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阐述社交游戏的由来及盛行原因

发布时间:2013-05-17 10:05:04 Tags:,,,,

作者:Bogdan Tyler

很早很早以前,人类就一直以社交动物自居。我们的社交圈以及所建立起来的关系都是将人类与其它物种区别开来的重要元素。而贯穿历史,社交游戏也成为了人类生活中必不可少的组成部分。

什么是社交游戏?

任何提供社交互动机制的游戏都被冠以社交游戏的称号。这类游戏中总会出现大量的玩家,并利用各种类型的媒体。

现代史中的社交游戏

自9世纪以来,即纸牌游戏最初出现于帝国时期的中国,社交游戏便已遍布各地,并快速传播到欧洲,成为当地最主要的社交元素。随着赌场的出现,大规模的社交游戏又出现了变动。来自各行各业的人聚在一个大桌子前去试试自己的手气,并断言将打败其他玩家。在20世纪90年代末,电子平台出现了,社交游戏的面貌也从主要的纸牌游戏转向电子游戏。任天堂和雅达利的出现让玩家们可以在不同的游戏中进行虚拟竞争。这也是虚拟游戏时代的开始,并在过去几年里赢得了难以超越的地位。

farmville(from allfacebook)

farmville(from allfacebook)

随着网络的传播,社交游戏变得越来越受欢迎。来自世界各地的玩家都可以玩游戏,并且无需进行实际的接触。上百万名玩家可以同时在线,并待在能让自己舒适的位置玩相同的游戏。许多网络平台便是为了迎合游戏而诞生的。EA Games便是一个典型的例子,它对于社交游戏而言就是一个完全的虚拟库。为了进入电脑游戏世界,你需要做的便是获得网络连接,并拥有手机或计算机等设备。如今有越来越多开发者选择使用社交网站平台(如Facebook)去运行自己的游戏,如《黑帮战争》或《FarmVille》。

为什么人们要玩社交游戏

关于人们为何要玩社交游戏存在着许多不同的视角,但主要原因包括:

根据GlobalPuzzle.net(游戏邦注:致力于开发益智游戏)的专家,人们玩社交游戏是为了在不影响现实生活的情况下满足自己的竞争渴望。同时,社交游戏也提供了挑战环境去加强玩家的探索体验。它们提供了角色扮演机制,让玩家可以在此感受到与现实生活不同的体验。

而对于其他人而言,玩社交游戏能够帮助他们逃离现实生活中的困境。对于基于双班轮流制的员工而言,几个小时的网络世界体验非常治愈。像《FarmVille》等游戏能够让玩家与好友和家人共同创造虚拟的生活。

社交游戏受欢迎的元素

社交游戏变得越来越受欢迎主要取决于一些原因。有些原因最为明显。首先,它们为玩家提供了有效成本的娱乐方式。其次,现代社交游戏能够让你无需离开自己熟悉的领域而与世界各地上百万人进行交流。

当然还有一些不是很明显的原因。一大元素便是一些公司对于这类游戏的巨大推动。它们能够轻易地出现在任何网络平台上。尽管像谷歌,Facebook等网络平台也拥有自己的社交游戏应用;在智能手机产业中也是如此。

如此我们可以得出结论,即社交游戏既然已经成为了我们过去生活的重要组成部分,它也仍将继续影响着我们的未来生活。

本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译,拒绝任何不保留版权的转载,如需转载请联系:游戏邦

Why Social Games Are So Popular

by Bogdan Tyler

Man has been deemed a social animal since long time ago. Our social circles and the relationships we make are the factors that differentiate us from other species. Social games have been part of the man’s life throughout history.

What Are Social Games?

Any game that offers social interaction is termed a social game. There could be any number of players involved and any type of medium being used.

Social Games in Modern History

Social games have been around since as early as the 9th century when card games were invented in imperial China and spread across Europe to become an essential element of socializing. Things took a turn for mass scale social games with the advent of casinos. People from different walks of life came together on a single table to try their luck at hand and assert supremacy over other players. In late 1990s, an electronic platform was used and the face of social games has changed from primarily card games to electronic games. Nintendo and Atari have been introduced that allowed two to maximum four players to compete virtually in different games. This was the beginning of the virtual gaming era, which has earned the status of a cult over the years.

With the spread Internet, social games have become immensely popular. Players from across the world can play a game and compete without having to be in actual physical contact. The number of people engaged at a single time is beyond ordinary. Millions of people can be online at the same time and be playing the same game from within the comforts of their own surroundings. Many cyber platforms have been developed especially to cater gaming.  EA Games is an example, which is a whole virtual library for social games. All you need in order to enter the world of cyber gaming is internet connection and a gadget, be it a smart phone or a computer.  There is also a growing trend of using social networking platforms like Facebook to engage in competitive social gaming like Mafia Wars, or Farmville etc.

Why People Play Social Games

There are many different views why play social games but some of the main reasons include:

According to experts from GlobalPuzzle.net, who develop puzzle games, people play social games for satisfying their sense of completion without having any real consequences on their life. Social games also provide challenging environment to enhance the experience of exploration. They offer role plays which are a nice change from real life.

Some people play social games to achieve self-actualization. It gives them a feel a power when they achieve high scores or attain superior level. Competitive people have a need that drives them to fierce battle. Social games offer that wider scope of completion by posting world scores, high achievers, best player lists, etc. These rankings are updated in real time hence giving the player instant gratification.

For others, it is the escape from real life problems that attract them to social games. For a double shift worker, a few hours in his perfect cyber world is just the medicine he needs. Games like Farmville, for instance, engage people in making imaginary lives with their friends, family etc.

Popularity Factors of Social Games

Social games are becoming immensely popular for a number of reasons. Some are more apparent than the others. Firstly, they provide a cost effective entertainment to its users. Secondly, modern day social games connect you instantly to millions of likeminded people without actually getting away from your comfort zone.

There are other not so apparent reasons for the popularity of such games. One big factor is that these games are hugely marketed by corporations. They are easily available through any networking platform. Almost all networking platforms like Google, Facebook, etc. have their fair share of social games applications; similar is the case with smart phone industry.

It can easily be concluded that social games have been a part of our past and continues to be in a tremendous way a part of our future. (source:gamasutra)


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