Global InformationBartle taxonomy of player types information
 | This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. (April 2021) |
The Bartle taxonomy of player types is a classification of video game players (gamers) based on a 1996 paper by Richard Bartle[1] according to their preferred actions within the game. The classification originally described players of multiplayer online games (including MUDs and MMORPGs), though now it also refers to players of single-player video games.[2]
The taxonomy is based on a character theory. This character theory consists of four characters: Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers (often mapped onto the four suits of the standard playing card deck; Diamonds, Spades, Hearts, and Clubs, in that order). These are imagined according to a quadrant model where the X axis represents preference for interacting with other players vs. exploring the world and the Y axis represents preference for interaction vs. unilateral action.[3]
A test known as Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology based on Bartle's taxonomy was created in 1999–2000 by Erwin Andreasen and Brandon Downey, containing a series of questions and an accompanying scoring formula.[4][5][6][7] Although the test has been met with some criticism[8] for the dichotomous nature of its question-asking method, as of October 2011, it had been taken over 800,000 times.[9][10] As of February 2018, the Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology hosted by GamerDNA is no longer available. Alternative online implementations of the test exist, however.[11]
The result of the Bartle Test is the "Bartle Quotient", which is calculated based on the answers to a series of 30 random questions in the test, and totals 200% across all categories, with no single category exceeding 100%.[12]
- ^ "Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players Who Suit MUDs", Richard Bartle (1996)
- ^ Karl M. Kapp (1 May 2012). The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education. John Wiley & Sons. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-118-09634-5.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
taylorwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Andreasen, Erwin. "Erwin's MUD resources page". Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ Erwin Andreasen; Brandon Downey (August 2001). "The Mud Personality Test". The Mud Companion (1): 33–35. ISSN 1499-1071. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000.
- ^ "Random Dialogue: You Shuffle, I'll Deal — MMORPGDOTCOM". MMORPGDOTCOM.
- ^ Bartle, Richard (2003). Designing Virtual Worlds. New Riders. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-13-101816-7.
I'm often asked about the Bartle Test, on the grounds that because it bears my name I must be responsible for it. Sadly, I'm not. The test is the brainchild of Erwin S. Andreasen and Brandon A. Downey, who wrote it in response to my player types paper so as to test the theory. The Bartle Test is an online binary-choice questionnaire that players of virtual worlds can take to discover what player type they are. As such, it offers potentially very useful information for designers.
- ^ Nick Yee, Gamasutra (Sept. 21, 2004), "Unmasking the Avatar: The Demographics of MMO Player Motivations, In-Game Preferences, and Attrition"
- ^ Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, GamerDNA, Retrieved 9-19-2009
- ^ Radoff, Jon. April 2011. Game On: Energize Your Business with Social Games. ISBN 978-0-470-93626-9.
- ^ The Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology, matthewbarr.co.uk, Retrieved 2-11-2018
- ^ Mulligan & Patrovsky (2003), Developing Online Games: An Insider's Guide, "Appendix C: The Bartle Quotient Survey Questions and Some Results", ISBN 1-59273-000-0