F^4 - What's the typical personality type of a GOTM gamer?
- Thread starter alamo
- Start date
rats, gnawing at the door, or crawling through a hole in the floor
rats, chewing and swinging their tails
rats, running and scurrying about
eager to jump and shout
as they throw themselves over the rails
of cracker's suicide sails
rats, bewitched and enslaved
by the mapmakers spell
rats, doomed to run in the maze
forever lost in the haze
and culled by the curve of mathematical hell
rats...
rats, chewing and swinging their tails
rats, running and scurrying about
eager to jump and shout
as they throw themselves over the rails
of cracker's suicide sails
rats, bewitched and enslaved
by the mapmakers spell
rats, doomed to run in the maze
forever lost in the haze
and culled by the curve of mathematical hell
rats...
One of the nice things about GOTM is the variety of types here. The aggressive warmongers. The peaceful builders. The calculators. The 'fly by the seat of the pants' types. Those who like to talk. Those who just play. Some like to compete against others. Some just compete against themselves.
And some just like to beat uppity convicts.
And some just like to beat uppity convicts.
This is kinda overlapping with the what-do-you-do thread.
There are definitely various types of players.
I was thinking along these lines:
It definitely takes someone with an analytical bent to take a shine to Civ3.
Whether or not you go warmonger is probably a measure of the personality dominant/aggresive trait.
If you do a calculation to discern a 2 shield difference over 17 turns, then you are definitely a quantitative, detail-oriented person.
Of course, maybe we're just all lemmings....
There are definitely various types of players.
I was thinking along these lines:
It definitely takes someone with an analytical bent to take a shine to Civ3.
Whether or not you go warmonger is probably a measure of the personality dominant/aggresive trait.
If you do a calculation to discern a 2 shield difference over 17 turns, then you are definitely a quantitative, detail-oriented person.
Of course, maybe we're just all lemmings....
cracker
Gil Favor's Sidekick
I made an observation in the past that there would be a very strong correlation between the number of players who enjoy that game and play it moderately well and the capacity that those players have to understand second order math concepts like rate of change, differential equations, series equations with coefficients, etc.
Not that everyone has to be a mathematician or even really have had exposure to differential equations, but just by looking at lots of games and listening to what players say, I am continually reinforced that people who understand that actions in the present can change the rates of results at specific future periods of time will continue to enjoy the game long after the newness wears off.
This personality type also correlates strongly with people who recognize that there are degrees of right answer and degrees of certainty in almost every process. Just being right or first in a certain strategic situation may not be enough to fulfill these people all the time.
The same personality type would be found in those guys and gals that do controlled demolition work. Just blowing up the building is not the objective. Blowing it up in a certain way so that it does just exactly what you want it to do, so you can drop 300 tons of rubble safely next priceless historic building without scratching the paint or breaking any glass, I think this is a common personality trait among many players.
Not that everyone has to be a mathematician or even really have had exposure to differential equations, but just by looking at lots of games and listening to what players say, I am continually reinforced that people who understand that actions in the present can change the rates of results at specific future periods of time will continue to enjoy the game long after the newness wears off.
This personality type also correlates strongly with people who recognize that there are degrees of right answer and degrees of certainty in almost every process. Just being right or first in a certain strategic situation may not be enough to fulfill these people all the time.
The same personality type would be found in those guys and gals that do controlled demolition work. Just blowing up the building is not the objective. Blowing it up in a certain way so that it does just exactly what you want it to do, so you can drop 300 tons of rubble safely next priceless historic building without scratching the paint or breaking any glass, I think this is a common personality trait among many players.
zagnut
Monarch
Just for the record, cracker, I flunked Calculus in college.
I think there is a key split between "knowing" and "understanding" what cracker was saying. Those that passed Calculus and/or mathematicians and those that can intuit (of course some can be in both the knowing and understanding group).
Edit: Thanks for the personal attack, I simply do not get enough of that. Is this better?
Edit: Thanks for the personal attack, I simply do not get enough of that. Is this better?
Txurce
Deity
Smirk, your explanation as to why you're not anal is... well...
drewshark
Proud Father
I think for myself to really enjoy GOTM, I have to have my claws in every thread, everything possible,,.....does that make me anal or just obsessive????
Ronald
Emperor
Adult kids dreaming of being an emperor (or even deity 
) who conquers the world 
) who conquers the world 
OneFastWarrior
Asthma Hound Chihuahua
1 word. Addictive!!
enough said
enough said
samildanach
Necrophile
The mighty samildanach broods in his fortress of solitude plotting the conquest of the civ playing world. He is currently attempting to reprogramme the targeting system of a Nemesis IV orbital assault platform. He wishes to enable the system to acquire targets in iowa, wisconsin and british colombia, however the targetting system remains steadfastly locked onto sites within the former Soviet Union. Samildanach thinks that the platform may be out of propellent, does anyone have any ideas?
Samildanach is also currently afflicted with Athletes foot and wonders if he should change his socks more often.
Samildanach is also currently afflicted with Athletes foot and wonders if he should change his socks more often.
CruddyLeper
Unworshipped Deity
That's me.
JonathanValjean
Porschephile
alamo, you make a good points about our being analytical. I think we all share that trait to an extent. As far as being aggressive, I'm not very. (My basketball coach always told me to be more aggressive in high school.) I mainly warmonger at the beginning of a game in order to have a solid core. I have only won via domination once in my Civ 3 career, and never by conquest. I usually win via space race or via culture. My real-life drive for harmony definitely shows up in my games.
jack merchant
Internationalist
IIRC I am a Myers- Briggs INFP.....
hey, you asked
hey, you asked
I was tested as an INTP (perfectionist) at one time, but I'm definitely toned down now (more pragmatic).
However, I'm still tend to be a bit inflexible - my behavior does not adapt to the situation - the strong silent type.
Obsessive-compulsive is a risk factor for incidence of gamer, for sure.
Analytical seems to be in agreement.
I resemble that, but I'm not sure how to put that in personality terms.
I knew a guy once who was very smart in some ways - avid gamer, chess master, physics major. In other ways he was pretty weak because he really didn't care past the point of being right and first. He couldn't bring himself to apply effort to retaining employment so he got laid off.
However, I'm still tend to be a bit inflexible - my behavior does not adapt to the situation - the strong silent type.
Obsessive-compulsive is a risk factor for incidence of gamer, for sure.
Analytical seems to be in agreement.
I resemble that, but I'm not sure how to put that in personality terms.
I knew a guy once who was very smart in some ways - avid gamer, chess master, physics major. In other ways he was pretty weak because he really didn't care past the point of being right and first. He couldn't bring himself to apply effort to retaining employment so he got laid off.
rabies
Happy Dad
Tested as an INTP as well. ...though it was borderline on the 'P'...and I think I may be more of a J.
Here is a description I found on INTPs:
Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others.
...though it was borderline on the 'P'...and I think I may be more of a J.Here is a description I found on INTPs:
Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others.
