WoW Customization Study

Malcolmsprye

Hi All,

 

We are part of a game research team at Teachers College, Columbia University. Currently, we are conducting a study on the effect of customization on player enjoyment and motivation in MMORPGs. The study is approved by Institutional Review Board. This survey is conducted entirely for academic research purposes, and it is not affiliated with Blizzard. If you would like to fill out the survey please click link provided below.  Also, on the first page of the survey, there is more information and a consent form that you can read before you start to fill out the survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WoW_Customization

 

Thanks very much for your time,

Sonam Adinolf + Selen Turkay

p.s. I read the forum rules, and I'm almost 100% sure this follows them, since we're not selling anything and we don't work for any corporation, or we are not using any offensive words. If you have any comments, feel free to post them here. We'll be checking back here regularly for a while.

 

Horusra

I would contest that there is no customization in any MMO.  Math statistics render all games to certain builds, itemization, skill sets, etc for a character to be optimal.  Thus these are what is aimed for by all that want to succeed at the top of a game.  Eve with Eve Mon telling the skill sets for items, WoW with dps/defense numbers that require items, and just about every game I have ever played.  Where is the customization.  Games create options but due to the desire to "max out" stats, skills, instances, dps, etc players are restricted in what they do.

Malcolmsprye

Originally posted by Horusra


I would contest that there is no customization in any MMO.  Math statistics render all games to certain builds, itemization, skill sets, etc for a character to be optimal.  Thus these are what is aimed for by all that want to succeed at the top of a game.  Eve with Eve Mon telling the skill sets for items, WoW with dps/defense numbers that require items, and just about every game I have ever played.  Where is the customization.  Games create options but due to the desire to "max out" stats, skills, instances, dps, etc players are restricted in what they do.

First of all, any options the player has which change the play are customization.  Whether any game is _fully_ customizable is another issue.  Second, even if all character attributes are deterministic(you play class a, therefore you must play spec x), there are still other types of customization: Character appearance, interface, animation, sound/music, etc.  Customization is a very broad field with many categories.

Malcolmsprye

 

 

Hi all,

The survey is still open. As this is part of a pilot study, I will start analyzing the data as soon as I have enough responses. Unfortunately, there is only a few responses so far. I really appreciate your help. Thank you so much!

Daffid011

This site if filled with far to many burned out mmo players that have an axe to grind and I fear what they will do to your survey.

Malcolmsprye

Originally posted by Daffid011


This site if filled with far to many burned out mmo players that have an axe to grind and I fear what they will do to your survey.

 

We are interested in all people's reasoned opinions whether they are satisfied or not. Finding out what makes players' discontent is as important as finding out what satisfies them.