I have a memory of seeing a list of types of game designer - talking about how they were motivated by different things - one wanted to torture players, one was a social experimenter, one wanted to create a dramatic experience similar to a movie... I've been trying to google for it but have struck out so far. It might have been a variation on the older list of types of game master/dungeon master but I'm not sure if it actually was.

Edit: nvm found it

Found a link to it in one of my old developer journals. I wrote a whole entry responding to it.

The original, What kind of designer are you?

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20030127/adams_01.shtml

My response, Designing for the player

http://www.gamedev.net/blog/90/entry-169078-designing-for-the-player/