You joker, me batman : a study of gamers on DC universe online

Abstract

There had been an increase in studies done on Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) due to its rise in popularity. DC Universe Online (DCUO) is a relatively new with the scope of the game built around the heroes and villains found in DC Comics. The aim of this study was to understand the motivations of gamers who were engaged in DCUO by adapting a survey instrument used in earlier studies on other MMORPGs. The study also analysed the differences in demographic variables and player orientations. This study reported the findings of 200 DCUO gamers. The survey was conducted online, which consisted of 39 questions answered using a 5-point Likert scale. The results showed that gamers were motivated to play due to social components of the game, followed by the immersion and achievement components, consistent with earlier studies done on MMORPG gamers. The motivation factors which were rated the highest were customization, socialization and teamwork. Gender differences were found, with male players being motivated by social components while female players motivated by immersion components, differing from previous studies. Female players were also found to spend longer hours on DCUO and were possibly at risk of problematic gaming. Future research on the gamers of DCUO could include identification of selves towards the game with further analysis of the relationship between player identification and motivation to play.

Keywords: Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, DC Universe Online, motivation, socialization, gamers