Learn What Kind of Games You Like To Play (Get Your Player Traits Profile)

This survey was shared by Gustavo Tondello in the Octalysis Prime Community.

Do you play games?

We are looking for volunteers to take part in a study to find out preferences of a particular person when playing different games based on the player traits scale. This research intends to validate a questionnaire to find out what is a user’s preferences with games. The goal is to improve our ability to design better games.

If you decide to volunteer, you will be asked to complete a 20-minute online survey. Survey questions focus on your preferences while using games. Upon completion of the survey, you will be able to find out your player traits profile.
Optionally, you will be invited to a 5-minute follow-up survey after one month of completing the original questionnaire.

Please note that you must be 15 years or older to participate in this study. In appreciation for your time, you can enter your name into a draw for one of two USD $50 international Visa gift cards.

This research is conducted by the HCI Games Group. This study has been reviewed by and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee. However, the final decision about participation is yours.

Edit: The survey is currently closed as data is analyzed.

What you’ll learn

I just took the survey and received some interesting results. For what it is worth, just thinking through the questions will make you think differently before playing your next game!

Here were my results!

Action Orientation: 68%

Players that score high in action orientation tend to prefer games with difficult challenges and fast-paced gameplay, which require a lot of skill to win.
Players that score low in action orientation tend to prefer easier or more relaxed games.

Social Orientation: 57%

Players that score high in social orientation usually prefer to play with or against other players, either in online games or in the same place.
Players that score low in social orientation usually prefer to play alone.

Goal Orientation: 54%

Players that score high in goal orientation are usually completionists. They like to complete all tasks or quests in a game, collect all the rewards, or explore every option.
Players that score low in goal orientation usually ignore side quests or prefer open games that allow them to do whatever they want.

Immersion Orientation: 77%

Players that score high in immersion orientation tend to prefer games with complex narratives and storylines, or complex worlds or characters roles to explore.
Players that score low in immersion orientation tend to prefer games without stories, or only with short narratives that inferefere little with the gameplay.

Aesthetic Orientation: 57%

Players that score high in aesthetic orientation usually enjoy exploring the game world, creating or customizing objects or characters, and appreciating the game’s graphics and soundtrack.

Players that score low in aesthetic orientation usually consider the gameplay more important than the game’s aesthetics.