Playing
MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons, or Multi-User Dimensions), text-only
online gaming environments, may initiate flow experience. Online
survey research was administered within the population of Russian
MUDs players, using the specially designed questionnaire with
3 blocks of questions: demography and experience in playing MUDs;
flow experience; interactive patterns. Replies of respondents
(N = 347) fit a six factor model: F1 (Flow experience); F2 (Achievement);
F3 (Activity/Passivity); F4 (Interaction); F5 (Thoughfulness/Spontaneity);
F6 (Cognition). To analyse the data, structural equation modeling
was done. All the correlations between the factors are significant
(p < 0.05). The set of dimensions describing flow experience
while playing MUDs was selected. Since players experience flow
while MUDding, it was proposed that flow is one of the sources
of MUDs' long-time attractiveness for players.
