How Russian teenagers are engaged in the Metaverse games

Abstract

Metaverse refers to technologies that provide people with experiences to become part of connected digital worlds. The young generation, main users of Metaverse, explore virtual worlds, create and socialize with other players, not necessarily chasing a game goal. Thus, it is important to study on the young generation’s opinions to clarify in what directions the Metaverse game industry will follow. In this end, this study made a survey on what makes Roblox a pre-metaverse game not from scholars’ perspectives but those of kids. Focusing on Russian teenagers, this study made an online survey with 12 middle school students about their seeing of metaverse games. The survey had 12 questions dedicated to different metaverse aspects in Roblox including multiply, digial currency and their perspectives of future game development. The results illustrated that teenagers have a clear understanding of the term metaverse and they specifically emphasize that in the metaverse they are attracted by freedom of action and self-expression. The surveyed teenagers preferred role-playing and simulation, followed by construction. It is worth noting that all respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the economic policy within the game. Thus, teenagers have their own ideas about Roblox and those properties of the metaverse that are presented in the game. This study makes it possible to look at the metaverse games with its characteristics from a user’s angle.