We-intention to continue playing mobile multiplayer games: the role of social play habit

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and test a theoretical model that accounts for an individual's we-intention to continue playing a mobile multiplayer game.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on habit-intention and habit formation theories, this study conceptualizes social play habit as a determinant of the we-intention to continue playing and identifies its antecedents. The proposed model was tested through a survey of 277 players of Honor of Kings, a popular mobile multiplayer game.FindingsThe results indicate that developing social play habit is critical to the formation of a we-intention to continue playing in the context of mobile multiplayer games. The results also suggest that technological (social features embedded in the game) and individual (desire for co-play and privacy concerns) factors jointly influence social play habit.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature on we-intention by conceptualizing social play habit and verifying its role in facilitating a shared intention to continue playing mobile multiplayer games. Our work responds to the call for understanding the mechanism by which multiple people form a shared intention to continue using an information technology at a collective level. Our findings provide significant insights into the design of information technologies for collaboration.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to extend the literature on gaming habits by considering other players' involvement. Specifically, our study shifts researchers' attention from gaming habits characterized by individual properties to social gaming habits characterized by communal properties.

The impact of social network embeddedness on mobile massively multiplayer online games play

“…The number of matches that a player has played in the season (Kim et al, 2018) Once players identify their SNS friends' identity, they tend to interact with SNS friends such as through gifting, greeting, and inviting them to form a squad and fight together in the game (Li & Suh, 2021). Compared to teaming up with strangers, a player would be more excited and passionate when recognising that (s)he is playing with SNS friends (Perry et al, 2018;Verheijen et al, 2019).…”

“…It is an extremely reliable metric for determining a game application's attractiveness over a period of time, as well as its viability for the future. How to increase players' game frequency or continuance play has always been a major concern for IS literature and game practitioners (Fu et al, 2017; Li & Suh, 2021). MMOGs are most associated with competition.…”

“…Previous information systems (IS) research has noted the crucial motives of hedonic factors including enjoyment, relaxation, and escapism on players' game commitment (Lowry et al, 2012; Merikivi et al, 2017). Besides, social factors are also known as essential motivators for online multiplayer games (Gong et al, 2019; Hamari & Keronen, 2017), especially for MMOGs (Chen et al, 2016; Gong et al, 2023; Li & Suh, 2021). IS scholars have recognised the value of encouraging players to build relationships in the virtual game world in order to enhance user stickiness, considering its separateness from reality (Hamari & Keronen, 2017; Setterstrom & Pearson, 2010).…”

“…SNE affords players to recognise their SNS friends' identity and view their various game details when they play the same game (see Appendix ). Since players prefer to team up with acquaintances (Gao & Shih, 2018; Li & Suh, 2021; Zeng et al, 2019), SNE hence facilitates social play with SNS friends (Gong et al, 2019) within the confrontational structure of most MMOGs. Meanwhile, the existing IS game literature assumes that players develop social relationships with ‘generic others’ or community members they meet in the virtual game world (see Appendix ).…”

Konsumsi Kompensasi pada Intensi Bermain dan Pembelian Gim Virtual

“…Baik penelitian terkait intensi bermain maupun intensi pembelian barang virtual dalam game. Li dan Suh (2021) membahas intensi bermain untuk mobile multiplayer game. Abbasi et al (2021) mengidentifikasi berbagai faktor penyebab konsumsi mobile game genre MOBA.…”