[RESPOND PLEASE!] Conducting Research on Negotiations in MCSG

[CanadaGDP]

Hey folks. I'm a college student in the US taking a course on negotiations this term, and my professor is letting me do my term project on "Negotiations in Video Games". Essentially, I've been researching how negotiations play out in video games as opposed to 'real life' - in terms of the principles of negotiations.

The three games I've been researching are Team Fortress 2 (for the trading system), DayZ, and - of course - the Minecraft Survival Games. I'm pretty familiar with how stuff works in all of these games, but it's critical that I get thoughts and opinions from others who play them. There's not exactly an abundance of academic research on this subject, so I need to be able to use something other than my own experiences as support for my writing.

That's where you folks come in. I have some questions I'd like to ask you about your experience with the MCSG when it comes to negotiations. Answer them in as much detail as you like, the more the better. Also, let me know if you do not want me to quote you in my paper. Thanks!

Questions:

1) How do you think people negotiate in the MCSG?
2) Do you ever team up with others in the MCSG? If so, when and why?
3) If you team up, do you ever jeopardize your own well-being for your teammate's?
4) Please share any experiences you have that you think might be relevant.

Yeah, the questions kind of blend together a bit.

Last thing here - I uh, I kind of procrastinated on this project and it's due on the 20th, just a few days from now. So, the speedier you folks leave responses, the better.

Thanks so much! I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[UltimateAFS]

1. It really depends on the player. Some will negotiate normally, politely, and generally in a kind manner, while others will be incredibly rude, swear, and even go as far as to take it out on you in game (i.e. targetting), throwing the concept of negotiation to the wind in doing so.

2. Personally, not often, unless i know the person or there's a secondary circumstance, such as a hacker, or the ever so infamous team of 5. In said cases, often there's somewhat of an unspoken truce between players.

3. I'd prefer not to die, but yes. Though I'll usually try to do so in a way that lets us both get out of whatever situation.

4. As for the absence of negotiation on MCSG, there are always people asking to team in MCSG lobbies. More than once have i come into a lobby with a large number of points and gotten several team requests (Because people think that points reflect skill when they don't), which are usually refused unless i know them. Most of the time when you refuse a team request, the person asking will either move on to another player, inquire as to why not, or completely ignore your refusal and spam "PlayerX, team?" until the game starts. But every so often you'll get a person who will take your refusal WAY too seriously. As an example, when i refused someone when i had like 10k points, they often responded with either profanity or a threat. And when the game actually started, they decided it was their life's purpose to chase me to the ends of the earth and kill me. I've had several legitimately chase me for 10 minutes, a third of the game time, until they either kill me, or i get a weapon and kill them. Usually if they kill me they respond with profanity, and when asked why they chased me down for so long, the answer is usually either "I needed the points" (which don't matter) or "Because &$@# you".

hope this helps a bit.

 

[Mooclan]

1. Generally, the only negotiations that go on would be between teammates, or potential teammates. Depending on how you choose to define the term, it could be that people agree to team, truce, or break relationships. There is also occasionally people trading items for their lives or other items, but that isn't very common.
2. Yes. There's a few types of teams - Chat teams, and voice teams. Chat teams are generally people who don't know each other very well or choose not to use voice communication systems, whereas voice teams are generally older or more experienced people who are using either Skype or TeamSpeak, and usually have a higher level of teamwork and organization. Teams are usually formed around friendship or the hope of one, or the mutual desire to win. Teams are generally broken at the end of the game, when there are few people left, in order to finalize the game.
3. Yes. Often times a teammate may have a more valuable item and a higher chance of winning, or they may be at low health, in which case I would distract an opponent or go through a dangerous region first. There are also instances where a person was supposed to win, also known as giving free wins, and in such cases I would either recklessly oppose another player without the intention of surviving, or kill myself in order to give them the victory.
4. I was once attending a 24-hour livestream, and the goal was to have the streamer reach 100 wins in that 24 hours. I was there for most of it, and I was also one of the most experienced/strongest players participating, so it often ended up with just me and the streamer alive, in which case I would fight him with only fire and no armor, or simply /kill myself.

 

[Rebound4]

1) How do you think people negotiate in the MCSG?
I don't know what negotiate means *checks internet* um I still don't really understand what the question means :3 How people bring about discussion is the definition but people just say team and then give each other stuff :3
2) Do you ever team up with others in the MCSG? If so, when and why?
Yes because I like having frans c: But I don't do it to go hardcore that's just boring :/
3) If you team up, do you ever jeopardize your own well-being for your teammate's?
I usually enter the fight first and then run away leaving them alone...so tbh I jeopardise their well-being rather than mine xD
4) Please share any experiences you have that you think might be relevant.
This one time, I betrayed my teammate in Deathmatch. I thought I'd feel guilty but I was laughing so hard at his rage over skype I didn't xD #sorrynotsorry

 

[duckluv321]

1) How do you think people negotiate in the MCSG?
Negotiations in MCSG typically take place on a "you help me, I help you" basis, usually in a team. If a player asked their teammate for an iron to make a sword, and their teammate gave it to them, the other person is more likely to help- 'negotiate'- with that player regarding other things as well.

2) Do you ever team up with others in the MCSG? If so, when and why?
Yes, quite frequently. I usually prefer teaming up to going solo because it is typically more fun. Generally I communicate with that friend through TeamSpeak, or some other means.

3) If you team up, do you ever jeopardize your own well-being for your teammate's?
Yep! Often times I will 'sacrifice' myself, or my good items to help someone win a game. Coming from someone who isn't particularly concerned with the competitive aspect of MCSG (wins, ratio, etc.) I have no problem doing so.

 

[AlgerWaterlow]

1). Though I can't claim to know other people's minds, those that team - such as myself - usually do so when we're not confident in our ability to win that particular game solo. There could be someone who's accused by many of hacking, a server "celebrity" who already has a team of fans (unless it's Tomahawk in which case I'm one of those madly trying to "hack away" (hehe sword/machete puns) at the opposition. I'll even go so far as to team with someone when all they need is their first win. #FirstWinMinistry

2). Which leads me to the second question of if and when I myself team. I text team if the person needs their first win as these people typically either don't have Skype or they're scared of my atypical selflessness. I usually end up Skype teaming with others who ask for it. Skype seems to be a bargaining chip only when both parties are willing. I notice especially that female MCSGers - for obvious reasons - seem to be less willing to give their Skype out and you really DO have to have them add you, not vice versa.

3). Yes, I have sacrificed myself before so my teammate could run away, then sponsored them the entire/near-entire menu. I've also done /kill in DM for nine people, letting them have their first wins. I'm totally a social outlier in this regard. It's very rare for other people to do this without being asked by their friend/teammate in question.

 

[PandaDoesPvPxD]

1) How do you think people negotiate in the MCSG? Well mainly in teams this takes place, you give me stuff, i'll protect you, vice versa and we don't kill each other. In staff rankings, you be loyal, prove yourself to be trustworthy and help the community out and show your dedication, you will be rewarded with a promotion, it works the same way with clans!

2) Do you ever team up with others in the MCSG? If so, when and why? I often skype team with friends and clan members, and in the community you will also get in chat teams, you team with people yes, to win the game, but for me more so to make new friends or strengthen current friendships, it makes the game far more enjoyable!

3) If you team up, do you ever jeopardize your own well-being for your teammate's?
Well this depends on the person, for me personally i will always put my team mate first, a lot of the time i die so my team mate can survive, but you will always get the people who will ditch you at the first sight of danger, thats where the negotiation of being a team mate falls.

Good luck with this hope all goes well!