Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Research profiles the typical fantasy MMO player]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Researcher Dmitri Williams and his team have been doing some very hardcore MMO-related research. Thanks to Raph Koster, they were given free reign with the whole of SOE's EverQuest II-related user statistics. They've produced the first of many papers, this one called "Who plays, how much, and why? Debunking the stereotypical gamer profile," which is completely and freely available online.

There are a bunch of interesting things about EverQuest II player demographics in there, some of which is surprising. For example, older players play more than younger players, and EQ2 players in general are physically healthier than the general population. There's a shocker! Of course, EQ2 arguably has a different sort of playerbase than something like EVE Online, or even other dikus like World of Warcraft. It's too bad we can't see the differences.

More studies are coming, though (but all of them from EQ2 data). Williams and his international team of researchers are planning to uncover information about gender differences and more in future papers.

[Via Raph Koster]

MassivelyResearch profiles the typical fantasy MMO player originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicagedemographicsdmitri-williamseq2eqiieve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iipaperraph-kosterresearchresearcherssoestudysurveyworld-of-warcraftSun, 07 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korean judge defends RMT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/south-korean-judge-defends-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/south-korean-judge-defends-rmt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/south-korean-judge-defends-rmt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In the MMO business, RMT is frequently treated as a dirty word. Though some companies are trying to embrace the trend with home-grown or acquired RMT designs, these efforts appear to be thinly-veiled attempts to curtail an undesirable black market by simply internalizing and controlling it.

In an interesting (though somewhat old) paper on the Social Science Research Network, South Korean Judge Ung-gi Yoon argues that despite court cases in his country ruling to the contrary, the trading of virtual property is a practice that should be allowed under the existing law. While developers maintain a legal grasp on the IP rights that govern the ownership of in-game items and currency, Yoon argues that the very existence of trading within the game grants players a tacit right to exchange in-game items. And moreover, since what is being traded is really the right to use certain items earned in-game, the ability to transfer this right via RMT can be inferred without much controversy.

The paper is thorough examination of the South Korean perspective on the topic, and deconstructs some oft-held misconceptions about the legality of certain clauses in MMO terms of service. It's a good read.

MassivelySouth Korean judge defends RMT originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtjudgepaperreal-money-tradingRMTsocial-science-research-networksouth-koreaung-gi-yoonwhite-paperMon, 19 May 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paper explains EVE's quasi-democratic council in extreme detail]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/paper-explains-eves-quasi-democratic-council-in-extreme-detail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/paper-explains-eves-quasi-democratic-council-in-extreme-detail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/paper-explains-eves-quasi-democratic-council-in-extreme-detail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you had any doubt at all that EVE Online is the thinking man's MMO, you won't any longer. CCP has released a 20 page paper in PDF format describing the new Council of Stellar Management, and you know you're in for something good when the paper starts off with the social theories of the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

This is one of the times when it's particularly clear just how bizarre and interesting it is to be writing about virtual societies. This is the stuff of cyberpunk novels and Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. CCP has produced something like the first draft of a constitution (with notes) for a representative government, with references to John Locke's social contract theory and everything else you'd expect from such a document. No doubt EVE's scheming political players are already looking through the document for loopholes and potential abuses. It may not be long before EVE players are having debates about campaign finance reform and separation of powers.

Richard Bartle doesn't think this will work. Whether it works or not, though, it'll be damned interesting. At the very least, it will be more fodder for discussion relating to Hardcore Casual's EVE Challenge.

[Via MMORPG]

MassivelyPaper explains EVE's quasi-democratic council in extreme detail originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpconstitutioncouncilcouncil-for-stellar-managementcsmdemocracydocumenteveeve-challengeeve-onlinepaperrichard-bartlesocial-contractFri, 16 Nov 2007 16:14:00 EST