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 For Stanford PhD candidate Nick Yee, MMORPG's aren't just about fun and diversion; they're a socio-psychological phenomenon with potentially huge implications for society.
Who are MMO gamers? What are the "rules" of the MMO culture? Has this become a new hunting ground in the search for a mate, another battleground in the war between the sexes - or both? What type of social activities and societal diseases are showing up in the virtual world of online gaming?
The answers may surprise you. Nick Yee has been studying MMO gaming for going on seven years, and among some of his more surprising discoveries:
- Only about 25% of MMO gamers are teenagers. In fact, the "typical" MMO gamer is aged 26.
- Half of all MMO gamers have full-time employment. 36% of these are married, and 22% have children. Despite this, they manage to find 22 hours per week to devote to gaming, and a full 60% say they have played for as long as 10 hours in one sitting.
- Contrary to the stereotype of the lonely, dysfunctional nerd who has no life, 80% of all MMO gamers play with people they know and with whom they are in some kind of relationship (family member, friend, lover, or other).
As to the "why," Yee has been unable to come up with a single answer. In fact, one major appeal of MMO gaming is that it has something to offer to nearly everyone. Some play for power, others for the opportunities to socialize, still others are attracted to the creative dramatics. There are as many reasons for playing as there are games.
Yee's research is ongoing. If you would like to participate in his study, click the Read link below.
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