Theory is all well and good (in theory), but only if it is supported by sound research. This will not be very sound, but it's a start. I'm looking at RPGs not from the direction of how, but of why? To that end, I'm asking you guys to help me come up with as concise, yet encompassing list of goals people have in mind when they play these games.

1: To have fun (Pundit):pundit:
2: Escapism (my stressed college buddies):melodramatic:
3: Educational (Tracy Hickman et al):teacher:
4: A social experiment (some at The Forge):forge:

Mine is "to do what I can't do in real life," but I'd say that is taken care of the first two...

Examining those kinds of goals and priorities is important.

But the next step after that would be to look at whether the structure of RPGs (the how) is capable of or well-suited for actually fulfilling the stated goals.

This is where some goals like "to create stories (literature)" fall apart.

RPGPundit

A lot of my gaming is to go places I never can go. For example, I run a lot of SF because I would give my right arm to go into space, and I never will. This way my mind can. It's not escapism, because there's nothing I'm escaping - I have a great life. It's vicarious space-and-Time Travel. I can look beyond the blue event horizon.

-clash

I have to say I game for reasons one and two.  Fun and escapism.  Although it has to be more fun than anything else.  If it's not fun, I don't play.  The escapism part is more of stress relief than anything else.  A break from my job, my family routine, etc.  Gives me something else to think about that's different.

Put me down for 'fun'. I just like hanging out with my friends, eating pizza and telling stories. I'm not really interested in 'optimizing my character' or 'immersive roleplay'. Just want a fun game.

Without adequately defining what you mean by  'fun', it's a bit meaningless. Everybody's going to say they're in it for 'fun'. Everybody means something a bit different.

I'm in it for fun!

I like a bunch of stuff. I like playing somebody that's not me and do things I'd never really do in places I'll never go.

Yes.
I like aspects of all three first but not so much the forth. I game with friends and am not a professional counselor/psychoanalyst. Hence I don't need to delve into their heads to play a game.

Am I missing any?

Vicarious experience...maybe I'll replace escapism with that, as it's a broader heading.

Quote from: droogWithout adequately defining what you mean by  'fun', it's a bit meaningless. Everybody's going to say they're in it for 'fun'. Everybody means something a bit different.

I'm in it for fun!

Another vote for fun! We're winning!

And winning is always fun!

Quote from: droogAnd winning is always fun!

Perhaps the real reason we all play these games... :hmm:

A lot of my gaming is about stuff - themes, situations, characters etc - I've seen in films or read in books. Injecting them into rpgs is fun, challenging and rewarding for me. (My players just like doing cool stuff and think of the whole endevour as escapist in nature )

Regards,
David R

Quote from: laffingboyPut me down for 'fun'. I just like hanging out with my friends, eating pizza and telling stories. I'm not really interested in 'optimizing my character' or 'immersive roleplay'. Just want a fun game.

Herein lies the problem with this broad category list.  The goal of "telling stories" is not something I would think of as fun (no offense to those that do!), so many people might say "for fun" and mean completely different things.

So later things on the list might actually be considered to be part of the "fun" definition.

Perhaps the survey should assume fun, and then let people choose what that means, be it optimizing character, immersion, escapism, building story, etc.

Quote from: RPGPunditThis is where some goals like "to create stories (literature)" fall apart.

Only for certain games. . . but I digress. . .

I think most people play RPGs for two reasons. . .

1. Escapism (this includes being something that you're not in real life, doing things you can't in real life, and so on).

2. Empowerment (this consists of specifically wielding influence or powers that you don't possess in real life and, thus, is technically a type of escapism).

Fun, of course, is the obvious answer -- it's also worthless. The term "fun" is entirely subjective and very vague, therefore, useless for the purposes of forming an objective theory. I think it would be better to focus on things that can be defined objectively (like escapsim).

Indeed, assuming that escapism is the priamry goal (which I think it is safe to assume it is, per the dictionary definition of the word), you can create an entire heirarchy of fulfillment beneath this broad category.

For example, if escapism represents the apex of the pyramid, you may have types of escapism such as empowerment (mentioned above), character immersion (frequently mentioned as a goal of gamers), premise exploration (a goal of story-oriented RPGs), and so on.

I see very workable model in there.