1. First–Person–Shooters: Different players, different characters?
Andreas Wihler & Denise Schollenbruch

2. Introduction http://www.joehart.co.uk/blog/?p=55
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

3. Aims of Study
Identification of different motive types of players of First-Person-Shooters
Characterization of motive types by personality traits & preferred game characteristics
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

4. Sample 384 participants: 377 male, 7 female Age: M = 22.49 (SD = 7.66)
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

5. Sample Duration of play: Beginning age :
Complete sample M = h/week (SD = 11.22)
Beginning age :
Complete sample
M = 15.28
(SD = 5.67)
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

6. Sample Used media : computer 95.05 % ; playstation 39.32 %
Nintendo % ; X-Box %
Others 3,39 %
Current played games:
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

7. Method Recruiting via bulletin boards of First-Person-Shooters
Used Questionnaires
Demographic Variables
Importance of game characteristics (e.g. graphics, sound, fascination)
Personality traits (Big Five: BFI-K, Rammstedt & John, 2005)
Habits of playing
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

8. Habits of playing Questionnaire Factor analysis
Item collection via experts
Generation of 23 items, 5 point scale (does not apply, does apply)
Factor analysis
Principal component analysis, varimax rotation
Extraction of 2 factors (quality criteria, factor loadings)
Emotional habits
Behavioral risk
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

9. Results Factor I : Emotional habits Factor II : Behavioral risk
If I‘m angry before playing, I feel relieved afterwards.
I immerse myself completely in my games.
I play when I want to relax.
I like playing to win challenges.
Factor II : Behavioral risk
I disregard social contacts and routine duties for playing.
I feel anger after playing.
I play because I always do so.
I can‘t find an end when I‘m playing.
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

10. Factor I : Emotional Habits
Correlations
No correlation with personality traits (Big Five)
Duration of play **
Importance of violence .16**
Fascination **
Detailed environment .13**
* p < ** p < .01
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

11. Factor I : Emotional Habits
Interpretation
No dangerous, but normal behavior
High requirements on graphics of games
Playing for anger reduction
No compulsion to play
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

12. Factor II : Behavioral Risk
Correlations
Conscientiousness -.46**
Neuroticism .31**
Extraversion -.26**
Openness to experience -.22**
Agreeableness -.15**
** p < .01
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

13. Factor II : Behavioral Risk
Correlations
Age -.29**
Duration of play .29**
Importance of violence .26**
Simple plot .12*
Simple game structure .12*
Simple introduction .11*
* p < ** p < .01
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

14. Factor II : Behavioral Risk
Interpretation
Compulsive behavior
Games used as alternative / proxy for social contacts
Games used as distraction of duties
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

15. Further Research and Implications
Transfer of factors to other game types?
(e.g. strategy games, online role play games)
Moderating effect of „Emotional Habits“ on „Behavioral Risk“?
Implications on practice:
First-Person-Shooter-players should not be to young
Time limit for playing
Low amount of violence in games
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

16. Thank You!
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

17. First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

18. Quality criteria Factor analysis Explained variance : 35.15 % Factor I
Cronbachs α = .81
Eigenvalue : 4.10
Factor II
Cronbachs α = .78
Eigenvalue : 3.63
back
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

19. Quality criteria BFI-K reliability: author’s study‘s α
current study‘s α
Extraversion
.81
.80
Agreeableness
.67
.57
Conscientiousness
.62
Neuroticism
.65
.70
Openness for experiences
.71
back
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

20. Factor Loadings Factor I Factor Loading I feel good after playing. .80
I feel better after playing
If I‘m angry before playing, I feel relieved afterwards. .67
I immerse myself completely in my games
I play when I want to relax
I play to distract myself from other things
I play when I‘m angry
I supress things around me while I‘m playing
I like playing to win challenges
I like playing in bad weather
I play to pass the time
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

21. Factor Loadings Factor II Factor Loading
I play when I‘m supposed to learn
I disregard social contacts and routine
duties for playing
I play because I always do so
I feel anger after playing
I can‘t find an end when I‘m playing
I play on holidays
I stop playing when I‘m frequently losing
I play on weekdays
I play on the weekend
I like playing in good weather
The game still occupies me long
after stopping to play it
back
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.

22. Problems with Method
Sample bias due to recrution via online bulletin boards
Discontinuation rate ( 667 : 384 = 43 % canceled)
few female participants
Offending by participants
Results in this way not expected
First-Person-Shooters – Different players, different characters?
© Institut für Psychologie | Abt. AOW | | Wihler, A. & Schollenbruch, D.