Key research themes
1. What are the characterizations and dimensions of social interactions and experiences in social games and MMORPGs?
This research area focuses on understanding the nature, patterns, and subjective experiences of social interactions within social network games and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). As social gaming increasingly integrates competitive, collaborative, and communicative elements, identifying key social features and the resulting player experiences informs the design of engaging and meaningful social game environments. This theme is pivotal because it addresses how social affordances and behaviors shape player engagement, community formation, and gameplay satisfaction in digitally mediated social contexts.
2. How do psychological and social factors influence player behavior, identity, and experiential engagement in social gaming?
This research theme investigates the interplay of psychological traits, identity construction, emotional regulation, and social context in shaping gaming behaviors and experiences within social and multiplayer games. It encompasses how individual differences affect motivations, the co-creation of player identities in networked contexts, and the dynamics of emotional and social needs fulfilment through gaming. Understanding these facets contributes to developing targeted interventions for problematic gaming and designing games that foster positive social and psychological outcomes.
3. How do pervasive and location-based social games blur the boundaries between gameplay and everyday life, and what implications does this have for player experience and social dynamics?
This research area examines how pervasive, mobile, and location-based social games integrate with players’ physical environments and daily routines, creating hybrid spaces where gameplay activities permeate 'real-world' contexts. It investigates the effects of such blending on player mobility, risk-taking, community engagement, and the negotiation between casual and serious play, thereby providing insights into the evolving nature of social gaming beyond traditional screen-based interactions.