Publication Type

Conference Proceeding Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

1-2010

Abstract

This study investigates the monetary value of time spent in virtual worlds in the context of 24 most popular MMORPGs Building on classic economic theory, we approach this issue through a combination of theoretical modeling, experiment, and cross-sectional time series data analysis. Our findings suggest that intensive social networking and flatter social hierarchy structures are associated with lower monetary value of time spent in-game. Further, two opposite network effects on the monetary value of in-game time spent were observed. One is the positive network effect from the active user base, the other is the negative network effect from the intensity of social networking Both are strengthened by steeper social hierarchy structures The implication is that social networking and hierarchy structure can be two effective angles for game developers or policy makers to address the issue of real-money trading of virtual goods

Discipline

Computer Sciences | E-Commerce

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences: 5-8 January, 2010, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii

First Page

3670

Last Page

3680

ISBN

9780769538693

Identifier

10.1109/HICSS.2010.388

Publisher

IEEE Computer Society

City or Country

Los Alamitos

Additional URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.2010.388

Download

Share

COinS