Player profiles: get to know Bartle's concept!

If you like game development or are a gaming enthusiast, understanding Bartle's archetypes is essential. Understanding player profiles and how they interact with each other during a game is very important. It's from this understanding that it becomes possible to define the profiles of each participant involved in game development.

Thus, Richard Bartle defined 4 player profiles according to MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon), which are multiplayer virtual universes that combine digital narrative, RPG, and chats.

According to the British researcher, these 4 profiles are: Achievers, Explorers, Killers, and Socializers. Now, let's understand a bit more about each profile:

Achievers

Driven by objectives that make them stand out in the game, usually attracted by an inventory of badges and trophies, for example. Their formal status in the level hierarchy is often their greatest pride, as well as the short time it takes them to achieve something.

Killers

Killers usually have well-practiced fighting skills and lose many lives until they become winners. They typically have the most competitive player profile, driven by the desire to impose themselves on other players, usually under circumstances that cause pain and agony to the opponent.

Socializers

For this player profile, the game is just a background; they are there for the people and what they say. This type of player tends to be, as the name suggests, more sociable than others. As a result, they motivate challenges between teams.

Explorers

Driven by the desire to discover all the functions of the game, this type of player wants to uncover all the internal mechanics beyond the game's mapping. Their curious profile tends to always seek the why of things when completing a challenge. For them, a high level is a limited sign; the game can offer much more.

The role of character profiles

Characters play an important role as they have a function and a story to follow. Therefore, each archetype follows a different motivation and approach, directed to the profile of each player.

In this sense, it's important to understand that it's possible to find a player who possesses characteristics of 2 or more profiles. For example, a socializer who has motivational characteristics of the achiever profile.

Finally, the game designer's responsibility is to develop dynamics that connect these various elements, generating interaction, balance, and motivating players.

If you're interested in gamification and want to implement it in your company or institution, get in touch with one of our specialists!

OGG is a pioneer in the development of business games (games or business simulators) on a 100% web platform, being the first company to include decision-making aspects of strategic management in simulators.