Online Gamers' Preferences for Online Game Charging Mechanisms: The Effect of Exploration Motivation

Online games construct a virtual world where gamers can explore and experience various exciting environments. However, studies on gamer behavior rarely investigated the relationships between motivations and spending for online games. Understanding these relationships helps online game service providers manage gamers’ motivations and develop better revenue models. This study investigated the relationships between one core motivation for playing online games—exploration motivation—and online gamers’ willingness to spend for online games. Analytical results indicated that exploration motivation is positively related to gamer willingness to pay monthly access fees for playing online games, and is negatively related to gamer intention to buy or to bid for virtual items. The implications are discussed and suggestions to game service providers are offered. Online Gamers’ Preferences for Online Game Charging Mechanisms: The Effect of Exploration Motivation