Raph Koster, game designer and theorist, wrote a little piece on what he calls the life cycle of gamers. He adds to his insight some other related gamer cycle models that illustrate the attitude an individual takes in a virtual world. You are bound to feel identified with one of the profiles. Perhaps you’ll find out why gaming doesn’t feel like it used to!

• First Circle players are newbies who just want to survive.
• Second Circle players are competent, and start to feel like the game is “fun.”
• Third Circle players are excelling. They’re also often cheating, as they take on the tough stuff.
• Fourth Circle players are about proving their mastery by either killing other players or mentoring them.
• Fifth Circle players are “done.” They need new challenges, which they might get by an alt, RP, moving to forums, guild play, a whole new game…
• Sixth Circle players are enlightened Zen beings that understand everything and every mode of play and blend them seamlessly.

Identify yourself there?

[Raph's Website / Via BoingBoing]