Coop First: how non-zero-sum games are reshaping our digital landscape
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Non-zero-sum games that emphasize cooperation over competition are shaping the digital world. These "coop games" see players as partners rather than opponents, encouraging win-win scenarios through activities like collaborative problem-solving. Three disruptive trends are driving this change: 1) ubiquitous connected devices enabling new forms of social play, 2) games appealing to mainstream all-ages audiences through social and cooperative mechanics, and 3) user-generated content that facilitates mutual entertainment through player interaction and expression. Emerging best practices for coop game design include using large, meaningful challenges to inspire collective action; having players compete against the system rather than each other; and allowing talented players to extend the game world.
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Coop First: how non-zero-sum games are reshaping our digital landscape
- 1. COOP FIRST How non-zero-sum games are re-shaping our digital world
- 2. What is a game?
- 3. a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome* * Source: Rules of Play
- 4. Zero-Sum I Win You Lose We are opponents
- 5. Head-to-Head Battles War Simulations Rank-Ordered Competitions Gambling
- 6. a structured experience with rules, goals and progress that’s fun to play* * Source: The Player’s Journey (forthcoming)
- 7. Non-Zero-Sum Win-Win Lose-Lose We are partners
- 8. Double-Dutch Pictionary Karate Charity Walk
- 9. Why should you care?
- 10. 3 Disruptive Trends Reshaping the games industry
- 11. 1: Ubiquitous Connected Devices platform disruption
- 12. Source: Digi-Captial Global Games Investment Review
- 14. 2: Mainstream, all-ages players Audience disruption
- 15. 93% of kids 8- 13 play games online Source: M2 Research fastest-growing Facebook demographic is women 55+ Source: Inside Facebook
- 16. 3: mutual entertainment / UGC Content disruption
- 20. Who’s Is Bigger? Social Comparison drains Happiness Social Comparison leads to unhappiness
- 21. Playing Together Reciprocal Altruism Social Relationships lead to happiness
- 22. Different Players like Different Types of Social Engagement
- 23. Who are your players? How do they like to engage?
- 24. Bartles Player Types (1996) Killers Achievers Socializers Explorers
- 25. Points, Badges, Levels, Leaderboards… appeal primarily to Achievers Jane McGonigal Richard Bartle
- 26. Social Engagement Actions (2010) Personal Progress Explore Compete Single-Player Multi-Player Express Collaborate Social Progress
- 27. Social Actions Set the Tone
- 28. What are your DEFINING Social Actions? Acting Build Create Win Challenge Design Purchase Express Decorate Compete Showoff Customize Choose Compare Taunt Content Players View Collect Comment Like Rate Greet Vote Explore Collaborate Share Curate Review Help Give Interacting
- 29. Collaboration in Minecraft Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges Building, mining, teamwork & MODs
- 30. EXPLORE randomly-generated Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges landscapes with each new game
- 31. COMPETE with the system Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges to survive the night
- 32. EXPRESS yourself by Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges building structures & mods
- 33. Regulars need fresh to survive, create, share COLLABORATE content/activities/challenges Bigger challenges inspire teamwork
- 34. Collaboration in Kickstarter Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges
- 35. Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges COMPETE with the system to get your project funded Funding goals + time constraints drive urgency
- 36. Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges EXPLORE up-and-coming projects Constant stream of quirky, interesting content
- 37. EXPRESS + COLLABORATE Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges by backing or running projects
- 38. Collaboration in Foldit Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges emergent teamwork solves real-world science puzzles
- 39. Crowd-sourcing Science Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges solving big, tough, real scientific problems
- 40. The Foldit Cookbook Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges sharing strategies for protein folding
- 41. Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges COMPETE with the system to solve real scientific problems
- 42. Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges EXPLORE new puzzles & rulesets
- 43. COLLABORATE with others Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges to solve hard puzzles “you don’t find many soloists among the top scorers”
- 44. EXPRESS your knowledge Regulars need fresh content/activities/challenges by extending the Foldit Cookbook
- 45. What are the emerging best practices for coop game* design? * game: a structured experience with rules, goals & progress that’s fun to play
- 46. Coop First: Emerging Best Practices 1) Big meaningful challenges inspire collective action - people will band together to solve puzzles and fill in the gaps - people will self-organize around shared goals
- 49. Coop First: Emerging Best Practices 1) Big meaningful challenges inspire collective action - people will band together to solve puzzles and fill in the gaps - people will self-organize around shared goals 2) Players compete with the system, not each other - use time & resource constraints to drive urgency & focus - system competition as onboarding (e.g. minecraft)
- 51. Coop First: Emerging Best Practices 1) Big meaningful challenges inspire collective action - people will band together to solve puzzles and fill in the gaps - people will self-organize around shared goals 2) Players compete with the system, not each other - use time & resource constraints to drive urgency & focus - system competition as onboarding (e.g. minecraft) 3) Talented enthusiasts can extend the gameworld - Minecraft gameplay extended via MODS - Foldit Cookbook extended by expert players - Kickstarter extended via projects & videos
- 53. Coop Gaming = Blue Ocean Strategy Reciprocal Altruism Blue Ocean Opportunity What Coop Games will YOU create?