Taxonomy and Flow

Digital games are an ideal form of media which presents engaging content, in that they can create enriching applications of taught information beyond the confines of the classroom. Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs) engage players on multiple levels by allowing players to explore worlds, reach achievements, overcome challenges, interact with other players, and create unique micro cultures. These explicitly designed cultures have the capacity to be more than an educational experience for one student, they give multiple students the ability to interact, learn and apply what they’ve learned together at a global level (Squire, 2012). As a former AAA and mobile game designer, I will review the core concepts of MMO design as they relate to the psychological state of flow and overlay the Bartle taxonomy of player types to illustrate how each aspect can work together to create an optimal experience for play and learning.