This study examined behavioral differences between male and female players in two large multiplayer online games (MMOs), EVE Online and CR3, using machine learning techniques. By analyzing server log data from over 1,700 players total across both games, the researchers found they could predict player gender with over 90% accuracy for EVE Online and over 80% accuracy for CR3. Social behaviors like number of corporations joined in EVE Online and message length in CR3 were significant predictors of gender. The findings suggest there are differences in social behaviors between male and female players in both Western and Chinese cultural contexts of the games studied.

1. Examining behavioral effects of
player sex in two large-scale MMOs
Dan Sarkar-Michigan State University
Robby Ratan-Michigan State University
Jackson Hopcroft- Michigan State University
Daniel Allen- Michigan State University
Meaningul Play-2012

2. BACKGROUND
 Players act through their avatar to interact
with the game entities and the other player
characters.
 Players can participate either through the
game or players generated facets.
Meaningul Play-2012

3. Motivation
 How does gender associate with gameplay
tendencies?
 The effects of player gender on game play
behaviors are gaining interest.
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4. METHOD
 We studied the games EVE Online and CR3.
 EVE Online- North American/Euro demographic
 CR3 – Chinese game/demographic.
 We gained access of privacy-protected, server
log data from these two games.
Meaningul Play-2012

5. EVE Online and CR3
Similarities Differences
Groups and Corporations (Guilds) Mentoring (CR3 exclusive)
Passive (EVE) vs. Active (CR3)
Chat messages skill training
Killing monsters, killing ships/pods Avatar Representation
(human avatar vs.
spaceship/human portrait)
EVE is more time-consuming
Bounties, Quests
Player-killing (PKing) EVE has more skills
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6. DATA COLLECTION
 We collected a sample of 863 players-gender
from CR3.
 We collected a randomized sample of 868
players-gender from EVE Online.
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7. Analyses Strategy
 We conducted separate analyses for EVE
Online and CR3.
 We applied Machine Learning (ML)
techniques to examine how our predictors
identify players-gender.
 Two different ML models are used to
evaluate the accuracy of players gender.
Meaningul Play-2012

8. RESULTS
 2/3 of the data is used to build the model.
 1/3 of the data to evaluate our model.
EVE ONLINE CR3
Accuracy Misclassification Accuracy Misclassificatio
n
Logistic
94.2 % 5.8% 81.2 18.8
Regression
Accuracy Misclassification Accuracy Misclassification
Multilayer
Perceptron
93.5% 6.2 % 81.1 18.9
Meaningul Play-2012

9. RESULTS FROM LOGISTIC REGRESSION
Predictor Variables Odds ratio Sig
RESULT
Skill_Point 1.001 .178
Combat
Character Skill 1.023 .245
EVE Number of Corporation 1.532* .045
Online Social
Logon Minutes 1.001 .214
Quest Accept 1.001 .348
Combat Quest Complete 1.001 .512
CR3
Join Team 1.001 .741
Social
Message Length 1.001* .019
Message Count 1.001 .076
Meaningful Play-2012
P < .05*; response variable: player gender

10. DISCUSSIONS
 Variables Number of Corporation and Message
Length are significant predictors of gender in EVE
Online and CR3.
• These are social variables.
• Prediction higher for EVE than CR3 (94 vs 81% accuracy)
– WHY? Cultural difference in gender (Chinese gender less predictable)?
 There are differences exist in social behavior in
terms of gender.
• The finding are consistent in both games.
 The effect size is small. This should be taken into
consideration when interpreting the data.

11. IMPLICATION
 Social behaviors between males and
females are not same.
 These insights may help designers,
game administrators to design games
mechanics and features using gender
specific traits to target users.
Meaningul Play-2012

12. SUMMARY
 Using Machines Learning approach, we
detected player genders (with high
accuracy).
 In both Chinese and American games
social behaviors are stronger predictors to
identify player gender.

13. Thanks!
Thoughts?
Dan Sarkar:
www.msu.edu/~sarkarch
Robby Ratan
rratan@msu.edu
Jackson Hopcroft
hopcroftjackson@gmail.com
Daniel Allen
dallen1750@gmail.com
Meaningul Play-2012