Gamers – The Four Types of Gamers
A gamer is someone who regularly engages in playing video games on consoles or computers. This can include casual players who play as a pastime and those who play for the purpose of mastering gaming titles and competing with others online. This group can include all age groups from pre-teens to retirees. There is a growing body of research that supports the psychological benefits, including social connectivity, that gaming provides.
Gamers are often categorized by their level of commitment and dedication to gaming as well as the type of gaming they do most frequently. One such classification system is the Bartle Player Taxonomy, which divides gamers into four broad categories: Achievers, Explorers, Killers and Socialisers. These categories are used by game development services to help design games that appeal to the different types of gamers.
The Achievers are the most dedicated and competitive gamers. They are motivated by the pursuit of rewards and achieving high scores in games. This type of gamer is less interested in role-playing or escaping from real life problems. Achievers tend to prefer playing with other gamers where they can compete and prove their skills.
Explorers are gamers who enjoy exploring the entire world of a game and discovering all aspects of it. These gamers can also be very devoted to their games and can spend hours on end mastering the title they are playing. Explorers can also be characterized as very devoted and social gamers who like to play with other people online.
Killers are gamers who thrive on competition and enjoy the challenge of defeating other players online. This type of gamer is more impulsive than the other three types and may be more concerned with their in-game self-worth. They can be very narcissistic and are more likely to play multiplayer games where they can show off their skills to other players.
Socialisers are gamers who prefer to socialize with other gamers online and in person. They like to talk about the games they are playing and often organize gaming events to meet in person. These gamers are often found on online forums such as Reddit and can be considered to be part of a gaming community. Socialisers can be very devoted to their gaming and may even play for profit.
Achievers, Explorers and Socialisers can all become professional gamers if they dedicate themselves to the craft. It is not uncommon for these gamers to make a living by competing with other gamers online and in tournaments held in major gaming centers around the world. These gamers are usually classified as teams or clans and use third party VOIP software to communicate while gaming such as Skype, Ventrillo or TeamSpeak.
Although there are many differences between a pro and a casual gamer, there are some common traits such as the ability to learn quickly, a willingness to take risks, a strong sense of self-control and an excellent understanding of how to leverage their abilities. These skills are beneficial both in gaming and in the workplace as a successful career requires many of the same qualities.