In order to find some concrete answers (i.e., not just opinions) to several questions involving strategy and gameplay within the context of World of Warcraft, it is necessary to gather good objective data regarding player choices and actual gaming experiences. To be able to demonstrate the intellectual sophistication of this activity, thereby silencing critics who, without any evidence, generally portray WoW as a mind-numbing game, one needs to show the mental processes involved in playing it.
We are a group of university researchers (and also avid WoW players) at the Graduate Program of Cognitive Psychology of the Federal University of Pernambuco, in Brazil (
http://www.ufpe.br/psicologia, investigating psychological aspects of MMORPGs, particularly World of Warcraft, with emphasis on problem-solving, decision-making, motivations, gameplay, and satisfaction. Our main interests involve the cognitive dimensions of the game, though we will also definitely consider the issues of gameplay styles, choices, strategies, and experiences (i.e., try to obtain the answers to some 'theorycraft' questions).
All of you, Horde and Alliance alike, can help by clicking on the following link (
http://www.site.ecco.nom.br/formular...asp?q=bruno01#) and filling out our research form. In order to adequately encompass the gaming experience, it includes a fairly substantial number of questions (a little over 90), but they are all very straight forrward and it shouldn't take too long to answer them.
Once we obtain the necessary data and have analyzed it, we will first share our findings with the participants and the player community for appreciation and discussion at
http://www.vademecum.com.br/thewowcognitiveproject, where one will also find more information about our research project. Eventually, the final results will be part of two master's dissertations, as well as submitted for publication in indexed scientific journals.
You participation is very much appreciated.
Bruno Campello de Souza, D.Sc.
Cláudia Melo, B.Sc.
Leonardo Xavier, B.Sc.
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