DIGITAL GAMES AND BEYOND: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PLAYERS COMPETE.

Author List: Liu, De; Li, Xun; Santhanam, Radhika;
MIS Quarterly, 2013, Volume 37, Issue 1, Page 111-124.
Because digital games are fun, engaging, and popular, organizations are attempting to integrate them within organizational activities as serious components, with the anticipation that they can improve employees' motivation and performance. But in order to do so and to obtain the intended outcomes, it is necessary to first obtain an understanding of how different digital game designs impact players' behaviors and emotional responses. Hence, in this study, we address one key element of popular game designs: competition. Using extant research on tournaments and intrinsic motivation, we model competitive games as a skill-based tournament and conduct an experimental study to understand player behaviors and emotional responses under different competition conditions. When players compete with players of similar skill levels, they apply more effort as indicated by more games played and longer duration of play. But when players compete with players of lower skill levels, they report higher levels of enjoyment and lower levels of arousal after game-playing. We discuss the implications for organizations seeking to introduce games premised on competition and provide a framework to guide information system researchers to embark on a study of games.
Keywords: Digital games; experimental study; intrinsic motivation; tournament theory
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#254 0.199 level levels higher patterns activity results structures lower evolution significant analysis degree data discussed implications stable cluster exist relationships identify
#75 0.184 behavior behaviors behavioral study individuals affect model outcomes psychological individual responses negative influence explain hypotheses expected theories consequences impact theory
#100 0.120 affective concepts role questions game gaming production games logic play shaping frames future network natural processes evidence addresses reference theorizing
#242 0.113 market competition competitive network markets firms products competing competitor differentiation advantage competitors presence dominant structure share using incumbent make important
#270 0.089 design designs science principles research designers supporting forms provide designing improving address case little space criteria methods increasing synthesis designer
#15 0.071 motivation intrinsic theory social extrinsic expectancy motivations motivate usage enjoyment rewards consequences reciprocity organizational motivational focus helping system's exploratory substantial
#222 0.058 research researchers framework future information systems important present agenda identify areas provide understanding contributions using literature studies paper potential review