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Explorations in Player Motivations: Gamer Profiles

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Gamer Psychology and Behavior

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Abstract

Research on player psychology is gaining increasing attention and this study aims to fill this gap in the literature by empirically exploring the motivational factors of gameplay and defining independent player profiles. Using the psychological need framework defined by Explorations in Personality, 1938, this research collected data from game players (n = 503), using a questionnaire. Results of the study found five motivational factors: Affiliation, Power, Achievement, Self-Protection, and Curiosity, and defined six player types: Casual Players, Affiliation Seekers, Power Seekers, Impression Managers, Aggressors, and Intellectuals. This study is unique in that it is capable of recognizing player behavior within a computer game by matching motivational components with individual player actions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems and Technologies, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Barbaros Bostan Ph.D.

  2. Department of Communication Design, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Guven Catak Ph.D.

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  1. Barbaros Bostan Ph.D.
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  2. Guven Catak Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Barbaros Bostan Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Information Systems & Technolog, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Barbaros Bostan

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Bostan, B., Catak, G. (2016). Explorations in Player Motivations: Gamer Profiles. In: Bostan, B. (eds) Gamer Psychology and Behavior. International Series on Computer Entertainment and Media Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29904-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29904-4_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29903-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29904-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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