Social Dynamics in Games (1/22/2007)
Aaron Ko
CTIN-482 #1 Blog Assignment
Toontown: There are lots of interactions between players. You can chat and make various gestures and emotions to other online players. You can make friends inside the game. The game definately encourages social interactions. The game importantly teaches players how to play the game through a training and tutorial session.
Kingdom of Loathing: This game is definately geared towards a single-player experience. When I played it, I feel somewhat isolated and detached from any kinds of interactions. I had a hard time trying to figure out how to play the game. The instructions were not good. I found this game quite boring, in comparison to Toontown.
Bongles + Set: These two are more 'quiet' games. Each player is occupied with his/her own thinking. Social interaction is of a minimal extent.
Cranium + Scattergories: Scattergories is in a way like Bongles. Cranium allows by far the most social interaction. It is definately a game for a big party of people because everyone has to perform/entertain through various methods. There are some embarassing moments in the game. Bongles/Set/Scattergories allow social interaction when players judge on the players' sets/words. However, Scattergories and Cranium are grouped together because these two games are more suitable for a big party of people.