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Costs to Compete - Analyzing Pay to Win Aspects in Current Games

Tregel, Thomas ; Schwab, Miriam Claudia ; Nguyen, Thanh Tung Linh ; Müller, Philipp Niklas ; Göbel, Stefan (2020)
Costs to Compete - Analyzing Pay to Win Aspects in Current Games.
15th Joint International Conference on Serious Games. Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom (19.-20.11.2020)
doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-61814-8_14
Konferenzveröffentlichung, Bibliographie

Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)

Microtransactions, in the form of loot boxes, are items in a digital game, bought with real money that contains semi-randomized content. They are a commonly used concept for monetarization in current games that are also often free to play. When purchasable items give players a decisive advantage in a game, people often call it pay-to-win: competitive advantages through real-money in-game purchases. In this study, we analyze and identify different aspects of current video games, to assess, whether a game has partial, or strong pay-to-win elements. Within a user study of 96 participants, these aspects are then rated individually and compared to the users’ subjective opinion whether a presented game has strong pay-to-win elements, differentiating between players that actively play a respective game and those who do not. We then analyze two popular games, regarding their expected costs, to stay in a highly competitive environment. Due to the virtual power gained by investing money into those games, players can feel obliged to invest to stay competitive and increase their chances of winning. Our results indicate that selected aspects are clear indicators to predict whether a game is perceived as being pay-to-win. Additionally, our main conclusion shows the threat of new players having to invest heavily in a loot box system already compared to gambling in multiple countries.

Typ des Eintrags: Konferenzveröffentlichung
Erschienen: 2020
Autor(en): Tregel, Thomas ; Schwab, Miriam Claudia ; Nguyen, Thanh Tung Linh ; Müller, Philipp Niklas ; Göbel, Stefan
Art des Eintrags: Bibliographie
Titel: Costs to Compete - Analyzing Pay to Win Aspects in Current Games
Sprache: Englisch
Publikationsjahr: 28 Oktober 2020
Verlag: Springer
Buchtitel: Serious Games: Joint International Conference - JCSG 2020
Reihe: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Band einer Reihe: 12434
Veranstaltungstitel: 15th Joint International Conference on Serious Games
Veranstaltungsort: Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Veranstaltungsdatum: 19.-20.11.2020
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-61814-8_14
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract):

Microtransactions, in the form of loot boxes, are items in a digital game, bought with real money that contains semi-randomized content. They are a commonly used concept for monetarization in current games that are also often free to play. When purchasable items give players a decisive advantage in a game, people often call it pay-to-win: competitive advantages through real-money in-game purchases. In this study, we analyze and identify different aspects of current video games, to assess, whether a game has partial, or strong pay-to-win elements. Within a user study of 96 participants, these aspects are then rated individually and compared to the users’ subjective opinion whether a presented game has strong pay-to-win elements, differentiating between players that actively play a respective game and those who do not. We then analyze two popular games, regarding their expected costs, to stay in a highly competitive environment. Due to the virtual power gained by investing money into those games, players can feel obliged to invest to stay competitive and increase their chances of winning. Our results indicate that selected aspects are clear indicators to predict whether a game is perceived as being pay-to-win. Additionally, our main conclusion shows the threat of new players having to invest heavily in a loot box system already compared to gambling in multiple countries.

Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): 18 Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
18 Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik > Serious Games
Hinterlegungsdatum: 31 Jan 2023 08:34
Letzte Änderung: 31 Jan 2023 08:34
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