Ji-Lung Hsieh Advisor: Chuen-Tsai Sun

Virtual worlds What is a “virtual world”? Difficulties studying virtual worlds Advantages of information science Approaches Current results Future works

Virtual worlds

What is a “virtual world”?

Difficulties studying virtual worlds

Advantages of information science

Approaches

Current results

Future works

Users Self-contained inhabitants—players Virtual worlds are shared by multiple users Interaction happens in real time Environment Implemented by a computer or network of computers that simulates an environment Ongoing environment, and changing very fast Usually game-based environment R. Bartle, Designing virtual worlds . Indianapolis: New Riders Publishing, 2004.

Users

Self-contained inhabitants—players

Virtual worlds are shared by multiple users

Interaction happens in real time

Environment

Implemented by a computer or network of computers that simulates an environment

Ongoing environment, and changing very fast

Usually game-based environment

Definition of information science Discipline which studying information’s properties and behaviors Power to control information flow Making information more usable and amiable Virtual worlds hold large percentage of information and knowledge Human behaviors in real world are hard to be recorded H. Borko, “Information Science: What is it? ” . American Documentation, 1968.

Definition of information science

Discipline which studying information’s properties and behaviors

Power to control information flow

Making information more usable and amiable

Virtual worlds hold large percentage of information and knowledge

Human behaviors in real world are hard to be recorded

Properties of virtual worlds Virtual worlds are ongoing and change very fast Users interact from physically separated computer terminals Ex. Guild combining and separating Virtual world controlled by game companies Difficult to obtain data – design and accessibility controlled by game companies Difficult to design experiments Ex. Player’s motivations and his/her avatar’s behaviors A. F. Seay, et al., "Project Massive: A study of online gaming communities," Proceedings of CHI 2004 , pp.1421-1424, 2004.

Properties of virtual worlds

Virtual worlds are ongoing and change very fast

Users interact from physically separated computer terminals

Ex. Guild combining and separating

Virtual world controlled by game companies

Difficult to obtain data – design and accessibility controlled by game companies

Difficult to design experiments

Ex. Player’s motivations and his/her avatar’s behaviors

Qualitative: off-game and described by players In-depth individual or group interviews Online/offline surveys Secondary data Quantitative : in-game and observed by researchers Digital video recorder for recording player’s behavior in real world Computer monitor for recording in-game activities in virtual worlds

Qualitative: off-game and described by players

In-depth individual or group interviews

Online/offline surveys

Secondary data

Quantitative : in-game and observed by researchers

Digital video recorder for recording player’s behavior in real world

Computer monitor for recording in-game activities in virtual worlds

Lack of representability Interview and survey samples can be biased Lack of generality Players hide behind physically separated computer terminals Lack of consistency Virtual worlds are ongoing in real time Flow and Immersion Gap between in-game motivations and off-game descriptions A. F. Seay, et al., "Project Massive: A study of online gaming communities," Proceedings of CHI 2004 , pp.1421-1424, 2004.

Lack of representability

Interview and survey samples can be biased

Lack of generality

Players hide behind physically separated computer terminals

Lack of consistency

Virtual worlds are ongoing in real time

Flow and Immersion

Gap between in-game motivations and off-game descriptions

Virtual worlds Advantages of information (computer and IT) science Client-designed user interface(UI) trend Player-designed game content trend Available action (or query) log trend Approaches Current results Future works

Virtual worlds

Advantages of information (computer and IT) science

Client-designed user interface(UI) trend

Player-designed game content trend

Available action (or query) log trend

Approaches

Current results

Future works

Origins Web 2.0 and open source – sharing and peer-production Blurring boundaries between content providers and consumers or game developers and players Examples - Widgets, extensions, add-ons Yahoo! Widget , iGoogle , Firefox extension , MSN Messenger API, World of Warcraft UI Characteristics Service providers create engines and APIs Users can design their own tools and agents Main agent function is grabbing online information Data accessibility is still limited by service providers

Origins

Web 2.0 and open source – sharing and peer-production

Blurring boundaries between content providers and consumers or game developers and players

Examples - Widgets, extensions, add-ons

Yahoo! Widget , iGoogle , Firefox extension ,

MSN Messenger API, World of Warcraft UI

Characteristics

Service providers create engines and APIs

Users can design their own tools and agents

Main agent function is grabbing online information

Data accessibility is still limited by service providers

Calendar My ebay Clock New York Times Weather

Gmail To-Do List RSS Feeding Google Map Traffic View

2 . Save and Print 1.Clip

Design game elements Design game worlds: buildings, furniture, avatar actions, clothes, material, texture, …etc. e.g., Second life , Entropia Universe Design game content Player-designed “mods” (modification) and scenarios Examples: Half-life Counter-Strike , Warcraft III Design user interface(UI) Conveniently for controlling avatars and grabbing in-game information Example: World of Warcraft

Design game elements

Design game worlds: buildings, furniture, avatar actions, clothes, material, texture, …etc.

e.g., Second life , Entropia Universe

Design game content

Player-designed “mods” (modification) and scenarios

Examples: Half-life Counter-Strike , Warcraft III

Design user interface(UI)

Conveniently for controlling avatars and grabbing in-game information

Example: World of Warcraft

Differences from other MMOGs Allow players to own created objects No rules, objectives, winners/losers, experience points Virtual money can be exchanged for USD at a rate of 1:269 Players upload personal content to enrich game content and earn money Game Design Designed using LSL(Linden Scripting Language) More than 30% of all players are designers

Differences from other MMOGs

Allow players to own created objects

No rules, objectives, winners/losers, experience points

Virtual money can be exchanged for USD at a rate of 1:269

Players upload personal content to enrich game content and earn money

Game Design

Designed using LSL(Linden Scripting Language)

More than 30% of all players are designers

Game designer (Blizzard Entertainment) provides Game Engine Art Scenario creator Players design Storytelling Interaction rules Agents’ skills (agents are player- and system-controlled) Player-designed game categories Solo tower defense Two –camp combat Role-playing with rich storyline

Game designer (Blizzard Entertainment) provides

Game Engine

Art

Scenario creator

Players design

Storytelling

Interaction rules

Agents’ skills (agents are player- and system-controlled)

Player-designed game categories

Solo tower defense

Two –camp combat

Role-playing with rich storyline

Tower Defense Map Editor

Status Map Skills & tools Chatting Channel

Status

Map

Skills & tools

Chatting

Channel

Status Map Skills & tools Chatting Channel

Status

Map

Skills & tools

Chatting

Channel

Website transaction log e.g. Yahoo! Auction …etc. Website query log e.g. Google Image …etc. Personal information data e.g. Google Desktop …etc. Game Replay e.g. RTS games …etc. MMOG action or server logs e.g. World of Warcraft …etc.

Website transaction log

e.g. Yahoo! Auction …etc.

Website query log

e.g. Google Image …etc.

Personal information data

e.g. Google Desktop …etc.

Game Replay

e.g. RTS games …etc.

MMOG action or server logs

e.g. World of Warcraft …etc.

Virtual worlds Advantages of information science Approaches WoW client-designed user interface feature Current results Future works

Virtual worlds

Advantages of information science

Approaches

WoW client-designed user interface feature

Current results

Future works

Help control avatars Combinations of magic or skill Creating guides and maps for solving missions Influence on game play Private communication channels For communicating with friends on a “friend list” of guild members Collecting in-game information On avatar status Race, occupation(class) , level , location , log-in time On environment On buying and selling behavior

Help control avatars

Combinations of magic or skill

Creating guides and maps for solving missions

Influence on game play

Private communication channels

For communicating with friends on a “friend list” of guild members

Collecting in-game information

On avatar status

Race, occupation(class) , level , location , log-in time

On environment

On buying and selling behavior

Who should uses client-designed UI in MMOGs Researcher Game designer Advantages Quantitatively collecting in-game data Drawbacks Gap between players and their avatars Avatar activities cannot be viewed as fully representative of player’s behaviors and motives Limited accessibility to virtual worlds Control by game company

Who should uses client-designed UI in MMOGs

Researcher

Game designer

Advantages

Quantitatively collecting in-game data

Drawbacks

Gap between players and their avatars

Avatar activities cannot be viewed as fully representative of player’s behaviors and motives

Limited accessibility to virtual worlds

Control by game company

Collecting avatar data at a rate of 200 avatars per minute Date Time Avatar ID Level Race Class Guild ID 02/10/2006 18:31 A1 55 Orc Warlock G1 02/10/2006 18:31 A2 57 Dwarf Hunter G2 … … … … … … … 02/11/2006 18:57 A1 56 Orc Warlock None 02/11/2006 18:57 A4 60 Human Mage G25 … 18:57 … … … … … 02/12/2006 18:57 A1 57 Orc Warlock G3 … … … … … … …

Collecting avatar data at a rate of 200 avatars per minute

Communities How guilds (well-structured formal organization) emerge and decline How various communities co-evolve and influence each other Player behavior Player cooperation and coordination to solve difficult missions Comparing player behaviors in different cultures Game design How game design affects game play, social network, and community dynamics

Communities

How guilds (well-structured formal organization) emerge and decline

How various communities co-evolve and influence each other

Player behavior

Player cooperation and coordination to solve difficult missions

Comparing player behaviors in different cultures

Game design

How game design affects game play, social network, and community dynamics

Virtual worlds Advantages of information science Approaches Current results Topic1: Guild dynamics Topic2: Comparisons of different gaming cultures Future works

Virtual worlds

Advantages of information science

Approaches

Current results

Topic1: Guild dynamics

Topic2: Comparisons of different gaming cultures

Future works

In-game guild dynamics Creation, decline, transformation, and separation of spontaneous player-organized communities Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., & Sun, C.T. (unpublished manuscript). “Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games.” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior (SSCI), March, 2007. Cross-cultural comparisons Comparing Taiwanese and American gaming culture Sun, C.T ., Hsieh, J.L., & Chen, C.H. "Comparing Taiwanese and American WoW Player Cultures in Terms of Achievement," to be presented at the 2007 Digital Games Research Association Conference , Tokyo, Japan.

In-game guild dynamics

Creation, decline, transformation, and separation of spontaneous player-organized communities

Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., & Sun, C.T. (unpublished manuscript). “Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games.” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior (SSCI), March, 2007.

Cross-cultural comparisons

Comparing Taiwanese and American gaming culture

Sun, C.T ., Hsieh, J.L., & Chen, C.H. "Comparing Taiwanese and American WoW Player Cultures in Terms of Achievement," to be presented at the 2007 Digital Games Research Association Conference , Tokyo, Japan.

Motives (Why and )how players join and leave guilds Effects of game design on guild dynamics Guild properties Formal, permanent, and hierarchical organizations Players can join and leave at will Each avatar can join only one guild, hence avatars are viewed as guild resources Players manages guilds by themselves Game companies provide and support mechanisms for guild management Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., & Sun, C.T. (unpublished manuscript). “Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games.” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior (SSCI), March, 2007.

Motives

(Why and )how players join and leave guilds

Effects of game design on guild dynamics

Guild properties

Formal, permanent, and hierarchical organizations

Players can join and leave at will

Each avatar can join only one guild, hence avatars are viewed as guild resources

Players manages guilds by themselves

Game companies provide and support mechanisms for guild management

Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., & Sun, C.T. (unpublished manuscript). “Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games.” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior (SSCI), March, 2007.

Informal: virtual worlds are lack of support for it Permanent: groups would continue to exist when all their members were logged off R. Bartle, Designing virtual worlds . Indianapolis: New Riders Publishing, 2004. Category Number of Players Formality Duration Structure Pairs 2~5 Informal Temporary Flat “ Pickup” groups 3~5 Formal Temporary Flat Friends <50 Formal Permanent Flat Groups for raiding 5, 10, 20, 40. Formal Temporary Hierarchy Guilds and ally groups 10~480 Formal Permanent Hierarchy Hybrid groups 40 Formal Temporary Hierarchy

Level First mission for “Pickup” group s formed by avatars with similar levels Data Updated 2006/2/15

Data ranges from 2006/02~2006/04

Data ranges from 2006/02~2006/04

Motive Verify stories commonly heard in Taiwanese game communities Do Taiwanese players emphasize achievement more than American players? Experiments Efficient player leveling How players routinely attend guild schedule Sun, C.T., Hsieh, J.L., Chen, C.H. &quot; Comparing Taiwanese and American WoW Player Cultures in Terms of Achievement ,&quot; Accepted by the 2007 Digital Games Research Association Conference .

Motive

Verify stories commonly heard in Taiwanese game communities

Do Taiwanese players emphasize achievement more than American players?

Experiments

Efficient player leveling

How players routinely attend guild schedule

Average per day playing times are similar between American and Taiwanese WoW players

Average per day playing times are similar between American and Taiwanese WoW players

30 40 50 20 60 N. Ducheneaut, Yee, N., Nickell, E., Moore, R. J. , &quot;&quot;Alone together?&quot;: exploring the social dynamics of massively multiplayer online games,&quot; in Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in computing systems , pp. Montréal, Québec, Canada2006 ACM Press.

Server Average level upgrading efficiency Average playing time per day (minutes) US 0.93 90.46 Taiwan 1.62 (Higher) 102.19 (Almost the same)

Guild channel and events Personal status Guild Member Leader’s message

People In a well-organized guild, members follow regular schedule to play online.

In a well-organized guild, members follow regular schedule to play online.

People Non-regular raiding schedule in another Guild

Non-regular raiding schedule in another Guild

Taiwanese players routinely emphasize raiding activities

Taiwanese players routinely emphasize raiding activities

How users play together: in-game communities How players cooperate in game communities Playing together Cooperation Coordination during large and difficult missions How game design affects game play

How users play together: in-game communities

How players cooperate in game communities

Playing together

Cooperation

Coordination during large and difficult missions

How game design affects game play

Communities on different types of server Player vs. Player servers: avatars from different camps are allowed to engage in combat Player vs. Environment servers Analysis of player social networks Membership relationships: friends joining the same guild Co-play relationships: solving missions together

Communities on different types of server

Player vs. Player servers: avatars from different camps are allowed to engage in combat

Player vs. Environment servers

Analysis of player social networks

Membership relationships: friends joining the same guild

Co-play relationships: solving missions together

Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., Sun, C.T. “ Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games, ” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior(SSCI), March, 2007. Sun, C.T., Hsieh, J.L., Chen, C.H. &quot; Comparing Taiwanese and American WoW Player Cultures in Terms of Achievement, &quot; to be presented at the 2007 Digital Games Research Association Conference, Tokyo, Japan, September, 2007.

Chen, C.H., Hsieh, J.L., Sun, C.T. “ Player Guild Dynamics and Evolution in Massively Multiplayer Online Games, ” Submitted to Cyberpsychology & Behavior(SSCI), March, 2007.

Sun, C.T., Hsieh, J.L., Chen, C.H. &quot; Comparing Taiwanese and American WoW Player Cultures in Terms of Achievement, &quot; to be presented at the 2007 Digital Games Research Association Conference, Tokyo, Japan, September, 2007.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience . Harper Perennial, London, 1990.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience . Harper Perennial, London, 1990.

Chen, J. Flow in Games (and Everything Else) . Communications of ACM , 2007.

Chen, J. Flow in Games (and Everything Else) . Communications of ACM , 2007.