Welcome to the InfoSci Platform
Game Design and the Challenge-Avoiding, Self-Validator Player Type

Game Design and the Challenge-Avoiding, Self-Validator Player Type

Carrie Heeter, Brian Magerko, Ben Medler, Joe Fitzgerald
Copyright: © 2011 |Pages: 15
ISBN13: 9781609605650|ISBN10: 1609605659|EISBN13: 9781609605667
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-565-0.ch004
Cite Chapter Cite Chapter

MLA

Heeter, Carrie, et al. "Game Design and the Challenge-Avoiding, Self-Validator Player Type." Discoveries in Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations: New Interdisciplinary Applications, edited by Richard E. Ferdig, IGI Global, 2011, pp. 49-63. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60960-565-0.ch004

APA

Heeter, C., Magerko, B., Medler, B., & Fitzgerald, J. (2011). Game Design and the Challenge-Avoiding, Self-Validator Player Type. In R. Ferdig (Ed.), Discoveries in Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations: New Interdisciplinary Applications (pp. 49-63). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60960-565-0.ch004

Chicago

Heeter, Carrie, et al. "Game Design and the Challenge-Avoiding, Self-Validator Player Type." In Discoveries in Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations: New Interdisciplinary Applications, edited by Richard E. Ferdig, 49-63. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2011. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60960-565-0.ch004

Export Reference

Mendeley
Favorite

Abstract

Achiever and Explorer player types are well known in MMOs and educational games. Players who enjoy being a winner, but dislike hard challenges (“Self-Validators”) are a heretofore ignored but commonly occurring player type. Self-Validators worry about and are distressed by failing. They can simply avoid playing overly difficult games for entertainment. But in a required learning game, Self-Validators’ excessive worry about failing can interfere with learning. The authors consider whether and how eight very different modern games accommodate Explorers, Achievers, and Self-Validators and discuss implications for entertainment and learning game design and research. Seven of eight diverse games analyzed primarily served either the Explorer or Achiever player type. Self-Validators were partially accommodated in some Achiever-oriented games, through user-selectable difficulty. Design with all three types in mind would encourage inclusion of features that enable players to optimize their preferred style of play.

Request Access

You do not own this content. Please login to recommend this title to your institution's librarian or purchase it from the IGI Global bookstore.