Curse

deadman_uk · Nov 25, 2007, 11:20 PM // 23:20

I am doing an IT (computer) college course and for this particular subject, I have to pick something to research about.

I have to pick something, make the title of the report a specific question and then carry out research in hopes I can answer that question. The thing is, I have to be detailed, provide lots of sources etc. I could of chosen ebay, or software piracy but I wanted to do Guild Wars as that is something that brings me great joy.

Can anyone here think of something to do with Guild Wars I can research about? It has to be something specific and something I can later create a 20 or so questioned questionnaire to ask the forum about.

Thanks for any help and if anyone else is doing a project like this, please PM me, maybe we can help each other!

Alex the Great · Nov 25, 2007, 11:24 PM // 23:24

about gw's impact on your rl?

like
"how much time per week do you spend on GW"
"What would you place under GW on your priorities"
"How many times per week do your play guild wars after midnight"

so on and so forth

phoo slaya · Nov 25, 2007, 11:28 PM // 23:28

you could concentrate on changes in player relations. how players are included/excluded from parties(especially elite areas, guilds, and HA) you'd need a lot of experience tho. also consider the stock people put in their virtual relationships. basically, the gw social scene or lack thereof. personally i wouldn't choose gw for a research paper, but gl dude.

Asrial · Nov 25, 2007, 11:35 PM // 23:35

How much 'data' do you need? That's going to be very important. You don't want to pick a subject that won't fill out the paper.

Here's an interesting question...

"How much does Guild Wars REALLY cost?"

Here's my thoughts...

I've...

- Bought all the special versions

- Bought gold

- Called in sick to play Guild Wars (missed wages)

- Left my computer on overnight to AFK 9 rings (electricity bill)

Put that all together and Guild Wars HAS cost me a pretty penny.

Smile Like Umean It · Nov 25, 2007, 11:45 PM // 23:45

And to add to Alex or as something totally new, "how GW has affected your mentality".

Could go on to talk about how your view of not only the game, but the people you encounter, and other general games and how that view has changed over the years.

Thorondor Port · Nov 25, 2007, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Want something way easier to research and discuss than guild wars? Do it on the beginning of the entire internet. its also way more interesting.

acerbity · Nov 26, 2007, 01:07 AM // 01:07

do it on farming.
you can ask questions about opinions, bots, drops, balancing, skill etc.

Remexx · Nov 26, 2007, 01:08 AM // 01:08

I did something like this a few years back for my IT class. But I made it about technology and my life. How technology has effected my life. Unfortenatly the final outcome wasnt what I thought it would be. After a month of detailing every game I had played since I started college, and averaging out how much time I spent each day playing games. My final theory was that games made me take another year of college then I had too.

pamelf · Nov 26, 2007, 03:09 AM // 03:09

The different play styles between male and female, their in game interractions, and how while there's a huge number of females playing this game males seem unable to come to terms with that fact and still think girls don't play games. You could factor age into that as well and see what age group the majority of males come from, and what age group the majority of females come from. You could do an IG cross section, set up an online survey and do it that way.

Just an idea, but whatever you decide to do, PM me if you need to do any interviews or anything, i'm more than happy to help with school projects.

If you have any survey's you want us to do, just post the link in a thread with your final topic details. I'm sure a lot of us here would me happy to help.

tijo · Nov 26, 2007, 03:51 AM // 03:51

I'd say age is a pretty good place to start. You could be surprised to see how many retired peple are playing this game etc. Also the motivations of those people who play the game. Even how some persons are using the game like they would use msn for some sort of social interractions.

Crom The Pale · Nov 26, 2007, 04:42 AM // 04:42

A very wise man once stated that nothing reveals the nature of humanity like the games it plays and how it plays them.

Guild Wars presents us with many different facets of humanity.

PvP = competitive/aggresive/elitist/group dynamics

PvE = adventurers/social aspects/farmers/guilds/alliances

Forums are also part of this, those that post replies/read threads/create threads/trade items

Examining why each person plays and how/when they play will give you an excelt view( generalized ) of that persons mental/social/political/echonomical/physical state.

HawkofStorms · Nov 26, 2007, 05:39 AM // 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crom The Pale

A very wise man once stated that nothing reveals the nature of humanity like the games it plays and how it plays them.

Guild Wars presents us with many different facets of humanity.

PvP = competitive/aggresive/elitist/group dynamics

PvE = adventurers/social aspects/farmers/guilds/alliances

Forums are also part of this, those that post replies/read threads/create threads/trade items

Examining why each person plays and how/when they play will give you an excelt view( generalized ) of that persons mental/social/political/echonomical/physical state.

Umm... yeah that won't be reliable. Plus you could say PvEs are the exact opposite of social gamers. They could be called "loners" if they H/H everything.
Sterotyping people from one aspect of their behavior is not college level research.

gone · Nov 26, 2007, 06:05 AM // 06:05

easy as pie. just make the comparisons.

How does 'real life economy' effect 'in-game economy'...or something along those lines.

Crom The Pale · Nov 26, 2007, 02:32 PM // 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

Umm... yeah that won't be reliable. Plus you could say PvEs are the exact opposite of social gamers. They could be called "loners" if they H/H everything.
Sterotyping people from one aspect of their behavior is not college level research.

I wasn't trying to draw stereotypes just listing some areas that could be researched.

HawkofStorms · Nov 26, 2007, 03:47 PM // 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crom The Pale

I wasn't trying to draw stereotypes just listing some areas that could be researched.

But how you choose what to research can't be based on sterotypes either.

I could research how the cult of the spagetti monster influenced World War II. I could find all sorts of "evidence" to back up and create a theory. That still doesn't mean it is a valid theory.

The question you investigate must be valid before you begin writting (thus you need to do research on the general topic before even choosing a specific thesis).

deadman_uk · Nov 26, 2007, 06:30 PM // 18:30

There have been lots of posts and I would like to say thanks to everyone who replied. Making this post has made me think twice about picking Guild Wars as a subject but I haven't dismissed the idea yet.

This paragraph is going to go a little off topic here but if anyone has some very good examples that are non Guild Wars related, please speak up. As I said, I was going to talk about Software Piracy... specifically Adobe Photoshop. My title was going to be something like "How many people who own Photoshop DO NOT have a pirated copy?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asrial

How much 'data' do you need? That's going to be very important. You don't want to pick a subject that won't fill out the paper.

Here's an interesting question...

"How much does Guild Wars REALLY cost?"

Here's my thoughts...

I've...

- Bought all the special versions

- Bought gold

- Called in sick to play Guild Wars (missed wages)

- Left my computer on overnight to AFK 9 rings (electricity bill)

Put that all together and Guild Wars HAS cost me a pretty penny.

At the time when you posted, this was by far the best idea I have heard. This is something I should seriously consider. Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorondor Port

Want something way easier to research and discuss than guild wars? Do it on the beginning of the entire internet. its also way more interesting.

That's too broad, I need to ask a specific question and write a literature review on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remexx

I did something like this a few years back for my IT class. But I made it about technology and my life. How technology has effected my life. Unfortenatly the final outcome wasnt what I thought it would be. After a month of detailing every game I had played since I started college, and averaging out how much time I spent each day playing games. My final theory was that games made me take another year of college then I had too.

Hi, this is not the same as what I have to do, because this is not about me but it is sort of similar. I'd be interested in reading your writing if you would share with me. Just PM me if you are, that would be a good read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamelf

The different play styles between male and female, their in game interractions, and how while there's a huge number of females playing this game males seem unable to come to terms with that fact and still think girls don't play games. You could factor age into that as well and see what age group the majority of males come from, and what age group the majority of females come from. You could do an IG cross section, set up an online survey and do it that way.

Just an idea, but whatever you decide to do, PM me if you need to do any interviews or anything, i'm more than happy to help with school projects.

If you have any survey's you want us to do, just post the link in a thread with your final topic details. I'm sure a lot of us here would me happy to help.

This is probably the best suggestion I've heard so far! Could you expand on this? What sort of questions would I ask in a questionnaire to 50 odd people or a dozen people in an interview?

I could title the report "What sort of people play Guild Wars?" or "Is Guild Wars just for the young male generation?"

I would have to gather research so I could talk about this in depth, this would be hard. Any suggestions? I do like the idea very much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flubber

easy as pie. just make the comparisons.

How does 'real life economy' effect 'in-game economy'...or something along those lines.

People buy virtual money with real money. People sell virtual money for real money. I think this is a very shallow topic, I don't see how I could write a report about it.

Razz Thom · Nov 26, 2007, 06:37 PM // 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex the Great

about gw's impact on your rl?

like
"how much time per week do you spend on GW"
"What would you place under GW on your priorities"
"How many times per week do your play guild wars after midnight"

so on and so forth

This seems more suited to a psych class than an IT class. At least to me. It would make a pretty kickin research paper for psych though. I bet it would have a very interesting outcome.

Online Gamer · Nov 26, 2007, 08:14 PM // 20:14

No offence but I really dont think guild wars is a good Collegde reoprt topic
I like the ebay one....

gone · Nov 26, 2007, 08:28 PM // 20:28

Rotflmmfao...OK, you're right. GW (yes not just the economy) is a shallow topic to do a college paper on. never mind the economy, the devs/players that feel it's important enough to enter it into a game...the real jobs it gave to all those sweatshop farmers...the countless actions taken against goldsellers...etc...etc...etc...

being biased is a poor poor way to start a paper..lol. but hey, it's your paper.

Woop Shotty · Nov 26, 2007, 10:10 PM // 22:10

I think you'll have a hard time writing a college level essay about Guild Wars, especially if the topic has to be IT.