Dominant Playing Styles in an Authorial Role-Playing Game in Different Age Groups

The aim of the research is to investigate the correlation between age and playing styles in an authorial role-playing game. In the designed research the authors have assumed the playing styles defined by Richard Bartle, that is: the socializer, the killer, the achiever, the explorer. The research subjects came from three age groups: university students (18-25), corporate workers (35-50) and seniors (65+). The research was conducted with the use of the quantitative method on the basis of the playing styles observation sheet developed in accordance with the operationalization of Bartle’s taxonomy. Throughout the conducted observations one could observe clear behaviours, adequate with the operationalized taxonomy of Bartle. The dominant type in every age group was the socialiser, on the other hand only a few behaviours were associated with the killer type. In every age category there was a specific pattern of the observed behaviours, which are possible to explain by comparison to the everyday activities of the investigated age groups. Knowledge about the correlation between age and playing style could be useful for game creators and educators, who want to use the game as an educational method.