Presented at the Department of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands, April 19th, 2010.
(Presenters: Melinda S. Jacobs & Joanna Ioannidou)
In this article we explore the perception of learning (specifically cognitive skills) by players within digital gaming environments. We address this topic through an online survey-based case study of players of the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. We argue that it is possible for players to learn basic cognitive skills (such as leadership, management, or organization) within online games that affect not only their digital persona, but their offline physical persona as well. Using the results of our survey, we show that players do believe they are learning specific skills while playing the game, and that these skills can be used outside of the game environment. We support these observations by showing the trends within the perceptions of the players based on the player’s main character class and race (which greatly determine their experiences in-game).
