W. Treem, Lindsay Fullerton, Muhammad A. Ahmad, Dmitri Williams, Marshall Scott Poole, Noshir Contractor

^*Corresponding author for this work

Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study is the first large-scale multi-method attempt to empirically examine the characteristics leading to development of expertise in EverQuest II, a popular massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMOs). Benefiting from the unprecedented opportunity of obtaining game log data matched with survey data, the project investigated the relationship between player motivations and in-game behavior, personality characteristics, and demographic attributes with game performance and achievement, which we refer to as game "expertise." Players who were high on achievement motivation or social motivation had higher game expertise, while those high on immersion motivation had lower expertise. Game experts were also characterized by focusing their game time on completing tasks. Younger players showed a slim advantage over older players. Male and female players exhibited similar expertise levels in this MMO.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	First Monday
Volume	16
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i8.3672
State	Published - Aug 1 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Law
Human-Computer Interaction
Computer Networks and Communications

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Cite this

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Focused on the prize: Characteristics of experts in massive multiplayer online games

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