Why “plays this game” isn’t always enough

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Two people can play the same game and have very different experiences of it.

One might have started last week and still be learning the basics. Another might have played regularly for years, followed every update and spent most of their time in competitive modes.

Both can honestly say they play. Whether either is suitable for your study depends on what you need to understand.

Start with the research question

Recruitment criteria are most useful when they connect directly to the purpose of the research.

If you’re exploring the experience of getting started, familiarity with advanced systems may be less relevant than how recently someone began playing. If you’re investigating why established players stop returning, their previous engagement and reasons for leaving may matter more than their current playtime.

Defining the audience starts with deciding whose experience will help answer your questions.

Look at how someone plays

A title on a screener is a starting point. Depending on the study, useful follow-up questions might explore:

• How recently and regularly someone has played.

• Which modes or activities they spend time in.

• Whether they usually play alone or with others.

• How far they have progressed.

• What keeps them returning, or why they stopped.

You won’t need every detail for every project. The aim is to establish what matters to selection and gather enough information to assess it.

Be careful with broad labels

Terms such as “casual”, “hardcore” and “experienced” can mean different things to different people.

Someone might play every evening but avoid competitive modes. Another might play less often while following the game closely and competing at a high level.

Describing the behaviour you need is usually more useful than relying on a label. It also makes the brief easier to interpret consistently across screening, validation and client review.

Leave room for unfamiliar players

Some studies need committed fans. Others need people who play adjacent genres, have lapsed or have never tried the franchise.

Requiring enthusiasm or extensive experience by default can exclude the very perspective the research needs.

At Gromotion, we work through these distinctions with clients before recruitment begins, then explore relevant experience during validation.

Working through your participant criteria? Get in touch to chat or share a brief.