Target Audience
Player Motivation
Understanding player types provides valuable insights into how to engage with our audience. However, it's equally important to examine the diverse motivations that drive potential players to choose our game.
Community
The players who are motivated by community are driven by sharing experiences with others, and tend to be more collaborative and dependent on others within gameplay. Games in which the majority of players are motivated by community emphasize teamwork and collaboration, such as MMOs like Battlefield, Destiny, and Final Fantasy XIV. Games in which very few players are motivated by community emphasize solo and independent gameplay, where the gamer is always in full control.
Strategy
Gamers who score high for this motivation want long-term strategies they can plan out and execute. Games they enjoy playing integrate complex decision-making into the gameplay that require them to anticipate a number of potential contingencies. Popular high-strategy games from our survey are StarCraft II, Crusader Kings II, and Stellaris. Conversely, games with low strategy scores are more spontaneous, where decisions can be made with a small amount of information, and without needing to think or plan ahead too much. From our data, games that fit this bracket include The Sims, Mario Kart Wii, and Disney Emoji Blitz.
Completion
Gamers who score high on completion are driven by quantifiable, consistent rewards that clearly show progress. Games that cater to this cohort are task-oriented and clear, with predictable conversion mechanics between time and reward. MMOs, particularly in the Asian market, scored very high for the completion motivation, with Dragon Nest, Lego Dimensions, and Aura Kingdom featuring heavily. Games on the low end of the completion spectrum, such as Victoria II and Kerbal Space Program, are more sandboxy, meaning gamers are encouraged to roam, decide what they want to do, and define goals for themselves. Completion is the most age stable motivation in our model, and is higher for women.
Design
Gamers who score high for design are motivated by expressing individuality and personal flair in the context of a game. Popular games for this cohort include The Sims, Guild Wars 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online. However, some of the games popular with those who score low on the design motivation are far from bland or generic, and in fact had unique styles and artistic visions: Braid, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Spelunky are some examples. A different way to make sense of the design spectrum is how much aesthetic control the designer has versus the gamer. In other words, perhaps those on the low end of the design motivation spectrum are gamers willing to experience a curated gameplay and relinquish control to the game designers. Our data tells us that the appeal of design peaks early, with females scoring higher.
Player Types
We have identified six distinct player categories, as detailed below, and tailored our game to captivate each group. This approach ensures a dynamic, engaging experience and a well-balanced economy for everyone involved.
Strategists: These players enjoy planning and decision-making aspects. They thrive on optimizing resource management, planning land plot layouts, or strategizing land use to maximize productivity and benefits.
Explorers: Explorers are drawn to the discovery aspects of games. They love uncovering hidden elements, exploring vast landscapes, or finding unique buildings or creatures.
Socializers: Socializers play games primarily for interaction with others. They enjoy the community aspect, whether it's cooperating with others, trading resources, or competing in tournaments.
Competitors: Competitors are driven by the urge to win, whether in direct combat, leaderboards, or tournaments. They might focus on building a strong team to dominate in battles.
Creators: Creators find joy in designing and personalizing their spaces. They spend time meticulously planning their layouts, choosing buildings, and placing decorations to create a unique look.
Economists: These players are interested in the economic systems within games. They might engage in trading, market speculation, or resource management to amass wealth. Games The Monsterverse, with its player-driven economy and complex economic models, can be particularly engaging for them.
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