Study: Online Games More Captivating

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A recent study, published in the bi-monthly journal CyberPsychology & Behavior, concluded that games with an internet element were more captivating than those without. Rumor has it that this study will also be published in other popular magazines such as “No Duh Weekly” and “Ya Think?”

Role-playing games with an Internet element are so much more captivating than equivalent electronic games that they change users' lives, cutting into their sleep and boosting the time they spend playing, a new study shows.
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I was reading an article just the other week about how stupid pointless studies are needed so that we can prove the obvious. I think this is a perfect example of one of those studies.
 
yeah, no kidding they're more entertaining. I used to love to play MUDs back in the day, simple text, the cool ones had colored text! but it was a nice good time that seemed to suck the time away like some Einstein created black hole!

I however prefer the non-internet games just for that reason, if I want to play 15 minutes then save and go do something else I can, and best of all I don't have to pay a continual monthly fee for something I'm not using that much (probably a significant reason as to why people play so much on time)
 
I think it goes well eyond role-playing ames. They're kind of designed around keeping people playing for long periods anyways... I escaped from WoW just a few weeks ago and know the feeling quite well. You weren't having fun so much that you were doing things like farming, to have fun, much later.

Overall, just about any game with an online component is a great investment of time.. Something like Team Fortress 2, I can play with friends or strangers, and hardly any scenario is exactly the same. With additional content, they can keep you coming back time and time again.
 
Oh wow! What a wonderful addition to the sum of human lknowledge studies like this contribute!

Take an already time-consuming, repetitive and addictive activity, add an appealing element of social interaction to it, and you'll end up with people spending even MORE time engaging in the activity! Who'da thunk it?
 
Catweazle said:
Oh wow! What a wonderful addition to the sum of human lknowledge studies like this contribute!

Take an already time-consuming, repetitive and addictive activity, add an appealing element of social interaction to it, and you'll end up with people spending even MORE time engaging in the activity! Who'da thunk it?
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Social interaction isn't always appealing. ;)

Online play adds replayability, plain and simple. It's better then the best AI in the world. It can the game completely different every time you sit down. Not to mention it provides a distraction through chat/etc for those times when you're not being sucked into the game itself.
 
Add replayability it might, but replayability can't possibly be an explanation for increased session times spent playing it.
 
On line is OK but after a few mins. of mindless slashing or shooting...I get bored. I'll take the self pace, story line and adventure of single player games every time.

The exception for me is sports games. On-line rules the roost in that dept.
 
I love both sp and mp, depending on the game of course. Except for console multiplayer though, that crap gets old real quick.. (IE:children and expletives)
 
Not too surprising...

Internet games with any sort of personal interactions encourage extended and frequent gameplay. Its sort of like playing for a softball league. People expect you to be there at such and such a time for such and such a time period.

With single player games... its there waiting for you at any time. There isn't anyone expecting you to be there on tues to raid etc... Your saved game is just there for you whether you play this tues or next tues.

I think the personal interaction is the main allure of MMORPG. I know when I played one, I felt compelled to play more because people were depending on me. Warped I know but that seemed to be the case for me.
 
I disagree. "Captivating" isn't the word I'd use to describe online multiplayer... much more applicable for a great single player game. The online games I've played more than any other are Quake 2 and Quake 3... fun with lots of replay value, yes... captivating, not really.
 
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