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legend among players within the virtual mmorpg world! [
Dark Age of Camelot,
male, 25]
    For others, it is power over other players that is truly satisfying. This might be driven by the desire to be on top or the desire to overpower and dominate weaker players. These players often seek out competitive, player-versus-player activities.
    Being the best is most fun. I have always been extremely competitive, I grew up with a brother who is very competitive, so I have been used to competition since birth. . . . I have learned to find satisfaction in winning and love all games, board, sports and electronic games, because in all games u have winners and losers. [
World of Warcraft,
male, 18]
    And finally, for some players, the joy in playing online games comes from dissecting and understanding all the numbers and rules in thegame. This then allows them to plan out and optimize their character.
    Just recently, I spent three days working out a jewelry/armor template that would allow me to max as many things as possible for my last set of armor when I hit max level. [
Dark Age of Camelot,
female, 23]
    I had created 30+ templates and spent literally 40+ spare hours creating templates at catacombs and other sites to make sure I had the best build. Then when I finally got there and it all fit into place—that made it all worth it. [
World of Warcraft,
male, 25, describing his earlier experience in
Dark Age of Camelot
]
    For players who enjoy social interaction, online games might be viewed as a large chat room in which there is always someone to chat with, always new people to meet.
    I love to talk to people, all of the time. I generally am talking to several people at a time, and feel slightly uncomfortable in silent groups. My friends list grows often. When I played the original EverQuest, I maxed my friends list (100 players) at one point and had to delete a few alts of friends. [
EverQuest II,
male, 17]
    On the other hand, some players who enjoy this social ambience aren’t necessarily interested in developing deep or meaningful relationships.
    I like interacting with other people, chatting, etc., but . . . I have a pretty low desire to make what I consider “good friends” as that would involve a real-life component I’d rather keep separate from my game playing. [
EverQuest II,
male, 39]
    Now contrast this with other players who are open to or specifically interested in becoming good friends with people they meet online.
    It’s fun having friends all over the world, you can learn from the way they live and do things. That’s what I mostly enjoy about meetingothers in game. To befriend people and get to know them, hopefully building a lasting friendship even when one of us does end up giving up on whatever game we’re playing. [
EverQuest II,
female, 19]
    I’m currently sitting in Las Vegas typing this using the network of a friend I met via EverQuest. . . . We met IRL [in real life] last summer when she had reason to visit Boston (I live in Connecticut), and now I’m visiting her for several days. My dearest female friend I also met via EverQuest. . . . I not only spend every Xmas with her and her husband (4 times so far) but also visit her for a week every couple of months. They don’t even EQ any more but the friendship continues strong and growing. [
EverQuest,
female, 61]
    The last motivation that falls into the social interaction cluster is teamwork. For these players, what is fun is working with other players and being part of a team.
    A strong motivation for me is working with other people and existing within a perfect and efficient group. The aims of this group are not important, we could be grinding or camping a spawn to get an item for someone, when everything goes perfect, no communication is needed, and everyone just does what they should exactly as it should be done, I just feel great. . . . Interacting with people and being able to depend on them, and be depended on by them . .