The
Settlers
Traits of the Game
o
Goal - The goal of
the settlers is to own the island and become productive, least so far as I have
seen. I would assume another goal is to be rich within the game, but I have not
made it that point yet. I am keeping up, but I feel I could do better than I
have been.
o
Rules - Each level offers opportunities but also makes it more difficult to keep
up with production and demands of the game. If you do not have resources, you
can’t build and each level requires you to maintain a certain level of
production. Limits include the number of settlers you have to fight with the
resources available including mining and water. You have to constantly search
for those. The way you produce goods affects the goods you can store. As the game progresses, you have to keep up
with higher demands for goods. Trading is critical, since you can’t produce
enough of a given commodity on your own. You might be able to produce more of
some than others, and that’s where trading is a benefit. I can’t remember what
level you are able to begin trading at, but you begin to do better with your resources
once you get there.
o
Feedback system - I can tell I am getting somewhere because I have defeated most of the
bandit camps on my island. I am producing enough goods to keep
up a pace that allows me to train my troops. I am also gaining resources by
fulfilling quests, but to be honest, I have not been watch quests as much as I
did in the beginning.. I am keeping up with resource demand.
o
Voluntary participation - We are all working toward the same goal, to own the island. In my guild we are
all buffing each other because buffs last 2x longer if someone else does it. The
guild has rules and you have to obey them or get kicked out. I have not really traded
with people in my guild yet. Most times I feel like I am butting in since they
are much more advanced than I am. But I have done it when necessary. They are very
courteous.
Unnecessary
Obstacles
o
Flow - The state
of flow works as I conquer bandits and gain territory. It seems each time I gain land I end up broke and must rebuild my troops. I have tried to get ahead of this problem by adding a general. the game sort of limits you to just what you need at that level. Also keeping up with production is part of
game flow. I do try to also create buffs that will benefit not only myself but
guild members. Right now I am trying to become productive with gaining meat and
keeping enough wheat going. They will in turn allow better buffs that I can
share.
Emotional
Activation
o
Intrinsic rewards - The work is
satisfying when I gain resources and gems. I have lost 2 days, once was my fault
for not logging in daily. Another time it was not my fault as I was logging in
daily. I have found and have read that the game can glitch. I am hoarding gems,
not sure why. I read in the chats that we should save them. I can see where
social connection is very important to some individuals in the game. Some are
playing at work. At first I thought that was a bad idea, but as I read the
book I realized it might be good for us. McGonigal (P. 11, 2011) writes that “the
scientific journal Cyberspace, Behavior, and Social Networking reported in 2009
that 61 percent of surveyed CEOs, CFOs, and other senior executives say they
take game breaks at work.” I believe that comment is valid in The Settlers because
of the organization and communication within the guild.
o
I
have read postings on The Settlers that discuss playing at work. Some of the members are in the
same company and are playing at work. Maybe it’s a good way to let off some
steam. In many cases, people at the workplace don’t work directly together, but
like to have working relationships with each other. In essence they have become
a team and want to do something together that utilizes a team approach and
their skills. Some managers don’t recognize this dynamic and might even separate
people when they become close. I think gaming fills that void. McGonigal (P.
49, 2011) also stated that “we crave satisfying work, every single day.” Gaming
with people you work with might be a way to utilize skills if you can’t do so within
the workplace.
o
Consequences - I think one would have to command great self-control if they are fully
immersed in the game. If a person has
built up a comradary with the people in the game they might miss their
game colleagues or need to talk to them more often than their reality life
schedule allows. That could lead to trouble with the reality people in life; bosses,
spouses, children, whoever they are. As we know, addiction is a problem in MMORPGs.
This exerpt was posted on McGonigal's website. It refers to a set of 5 rules she has written about gaming. "Play games you enjoy no more than 21 hours a week; face-to-face with friends and family as often as you can; and in co-operative or creator modes whenever possible."
I chose to include this one rule in particular since it is related to this weeks' videos.
McGonigal:
1. Don’t play more than 21 hours a week.
"Studies show that games benefit us mentally and emotionally when we play up to 3 hours a day, or 21 hours a week. (In extremely stressful circumstances – such as serving in the military during war-time – research shows that gamers can benefit from as many as 28 hours a week.) But for virtually everyone else, whenever you play more than 21 hours a week, the benefits of gaming start to decline sharply. By the time you’re spending 40 hours or more a week playing games, the psychological benefits of playing games have disappeared entirely – and are replaced with negative impacts on your physical health, relationships, and real-life goals. So always strive to keep your gaming in the sweet spot: 7 – 21 hours a week."
McGonigal, Jane. 8 January, 2011. Big Ideas. Practical Advice for Gamers. Retrieved from http://realityisbroken.org/2011/
I a problem with the game. I think I’ve known people who have had a very negative experience in gaming, and maybe they don’t even know it. In the game we can pay for things needed with real cash to advance quickly. If I had money to burn I think I would pay just to move ahead faster. But I don’t have money for that, and I am bound to become productive on my own in the time it takes me. I can’t accelerate the process. I do know people who have excelled in games and have sold their avatars for big money. I think those same people were borrowing money from me to pay their utility bills because they were spending too much on gaming. To me that is a big downfall to MMOs, but how else will the programmers make money?
I still have not experienced an "EPIC WIN", nor do I feel satisfied for doing this work. However, I do understand the concept. I felt that way when I first learned how to use a MAC in college. To this day I feel really good about getting something done on a computer. Perhaps that is also part of the draw. Since I can make money working on a computer, maybe that is enough for me.
This exerpt was posted on McGonigal's website. It refers to a set of 5 rules she has written about gaming. "Play games you enjoy no more than 21 hours a week; face-to-face with friends and family as often as you can; and in co-operative or creator modes whenever possible."
I chose to include this one rule in particular since it is related to this weeks' videos.
McGonigal:
1. Don’t play more than 21 hours a week.
"Studies show that games benefit us mentally and emotionally when we play up to 3 hours a day, or 21 hours a week. (In extremely stressful circumstances – such as serving in the military during war-time – research shows that gamers can benefit from as many as 28 hours a week.) But for virtually everyone else, whenever you play more than 21 hours a week, the benefits of gaming start to decline sharply. By the time you’re spending 40 hours or more a week playing games, the psychological benefits of playing games have disappeared entirely – and are replaced with negative impacts on your physical health, relationships, and real-life goals. So always strive to keep your gaming in the sweet spot: 7 – 21 hours a week."
McGonigal, Jane. 8 January, 2011. Big Ideas. Practical Advice for Gamers. Retrieved from http://realityisbroken.org/2011/
I a problem with the game. I think I’ve known people who have had a very negative experience in gaming, and maybe they don’t even know it. In the game we can pay for things needed with real cash to advance quickly. If I had money to burn I think I would pay just to move ahead faster. But I don’t have money for that, and I am bound to become productive on my own in the time it takes me. I can’t accelerate the process. I do know people who have excelled in games and have sold their avatars for big money. I think those same people were borrowing money from me to pay their utility bills because they were spending too much on gaming. To me that is a big downfall to MMOs, but how else will the programmers make money?
I still have not experienced an "EPIC WIN", nor do I feel satisfied for doing this work. However, I do understand the concept. I felt that way when I first learned how to use a MAC in college. To this day I feel really good about getting something done on a computer. Perhaps that is also part of the draw. Since I can make money working on a computer, maybe that is enough for me.
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