Research

Ouroboros is research project to develop a persistent virtual world for experimentation into new concepts for dramatic and emotive gameplay. It is investigating emergent game form in MMORPGs. As a game research project, Ouroboros is addressing the following research questions

1. How to develop a profile of the player (and eventually of their play style), and to use this to take the individual player into account in the selection and development of a game character?

2. How to deepen the player's experience of being a character within a virtual world? How can the history of the game play experience evolve the player's game character?

3. How to create gameplay mechanics that serve enhanced dramatic functions?

4. How can various social formations be encouraged within the player in-game community? How can character roles, social standing, status, relationship development, and player character interrelationships be the focus of game play?

5. How can narrative depth and dramatic interest be created without defining predetermined narrative patterns? What must be represented within game characters in order for them to have interesting narrative interactions?

6. How can the game be designed to support further exploration of these and other research themes?

These are complex issues that do not have simple answers, requiring active research to develop new principles of game design and implementation. In the Zero Game Studio of the Interactive Institute, we are developing a set of components constituting the open source Purgatory Engine for conducting research in this area. Our motivation is to create game play experiences that achieve more varied, subtle, and deeper emotional experiences for players than typical contemporary computer games, and to explore more diverse themes. The Purgatory Engine is especially designed to support experiences of deep characterization and narrative engagement in character in a massively multiplayer virtual world environment.

Ouroboros is an experimental game production based upon the Purgatory Engine. The project involves producing specific game implementations in a series of alpha iterations. Each iteration is developed over one to three months to explore specific research themes. One of the research themes is “The Player Character in MMOGs” - see link below for more details.

The aims of the project are to evolve gaming away from simple, repetitive, combat-based interaction towards a form capable of dealing with complex themes and emotional experiences. Mechanisms for dealing with issues are being defined at the core of gameplay. Ouroboros is being developed according to Open Source and Freeware principles, and is based on the NEL open source MMORPG engine used for the Ryzom game by Nevrax. We invite other developers, researchers etc. to develop additional zones, game characters, game logic modules etc. within this experimental game world.

More detailed information can be found here:

Research Components of the Purgatory Engine
Player Characters in MMOGs