Exploring player behavior and motivations to continue playing Pokémon GO

The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of players’ continuance intentions to play Pokemon GO (PG) and ultimately make in-app purchases, mainly from the perspectives of psychological, social and gaming motivational factors.,The research model was empirically assessed based on 362 validated responses from current players of PG in Malaysia. Analysis was carried out using the partial least squares path modeling method.,The results indicated that enjoyment, network externalities, community involvement and the need-to-collect significantly influence players’ continuance intention. Furthermore, the findings reveal that flow and nostalgia have indirect effects on players’ continuance intention, which in turn significantly influences their purchase intention.,This study provides empirical support for an integrated model for understanding the antecedents of the players’ behavioral intentions that incorporates psychological, social and gaming motivational factors in the context of an augmented reality mobile game.

[1]  Yu-Hao Lee,et al.  Players of facebook games and how they play , 2013, Entertain. Comput..

[2]  Lingling Gao,et al.  An empirical study on continuance intention of mobile social networking services: Integrating the IS success model, network externalities and flow theory , 2014 .

[3]  William Remus,et al.  Uses and gratifications and acceptance of Web-based information services: An integrated model , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[4]  De Liu,et al.  The Effects of Trust and Enjoyment on Intention to Play Online Games , 2007 .

[5]  Yi-Shun Wang,et al.  Hedonic and Utilitarian Motivations for Physical Game Systems Use Behavior , 2012, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[6]  B. Schmeichel,et al.  Collectors and Collecting: A Social Psychological Perspective , 2004 .

[7]  Jen-Her Wu,et al.  Falling in love with online games: The uses and gratifications perspective , 2010, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[8]  Kai-Yu Tang,et al.  On the post-acceptance of mobile movie-themed games , 2016, Electron. Commer. Res. Appl..

[9]  Andrew D. Brown,et al.  Making sense of sensemaking narratives , 2008 .

[10]  Mohammad I. Merhi.  Towards a framework for online game adoption , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[11]  Rex B. Kline,et al.  Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling , 1998 .

[12]  Lin Xiao,et al.  Promoting online learners' continuance intention: An integrated flow framework , 2016, Inf. Manag..

[13]  T. Ramayah,et al.  Network collaboration and performance in the tourism sector , 2011 .

[14]  Chang-Hyun Jin,et al.  The role of users' motivations in generating social capital building and subjective well-being: The case of social network games , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[15]  Juho Hamari,et al.  hy do people buy virtual goods ? Attitude toward virtual good urchases versus game enjoyment , 2015 .

[16]  C. Fornell,et al.  Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. , 1981 .

[17]  Walid Chaouali,et al.  Once a user, always a user: Enablers and inhibitors of continuance intention of mobile social networking sites , 2016, Telematics Informatics.

[18]  Virpi Kristiina Tuunainen,et al.  What makes continued mobile gaming enjoyable? , 2017, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[19]  Ming-Chi Lee,et al.  Understanding the behavioural intention to play online games: An extension of the theory of planned behaviour , 2009, Online Inf. Rev..

[20]  Tzung-Ru Tsai,et al.  What Drives People to Continue to Play Online Games? An Extension of Technology Model and Theory of Planned Behavior , 2010, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[21]  Patrick Y. K. Chau,et al.  Cultivating the sense of belonging and motivating user participation in virtual communities: A social capital perspective , 2012, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[22]  M. Csíkszentmihályi.  Flow. The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York (HarperPerennial) 1990. , 1990 .

[23]  Fethi Calisir,et al.  An empirical study on factors affecting continuance intention of using Facebook , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[24]  Z. Demetrovics,et al.  Why do you play? The development of the motives for online gaming questionnaire (MOGQ) , 2011, Behavior research methods.

[25]  Yih-Chearng Shiue,et al.  Influence of Facebook game players' behavior on flow and purchase intention , 2014 .

[26]  Kinshuk,et al.  Location-Based Augmented Reality for Mobile Learning: Algorithm, System, and Implementation. , 2015 .

[27]  Catherine Carey,et al.  Modeling collecting behavior: The role of set completion , 2008 .

[28]  Bartholomäus Wissmath,et al.  Playing online games against computer- vs. human-controlled opponents: Effects on presence, flow, and enjoyment , 2008, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[29]  Wilfried Admiraal,et al.  The concept of flow in collaborative game-based learning , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[30]  Ching-I Teng,et al.  Loyalty Due to Others: The Relationships Among Challenge, Interdependence, and Online Gamer Loyalty , 2012, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[31]  Kristopher J Preacher,et al.  Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models , 2008, Behavior research methods.

[32]  James M. Boyle,et al.  Engagement in digital entertainment games: A systematic review , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[33]  Ronald Azuma,et al.  A Survey of Augmented Reality , 1997, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[34]  Alain Yee-Loong Chong,et al.  Analysis of the determinants of consumers' m-commerce usage activities , 2013, Online Inf. Rev..

[35]  L. Nadelson,et al.  Motivational engagement and video gaming: a mixed methods study , 2010 .

[36]  Christian Derbaix,et al.  Les tournées du souvenir: des générations en quête d'authenticité? , 2010 .

[37]  Amalia Triantafillidou,et al.  Consumption experience outcomes: satisfaction, nostalgia intensity, word-of-mouth communication and behavioural intentions , 2014 .

[38]  Shirley S. Ho,et al.  Escaping through exergames: Presence, enjoyment, and mood experience in predicting children's attitude toward exergames , 2017, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[39]  Christian Derbaix,et al.  Generational Concerts: In Quest of Authenticity? , 2010 .

[40]  James C. Anderson,et al.  STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING IN PRACTICE: A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED TWO-STEP APPROACH , 1988 .

[41]  I-Cheng Chang,et al.  The effects of hedonic/utilitarian expectations and social influence on continuance intention to play online games , 2014, Internet Res..

[42]  Mira Lee,et al.  Social Network Games Uncovered: Motivations and Their Attitudinal and Behavioral Outcomes , 2012, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[43]  Tao Zhou,et al.  The effect of network externality on mobile social network site continuance , 2015, Program.

[44]  Jari Salo,et al.  Teenagers in social virtual worlds: Continuous use and purchasing behavior in Habbo Hotel , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[45]  Yu-Hao Lee,et al.  Are there cultural differences in how we play? Examining cultural effects on playing social network games , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[46]  Hans van der Heijden,et al.  Factors influencing the usage of websites: the case of a generic portal in The Netherlands , 2003, Inf. Manag..

[47]  Nick Yee,et al.  Motivations for Play in Online Games , 2006, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[48]  Matthew K. O. Lee,et al.  Brand loyalty in enterprise microblogs: Influence of community commitment, IT habit, and participation , 2015, Inf. Technol. People.

[49]  Lingling Gao,et al.  Understanding consumers' continuance intention towards mobile purchase: A theoretical framework and empirical study - A case of China , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[50]  Yong Liu,et al.  Exploring the impact of use context on mobile hedonic services adoption: An empirical study on mobile gaming in China , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[51]  Clara Isabel Koetz,et al.  Nostalgia in online brand communities , 2016 .

[52]  Yong Jae Ko,et al.  Dimensions of motivation associated with playing sport video games : Modification and extension of the Sport Video Game Motivation Scale , 2011 .

[53]  Hyeoncheol Kim,et al.  Predicting the use of smartphone-based Augmented Reality (AR): Does telepresence really help? , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[54]  Li-Chun Wang,et al.  The effects of game strategy and preference‐matching on flow experience and programming performance in game‐based learning , 2010 .

[55]  Chin-Siang Ang,et al.  Understanding computer-mediated communication attributes and life satisfaction from the perspectives of uses and gratifications and self-determination , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[56]  Wen-Lung Shiau,et al.  Continuance intention of blog users: the impact of perceived enjoyment, habit, user involvement and blogging time , 2013, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[57]  I. Ajzen,et al.  Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research , 1977 .

[58]  Yong Gu Ji,et al.  Usability Principles for Augmented Reality Applications in a Smartphone Environment , 2013, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[59]  Bartholomäus Wissmath,et al.  Immersion in Computer Games: The Role of Spatial Presence and Flow , 2011, Int. J. Comput. Games Technol..

[60]  Marios Koufaris,et al.  Applying the Technology Acceptance Model and Flow Theory to Online Consumer Behavior , 2002, Inf. Syst. Res..

[61]  Ian Phau,et al.  The value of historical nostalgia for marketing management , 2011 .

[62]  Bin Wang,et al.  Enhancing perceived enjoyment in social games through social and gaming factors , 2016, Inf. Technol. People.

[63]  Judy Chuan-Chuan Lin,et al.  Effect of perceived value and social influences on mobile app stickiness and in-app purchase intention , 2016 .

[64]  Han-Chao Chang,et al.  The effect of flow experience on player loyalty in mobile game application , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[65]  Yufei Yuan,et al.  Online game addiction among adolescents: motivation and prevention factors , 2012, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[66]  M. Holbrook,et al.  Echoes of the Dear Departed Past: Some Work in Progress on Nostalgia , 1991 .

[67]  C. Shapiro,et al.  Network Externalities, Competition, and Compatibility , 1985 .

[68]  Princely Ifinedo,et al.  Applying uses and gratifications theory and social influence processes to understand students' pervasive adoption of social networking sites: Perspectives from the Americas , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[69]  I-Cheng Chang,et al.  Model of online game addiction: The role of computer-mediated communication motives , 2016, Telematics Informatics.

[70]  Lan-Ying Huang,et al.  Predicting online game loyalty based on need gratification and experiential motives , 2011, Internet Res..

[71]  Rubo Cui.  A Review of Nostalgic Marketing , 2015 .

[72]  Rogelio Puente‐Díaz,et al.  The effect of achievement goals on enjoyment, effort, satisfaction and performance. , 2012, International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie.

[73]  Chiao-Chen Chang,et al.  Examining users′ intention to continue using social network games: A flow experience perspective , 2013, Telematics Informatics.

[74]  Abdullah J. Sultan,et al.  Exploring the Boundaries of Nostalgic Advertising Effects: A Consideration of Childhood Brand Exposure and Attachment on Consumers’ Responses to Nostalgia-Themed Advertisements , 2014 .

[75]  Tao Zhou,et al.  Examining mobile instant messaging user loyalty from the perspectives of network externalities and flow experience , 2011, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[76]  Elyette Roux,et al.  A semiotic analysis of nostalgia as a connection to the past , 2008 .

[77]  Hsi-Peng Lu,et al.  Factors influencing online music purchase intention in Taiwan: An empirical study based on the value-intention framework , 2007, Internet Res..

[78]  Yong Liu,et al.  Modeling hedonic is continuance through the uses and gratifications theory: An empirical study in online games , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[79]  Felix B. Tan,et al.  International Journal of Information Management the Mediating Role of Trust and Commitment on Members' Continuous Knowledge Sharing Intention: a Commitment-trust Theory Perspective , 2022 .

[80]  R. Brodie,et al.  Consumer engagement in a virtual brand community: An exploratory analysis , 2013 .

[81]  Hsin Hsin Chang,et al.  Social capital and individual motivations on knowledge sharing: Participant involvement as a moderator , 2011, Inf. Manag..

[82]  Heng-Chiang Huang,et al.  How Experience-Driven Community Identification Generates Trust and Engagement , 2012, Online Inf. Rev..

[83]  Cheng-Hsun Ho,et al.  Factors Affecting Intent to Purchase Virtual Goods in Online Games , 2012, Int. J. Electron. Bus. Manag..

[84]  Angelica C. Cortes,et al.  Motives For Purchasing Artwork, Collectibles And Antiques , 2011 .

[85]  Chia-Chen Chen,et al.  What drives in-app purchase intention for mobile games? An examination of perceived values and loyalty , 2016, Electron. Commer. Res. Appl..

[86]  Anol Bhattacherjee,et al.  Extending technology usage models to interactive hedonic technologies: a theoretical model and empirical test , 2010, Inf. Syst. J..

[87]  Susan M. Pearce,et al.  Interpreting Objects and Collections , 1994 .

[88]  Hsi-Peng Lu,et al.  Why do people play mobile social games? An examination of network externalities and of uses and gratifications , 2014, Internet Res..