Competition in Gaming

A large part of a successful game is the ability to compete in it. Whether you're trying to complete more achievements (think of Xbox Live achievements), beating your friend at a competitive game, or moving up some sort of ladder or tournament system, competition and gaming have gone hand-in-hand for many years.

A key to make a game truly successful is make it fun to compete in. This is key to keep people interested in the game, because it creates something they can keep going back to. They want their progress and successes in a game to be tracked, and they want to be able to show their abilities to their friends.

One of the most simple games would be a game of chess (or even checkers). The rules are simple, and understood by all. It's up to an individual's skill and cunning to out-smart and beat their opponents. It's the most basic level of competition. These games are remarkably simple, they've stood the test of time, and they're hugely popular. Because they've embraced, at its core, the principles of competition. They allow players to battle head-to-head without battling the game mechanics.

The point of allow players to compete against each other means that the game's rules and mechanics can't get in the way of a truly competitive experience. Competition in games has lead to things like multiplayer online gaming, achievements, leaderboards, tournaments, "professional gaming", and more. I believe that for a game to become hugely successful, it must embrace some form of competition. Competition allows for more replay value, and it also allows people to challenge their friends--thus creating word of mouth.

I hope to study more about competition, why it exists, and what drives people to compete, and then use this knowledge in the study of game design.