Computer games are often attributed a negative impact potential, for example, increased violence. In a scientific-normative debate, therefore, quality criteria should be worked out that can mitigate these assumed negative effects and at best even achieve positive effects. In a player survey on the one hand, the quality expectations of computer gamers were determined, that is, it was asked for the expectations of an ideal computer game. On the other hand, the quality perceptions were determined, ie asked how the quality of certain computer games available on the market is judged by the players. It looked at first-person shooter games (more than 2,000 respondents) and role-plays (more than 3,000 respondents).
Best Moments for the Computer Games
It turned out that players rate the quality of computer games based on a variety of criteria. Four dimensions proved to be particularly relevant: a harmonious and atmospheric world design, lifelike characters (non-player characters, NPCs), a high technological standard and intelligent, challenging opponents and tasks. In direct comparison with the perceptions of current games on the market, discrepancies arose, especially in the case of the lifelike NPCs: the players controlled by the game were still too artificial or “lifeless” to the players. In examining the relationships between the quality dimensions and a good overall rating of a game, the perception of lifelike pawns showed strong positive correlations in all games.
- Especially with regard to the question of whether player-centered quality criteria can be translated into a normative discourse on the quality of computer games, the dimension of NPCs seems promising. “Game dwellers”, who act according to real world standards – which can also anger or insult – can give the player a sense of right or wrong or the scope of certain behaviors. Games with lifelike NPCs may thus help to acquire social skills.
- Currently there are about 1106 playing cards available to the players, among which, among other things, servants, weapons or spells can be found. With a self-made deck of such cards, the players then compete against their opponents. These have, like you, at the beginning of a round 30 life points, which must be set to zero in the course of a game.
Before a game is always drawn, which player is entitled to make the first move. At the beginning of a game, the player who makes the first move then receives three random cards from his deck, the second player receives four cards, and a “mana crystal” that can be used, among other heroic abilities. As with Magic: The Gathering, Hearthstone also wins the player who could reduce his opponent’s life to zero.
To get new cards in Hearthstone, players have several options. These can be obtained by “leveling” a Hero class, winning winnings in the arena, making or even opening “packs” that Blizzard offers for a small fee.
Conclusion on virtual card games
Virtual card games have changed a lot since the beginning of the computer age. Solitaire was once one of the most popular card games, which was played on a large part of the first Windows PCs by the users, so you can say this today, inter alia, Hearthstone.
The Blizzard Entertainment card game is completely free to play and even available to players on tablets and smartphones. Blizzard makes today even the providers of online casinos competition, in which, among other things, popular card games such as poker or blackjack can be found, which are already familiar to the players from the casinos on site.
