Powergaming (also known as power gaming, min maxing, or optimization) is a style of interacting with games or game-like systems, particularly video games, boardgames, and role-playing games, with the aim of maximizing progress towards a specific goal. Other players may consider this disruptive when done to the exclusion of all other considerations, such as storytelling, atmosphere, and camaraderie. When focusing on the letter of the rules over the spirit of the rules, it is often seen as unsporting, un-fun, or unsociable. This behavior is most often found in games with a wide range of game features, lengthy campaigns, or prize tournaments such as massively multiplayer or collectible games.[1]
Powergaming in roleplaying games can take several forms. One form is the deliberate creation of optimal player characters (PCs), with the aim of maximizing the power the player wields in the game world. This is known as min-maxing, due to the practice of maximizing desirable or "powerful" traits while minimizing underpowered or less useful traits. Such characters often draw criticism for not fitting the theme and tone of the game world or for being difficult to challenge. Another form of powergaming involves a focus on acquiring power during game progression, often by acquiring powerful equipment or unusual abilities. This lends itself to gameplay that is materialistic (and often, in the context of the game world, arguably immoral) and can frustrate other players who are looking to interact with the game world, score points, and not merely acquire game resources.[2] Another term for a powergamer is a munchkin,[3] who may be differentiated from normal powergamers to describe players who seek to acquire power and loot at the expense and disregard of their teammates.[4]
In online text-based role-playing games that emphasize collaborative role-play over acquiring levels or skills, players can be described as powergamers if they presume or declare that their own action against another player character is successful without giving the other player character the freedom to act on their own prerogative. They may also be a player who tries to force others to participate in unwanted role-playing. For instance, a player who unilaterally describes their character as doing something with (or to) another character that would usually require the other to play along — such as having a fight or a sexual encounter — is considered to be powergaming.[5] In such games, in which a sense of community and rapport between players is seen as crucial and conducive to the game's overall well-being, powergaming is generally regarded as extremely offensive behavior if it is not stated in the rules as being a punishable offense (including, but not limited to, banning). It is often seen as synonymous with twinking or godmoding.
In video games, powergamers enjoy being at the bleeding edge of progression of their selected game, taking part in every activity that yields the fastest progression, and bypassing the "lesser" activities or any other secondary job, trait, or skill.[6] This is a wide generalization, however. A player who likes to maximize all aspects of the game and do so in an expedient manner is also classified as a powergamer, often seeing more of the world than the "average" player would.
^Taylor, T.L. (2003). "Power Gamers Just Want To Have Fun?" (PDF). Proceedings of the 1st Digra conference: Level Up. University of Utrecht / Digital Games Research Association.
^Ed Simbalist & Wilf BackhausChivalry and Sorcery (1983) p.10 3.03 Power Gaming
^Rome, Ben H.; Hussey, Chris (2013). Games' Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Players, Pawns, and Power-Ups. Potomac Books. pp. 82–83. ISBN9781597977234.
^Benedikt, Claire Lisette; Ciskowski, Dave (1995). MUDs: Exploring Virtual Worlds on the Internet. BradyGames. ISBN1-56686-246-9.
^Taylor, T.L. (2006). "Beyond Fun: Instrumental Play and Power Gamers". Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture. MIT Press. pp. 74. ISBN0-262-20163-1.
External linksedit
Roll-playing vs. Roleplaying on TopMudSites, by Wes Platt. An article on the basics of role-play as opposed to 'roll-play' in text-based environments.
, a satire in which real life is treated as an online game to be powergamed.
April 11, 2024
powergaming, also, known, power, gaming, maxing, optimization, style, interacting, with, games, game, like, systems, particularly, video, games, boardgames, role, playing, games, with, maximizing, progress, towards, specific, goal, other, players, consider, th. Powergaming also known as power gaming min maxing or optimization is a style of interacting with games or game like systems particularly video games boardgames and role playing games with the aim of maximizing progress towards a specific goal Other players may consider this disruptive when done to the exclusion of all other considerations such as storytelling atmosphere and camaraderie When focusing on the letter of the rules over the spirit of the rules it is often seen as unsporting un fun or unsociable This behavior is most often found in games with a wide range of game features lengthy campaigns or prize tournaments such as massively multiplayer or collectible games 1 Contents 1 Description 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksDescription editPowergaming in roleplaying games can take several forms One form is the deliberate creation of optimal player characters PCs with the aim of maximizing the power the player wields in the game world This is known as min maxing due to the practice of maximizing desirable or powerful traits while minimizing underpowered or less useful traits Such characters often draw criticism for not fitting the theme and tone of the game world or for being difficult to challenge Another form of powergaming involves a focus on acquiring power during game progression often by acquiring powerful equipment or unusual abilities This lends itself to gameplay that is materialistic and often in the context of the game world arguably immoral and can frustrate other players who are looking to interact with the game world score points and not merely acquire game resources 2 Another term for a powergamer is a munchkin 3 who may be differentiated from normal powergamers to describe players who seek to acquire power and loot at the expense and disregard of their teammates 4 In online text based role playing games that emphasize collaborative role play over acquiring levels or skills players can be described as powergamers if they presume or declare that their own action against another player character is successful without giving the other player character the freedom to act on their own prerogative They may also be a player who tries to force others to participate in unwanted role playing For instance a player who unilaterally describes their character as doing something with or to another character that would usually require the other to play along such as having a fight or a sexual encounter is considered to be powergaming 5 In such games in which a sense of community and rapport between players is seen as crucial and conducive to the game s overall well being powergaming is generally regarded as extremely offensive behavior if it is not stated in the rules as being a punishable offense including but not limited to banning It is often seen as synonymous with twinking or godmoding In video games powergamers enjoy being at the bleeding edge of progression of their selected game taking part in every activity that yields the fastest progression and bypassing the lesser activities or any other secondary job trait or skill 6 This is a wide generalization however A player who likes to maximize all aspects of the game and do so in an expedient manner is also classified as a powergamer often seeing more of the world than the average player would See also editGamesmanship Powerleveling Min maxing TwinkingReferences edit Taylor T L 2003 Power Gamers Just Want To Have Fun PDF Proceedings of the 1st Digra conference Level Up University of Utrecht Digital Games Research Association Ed Simbalist amp Wilf Backhaus Chivalry and Sorcery 1983 p 10 3 03 Power Gaming Rome Ben H Hussey Chris 2013 Games Most Wanted The Top 10 Book of Players Pawns and Power Ups Potomac Books pp 82 83 ISBN 9781597977234 Stark Lizzie 2012 Leaving Mundania Chicago Review Press p 238 ISBN 9781613740675 Benedikt Claire Lisette Ciskowski Dave 1995 MUDs Exploring Virtual Worlds on the Internet BradyGames ISBN 1 56686 246 9 Taylor T L 2006 Beyond Fun Instrumental Play and Power Gamers Play Between Worlds Exploring Online Game Culture MIT Press pp 74 ISBN 0 262 20163 1 External links editRoll playing vs Roleplaying on TopMudSites by Wes Platt An article on the basics of role play as opposed to roll play in text based environments A Powergamer s guide to Life a satire in which real life is treated as an online game to be powergamed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Powergaming amp oldid 1218171397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
