Motivations for play of players belonging to factions in browser-based MMORPGs

Abstract

Players of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) number in hundreds of millions and dedicate the longest amount of continuous playtime of all videogame players. In recent years, MMORPG development has been shifting from stand-alone software to using internet browsers as platform. With this transition came an interesting development: browser MMORPGs are encouraging people to play within groups such as factions, and to form game communities - factors which have been incidentally found to promote long-term play in earlier stand-alone MMORPGs. This study examines the motivations of players belonging to factions in browser MMORPGs. It proposes the idea that by belonging to a faction, the effect that game motivators have on the player is strengthened. To examine this idea, motivations for play of the game 'War Metal: Tyrant' are studied using Nick Yee's (2005) 'Components Model' for MMORPG motivations. Findings indicate that faction players are more motivated by achievement and social aspects of the game, and that the strength of these motivators may be maintained over time by faction players' tendency to focus on faction-play and to play in order to keep up with their teammates.