Here are my notes on Richard Bartle's article entitled 'Players Who Suit MUDs'. Bartle divides MUD players into four categories.
Killers
Achievers
Explorers
Socialisers
He then uses the following graph to represent the players' source of interest in a MUD.
ACTING
Killers | Achievers
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PLAYERS -------------------+------------------- WORLD
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Socialisers | Explorers
INTERACTINGAs Bartle explains, the X and Y axis of the graph show general areas in which players who suit MUDs can be defined, while the corners of the graph further separate the players. Below I have listed the main points associated with a player who fits into each of Bartle's four main categories.
Killers:
This type of player falls into the 'acting' section of the graph. They are the type of player who plays games to act on other people. They are not as concerned with interacting with the game world as the other types of players. Generally speaking killers act on other players without their consent and may enjoy doing things in a game world which would be punishable in real life. Killers play the game to be destructive and damaging even if their crimes cause them to be punished in the game world.
Achievers:
Achievers fall into the 'acting' and 'world' sections of the graph. This is because they are the type of player that acts with the game world to reach goals. An achiever's main goal is to master the game and while other players add a feel of authenticity, they are not the reason an achiever plays a game. Their main objective is to complete everything there is to complete and master each aspect of the game.
Explorers:
As you can see from the graph, explorers interact with the game world. They are not the sort of player who has to achieve everything or interact with every player. They are the sort of player who plays the game to interact with the world and explore everything it has to offer. Explorers are often more knowledgeable on the intricate details of the game world as they spend their time exploring everything within it. While they may collect points and items, it's not their goal to be the best, they enjoy playing the game for everything it has to give.
Socialisers:
A socialisers main objective is to interact with other players in the game world. They play the game to talk with others and strike up friendships between themselves and other players. These type of players see the game merely as a setting in which they can interact with others that have a similar interest as themselves.
As you can see, each player can be separated quite effectively into these categories. While i generally agree with this, I also feel that many players fall into a number of these areas. Take myself, for example. While I would mostly put myself in the explorer category, I often find myself striving to be the best within a game which usually leads me into the killer category. I also like to socialise with other players and while i would say this is the category i fit into least, I do occasionally play games to interact with other. I personally feel that a players mood will ultimately decide on which category they will fall into each time they play a game, it certainly does with me.
Bartle then goes on to explain how different styles of players act when confronted with a player who has a totally different objective to them. While i won't go through and explain each one individually, i will touch on a few points. Generally speaking, if an explorer comes into contact with another explorer or a socialiser with another socialiser, their goals and objectives will be the same. Explorers will have respect for one another while socialisers will be able to communicate for hours about subjects they are both interested in. Achievers will see other achievers as competition which killers will view each other in the same way.
When one type of player comes into contact with a player who has opposite goals, they tend to have less respect for them than if they were someone with similar interests. They will often feel that their way of playing the game is correct and may regard the other player as a 'loser' for playing it differently. Socialisers are generally viewed as pointless among the other types of players as they aren't competition and while they may have some interesting things to say about the game, they add nothing to it. They may often be viewed with pity or irritation by players with opposite goals.
I feel this article does a good job of describing the different motivations that players have for playing games. It touches on most styles of play and was a very interesting read. MUDs themselves have helped develop these styles of play so now most of us can relate to one category more than another.
