Writing for Different Player Styles in Interactive Fiction

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What Are Player Styles?
• Different Types of Player Styles
• How to Write for Different Player Styles
• Conclusion

Introduction

Interactive fiction, also known as text adventure games or choose-your-own-adventure stories, has been around since the early days of computing. These types of games allow players to take on the role of the protagonist and make choices that affect the outcome of the story. Writing for interactive fiction requires an understanding of different player styles, as not all players approach the game in the same way. In this article, we will discuss what player styles are, the different types of player styles, and how to write for each style.

What Are Player Styles?

Player styles refer to the different ways players approach a game. It is essential to understand player styles when writing interactive fiction because players can approach the game in different ways based on their personality, preferences, and experience. Understanding these styles can help you tailor your writing to create a more engaging experience for your readers.

There are many different frameworks for describing player styles, but one of the most commonly used is the Bartle taxonomy of player types. Richard Bartle, a game researcher and professor, identified four different types of players based on their motivations for playing games:

• Achievers: These players are motivated by completing challenges and reaching goals. They enjoy competing with other players and often try to maximize their in-game achievements.
• Explorers: These players are motivated by discovering new things and exploring the game world. They enjoy finding hidden areas and secrets and may spend a lot of time searching for new content.
• Socializers: These players are motivated by social interaction with other players. They enjoy making friends and building relationships within the game world.
• Killers: These players are motivated by competition with other players and enjoy causing harm to other players. They may engage in PvP combat and may try to dominate other players.

While the Bartle taxonomy is a useful way to describe player types, it is important to note that players can exhibit traits from more than one type. For example, a player may enjoy both achieving in-game goals and exploring the game world.

Also read: Integrating Game Mechanics into Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Stories

Different Types of Player Styles

In addition to the Bartle taxonomy, there are other ways to describe player styles. One common framework is the GNS model, which stands for Gamism, Narrativism, and Simulationism. This model categorizes players based on their preferred style of play:

• Gamists: These players are focused on the game mechanics and the challenge of playing the game. They enjoy competition and are motivated by winning.
• Narrativists: These players are focused on the story and the role-playing aspect of the game. They enjoy creating a narrative and immersing themselves in the game world.
• Simulationists: These players are focused on the realism and simulation aspects of the game. They enjoy experiencing a believable world and often want to explore the game's mechanics and rules.

Another framework for describing player styles is the HEXAD model, which stands for Hexad of User Experience and was developed by Lennart Nacke and his colleagues. This model categorizes players based on their motivations for playing games:

• Philanthropists: These players are motivated by helping others and contributing to the community. They enjoy socializing and collaborating with other players.
• Free Spirits: These players are motivated by exploration and discovery. They enjoy discovering new content and experimenting with different strategies.
• Achievers: These players are motivated by completing tasks and reaching goals. They enjoy competing with other players and achieving in-game rewards.
• Socializers: These players are motivated by social interaction and building relationships with other players. They enjoy chatting and making friends within the game world.
• Players: These players are motivated by the game mechanics and enjoy playing games for the sake of playing games.
• Investigators: These players are motivated by problem-solving and enjoy figuring out puzzles and mysteries within the game.
• Developers: These players are motivated by customization and enjoy creating and modifying content within the game.

Understanding these different player styles can help you create a more engaging experience for your readers by tailoring your writing to their preferences.

How to Write for Different Player Styles

Now that we have discussed different player styles, let's explore how you can write for each style:

• Achievers: Achievers are motivated by completing tasks and reaching goals. To write for achievers, you should create clear goals and objectives for them to achieve. You should also provide rewards for completing these goals, such as unlocking new content or receiving in-game rewards.
• Explorers: Explorers are motivated by discovering new content and exploring the game world. To write for explorers, you should create a rich and detailed game world with lots of hidden areas and secrets for them to discover. You should also provide opportunities for them to interact with the game world in meaningful ways.
• Socializers: Socializers are motivated by social interaction with other players. To write for socializers, you should create opportunities for them to build relationships with other players. You should also create social events and activities for them to participate in.
• Killers: Killers are motivated by competition with other players. To write for killers, you should create opportunities for them to engage in PvP combat and dominate other players. You should also provide rewards for winning and penalties for losing.
• Gamists: Gamists are focused on the game mechanics and the challenge of playing the game. To write for gamists, you should create challenging gameplay mechanics that require strategy and skill to overcome. You should also provide opportunities for them to compete with other players and test their skills.
• Narrativists: Narrativists are focused on the story and the role-playing aspect of the game. To write for narrativists, you should create a compelling story with interesting characters and plot twists. You should also provide opportunities for them to make meaningful choices that affect the outcome of the story.
• Simulationists: Simulationists are focused on the realism and simulation aspects of the game. To write for simulationists, you should create a believable game world with realistic rules and mechanics. You should also provide opportunities for them to explore the game mechanics and experiment with different strategies.
• Philanthropists: Philanthropists are motivated by helping others and contributing to the community. To write for philanthropists, you should create opportunities for them to collaborate with other players and work together to achieve shared goals. You should also provide opportunities for them to contribute to the game world and make a positive impact.
• Free Spirits: Free spirits are motivated by exploration and discovery. To write for free spirits, you should create a rich and varied game world with lots of hidden areas and secrets to discover. You should also provide opportunities for them to experiment with different strategies and playstyles.
• Investigators: Investigators are motivated by problem-solving and figuring out puzzles and mysteries. To write for investigators, you should create challenging puzzles and mysteries for them to solve. You should also provide clues and hints to help them along the way.
• Developers: Developers are motivated by customization and creating their own content. To write for developers, you should provide opportunities for them to create and modify content within the game. You should also provide tools and resources to help them achieve their goals.

It is essential to keep in mind that players can exhibit traits from more than one player style, so it is crucial to create a game experience that caters to a broad range of players.

Conclusion

Understanding player styles is essential when writing for interactive fiction. Different players approach the game in different ways, and understanding these styles can help you tailor your writing to create a more engaging experience for your readers. By creating clear goals and objectives, providing rewards and penalties, and creating a rich and detailed game world, you can create a game experience that appeals to a broad range of players.

By considering the different player styles and writing for each style, you can create a game experience that is both engaging and immersive. Whether you are writing for achievers, explorers, socializers, killers, gamists, narrativists, simulationists, philanthropists, free spirits, investigators, or developers, keeping these different styles in mind can help you create a game that is both challenging and rewarding.