Understanding Player Attitudes Towards Digital Game Objects

Humans collect; we examine this behavior in digital game contexts to understand how players' penchant for collecting items can inform game design. As part of an ongoing research agenda to understand player attitudes towards digital game objects, we conducted an online survey about player habits with interviews as future work. We present an initial analysis of our data. Our findings suggest that players value game objects most in Role-Playing Games (RPGs). Utility and Enjoyment were cited as the main reasons for a digital game objects' value, followed by Investment, Self-Expression and Memory. Dyes or color-changing features; physical placement adjustments; and naming or name-changing features were the most frequent personalization features desired for game object customization. We aim to improve game design through a deep understanding of player motivations regarding their game objects.