Understanding meta, a game inside a game as a game developer : case: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Abstract

As video games have been a part of media since the 1970's, they have been a leisure for killing time for the aspect of fun. With the possibilities the internet has provided, especially multiplayer video games have gotten more popular throughout the years, which has changed the way video games are seen and played. Data provided by the internet has had an impact in the way the games are played through tutorials, forums, and statistics, in form of changes in strategies and tactics used in-game. By understanding not just the game but the mentality of other players and the reason behind their actions inside the game results in a game inside a game. This research aimed to provide understanding around the topic in order for game developers to utilize the information they would gather to their own game projects. Data was collected by performing a questionnaire regarding Counter-Strike: Global Offensive from the source, the players themselves in form of qualitative research. The goal of the questionnaire was to provide data on how and if the players utilized the information available to them in order to gain knowledge and general understanding of the game itself but also of the mental aspect of the players. Previous research, online sources in form of videos, game updates, in-game footage and statistics were researched in order to form a greater picture of on how the professional scene of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have had changes in the way the game was played. The resulting data consisted of general information regarding Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a case example of a highly-tactical area of a map in the game and the changes throughout its lifespan, data regarding changes of certain weapons in-game in order to give an example on how game developers can change the flow of gameplay by making rather small changes on how the weapons worked in-game. From all the gathered data, the most reliable and widely known changes and their results were selected.