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Flawless victory! Investigating search and experience qualities as antecedent predictors of video game success

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  • Sven Heidenreich

    (Saarland University)

  • Franziska Handrich

    (Saarland University)

  • Tobias Kraemer

    (University of Koblenz)

Abstract

In recent years, video games have been on the rise as entertainment goods, leading to a growing interest by practitioners, researchers, and, of course, consumers alike. While a few unusually successful video games produce overall high revenues, most released games struggle to break even. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand what distinguishes financially successful games from nonsuccessful video games. Accordingly, several researchers have called for investigations into the drivers of the financial success of video games. However, empirical studies within this respect are still lacking. Based on longitudinal data of 351 video games, the current study strives to fill this research gap by investigating the relative importance of potential success factors for the short-term and long-term financial success of video games. The results of multiple regression analyses confirm that search qualities such as brand popularity, reviews, and awards as well as experience qualities such as graphics, sound, and game duration significantly drive financial success in terms of the total number of sold video games in Europe. Consequently, managers in the video game industry can boost their chances for the production of a successful video game by focusing on these factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Sven Heidenreich & Franziska Handrich & Tobias Kraemer, 2023. "Flawless victory! Investigating search and experience qualities as antecedent predictors of video game success," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:33:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s12525-023-00647-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-023-00647-2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Video games; Success factors; Search qualities; Experience qualities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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