Player Behavior as a Predictor for IRL End of Times - MMORPG.com News

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Player Behavior Helps Predict Behavior for IRL End of Times - MMORPG.com News

Researchers have used the culmination of the ArcheAge beta test as a predictor of a real world equivalent to a catastrophic end time scenario. The study analyzed over 270 million records of AA player behavior in something called the mapping principle. The team felt that the end of a closed beta test is a "close approximation of an end times scenario...[that can] shed light on human behavior in general under such conditions".

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Copperfield

researchers forgot to mention that playing AA is good education for becoming an addict to gambling

FlyByKnight

Any researcher that used Archeage as a base of any study is a f#%king quack.

cheyane

I recall someone once did an economy study using WoW. Well considering it had more GDP than some countries they felt it was a good modal.

Raquis

CERN AND OPENING THE PIT, ANTHONY PATCH SEPT 12 2106
listen to this maybe you people will learn something.

MaxBacon

Wha.

I mean end of times as "end of a beta test on a MMO" is quite the stretch to put that the same behavior as the same as it would be on real life.

The scenario is far too complex on real life to even...

kitarad

The next time you pass some guy standing at a street corner with the "end of the world" sign you should tell him to go play a game in beta that will end soon so he may be able to simulate the experience.

Albatroes

Yeah....this isn't stupid...not in the slightest....

mgilbrtsn

Lol, remember what happened when the CDC added the plague to WoW?  There were 3 types of ppl if I remember.  those who avoided spreading it; those who ran towards other ppl; and those who kept doing their thing.  I wonder which was the largest group.  Fun times.

kjempff

A concern is if future AI base its "knowledge" on video game analysis too. Most humans are able to see that this kind of data is useless to predict human behavior, but will the AI be able to distinguish ?

Quizzical

It's easy to predict behavior if your predictions don't need to be correct.

Amathe

The behavior of people at the end of a video game beta test is predictive of how people will behave facing imminent mass death.

Nothing far fetched about that ....

Kyleran

The country of Somalia would be a much more accurate predictor of how humans would behave in an end of days scenario.

Forget increased socialization, think Walking Dead or Mad Max The Road Warrior as more likely realities

Hell, look at player behavior in any "survival" game and you'll find your answer.

SpottyGekko

The biggest problem with this study is that it does not look at a broad spectrum of humans, only those that choose to play a MMO with a heavy PVP focus (AA).

It may be an accurate prediction of how AA players will deal with an "end of days" scenario, but it's a stretch to extrapolate that to the entire human race, lol

Ridrith

They're forgetting that a vast majority of AA players are socially retarded though. Come on, researchers. Damn.

Scorchien

lol......................................idiots ........................thats all

MadFrenchie

Kyleran said:

The country of Somalia would be a much more accurate predictor of how humans would behave in an end of days scenario.

Forget increased socialization, think Walking Dead or Mad Max The Road Warrior as more likely realities

Hell, look at player behavior in any "survival" game and you'll find your answer.

I was under the impression that the "end of days" scenario the researchers are referring to is more a "a meteor will hit in a week and there's nothing we can do to save ourselves" kind of end, not a "society has devolved into anarchy, but otherwise nothing's changed" kind of end.

It's still a stretch to compare the two, but to face the inevitably of the demise of everyone and everything we've ever known is much different than just a collapse in government and rule of law, which is why I could at least see credence in increased socialization...  Let nothing go unsaid/undone.

Popple

Just go to the MMORPG.COM Forum, they are still waiting for their Messiah Game....:P

CrazKanuk

Soooooooooo, when there's nothing to do we'll.....socialize with each other? I don't know where they get this science money, but I want some! Fuck! I'll bet it's government grants...... so you're welcome America! Here's your tax dollars at work!!!

KalebGrayson

I've always believed that people's behavior in a game is a reflection of them as a person. I don't care if there's anonymity behind a monitor, if you're an ass, you're an ass.

Aelious

When the only limitation to human life is a respawn timer and we're oblivious things like pain, hunger, and thirst this research will be vital to our survival of the end times.

Or it would have already been over and done with

coolster50

FlyByKnight said:

Any researcher that used Archeage as a base of any study is a f#%king quack.

They didn't use ArcheAge, they used ArcheAge Beta, I hear those are two totally different games.

Wizardry

Human behavior is the same everywhere.

Survival AND manipulated puppets by governments and the people can't do anything about it.So our fates all over the world will be determined by POWER..MONEY and Governments.Power and money is what manipulates governments,like lobbyists.
Look no further than your tax returns or donations,give to the government is more profitable and just better than to charities.
Think of Metallica >>> "Master of Puppets".

Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can’t see a thing
Just call my name, ‘cause I’ll hear you scream
Master

FlyByKnight

coolster50 said:

FlyByKnight said:

Any researcher that used Archeage as a base of any study is a f#%king quack.

They didn't use ArcheAge, they used ArcheAge Beta, I hear those are two totally different games.

Touche. They are.

Octagon7711

End of world scenarios would be interesting with gamers vs non-gamers. There will be sheep, wolves, and sheep dogs and combinations there of.

Kyleran

MadFrenchie said:

Kyleran said:

The country of Somalia would be a much more accurate predictor of how humans would behave in an end of days scenario.

Forget increased socialization, think Walking Dead or Mad Max The Road Warrior as more likely realities

Hell, look at player behavior in any "survival" game and you'll find your answer.

I was under the impression that the "end of days" scenario the researchers are referring to is more a "a meteor will hit in a week and there's nothing we can do to save ourselves" kind of end, not a "society has devolved into anarchy, but otherwise nothing's changed" kind of end.

It's still a stretch to compare the two, but to face the inevitably of the demise of everyone and everything we've ever known is much different than just a collapse in government and rule of law, which is why I could at least see credence in increased socialization...  Let nothing go unsaid/undone.

In an ELE situation you would see several likely reactions.

1) Mass conversions to religions around the world
2) Total anarchy by those who are finally freed of the shackles of law and punishement
3) Perhaps some increased socialization of those who decide to go with a quiet acceptance.

Me, I tell my children when the meteor the government tells us won't hit Earth in 2029 (wink wink)  I'll be up on my roof drinking a cooler full of beer and toasting judgement day

I'll also be in my 70's, so I tell my children, sucks to be you...