Player attitudes on online distribution
Saara Toivonen
Survey about player experiences on digital distribution of games
Online survey among Finnish PC- and console gamersPurpose to examine the players’ experiences and notions concerning online distribution of games37 questions, many of which with several parts -> 193 variablesSurvey was marketed on game-related web sites and some online magazinesThe data was collected in 4 days in May 2009
Respondents
n = 1148, 94% men53% from one game-related site (Pelit.fi)Half of the respondents were born in 1980’s. 26% were younger, 24% older than that.The sample is biased and one should avoid simple generalizations.The study gives a good picture of the notions of those people who have experience of downloading games.
How much do you play digital games weekly?
11 %
43 %27 %
19 %
Less than 2 hours
2-10 hours
10-20 hours
Over 20 hours
Frequency of downloading
80% had downloaded games during the past six months.Those who play more than 10 hours a week prefer to buy their games as downloads more often than others.The more active in game cultural activities the respondents were, the more likely they had downloaded games.
How much money do you use monthly for game downloads?
65
53
15
19
11
12
7
9
2
6
0
1
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 %
Consoles
PC
Not at all Less than 5 eur 5-10 eur 10-20 eur 20-50 eur Over 50 eur
Where do you buy games by choice?
11 %
34 %
30 %
16 %
2 %7 % Market
Net store
Game store
Download from theInternet
From other players
I don't buy games
Those who had downloaded music, films or computer programs, had more likely downloaded games as well.
Those who had downloaded any content from torrent services, had more often paid for game downloads.
They also used more money for downloading games than others.
The appeal of physical copies
One fifth of respondents don’t like downloading games.
More than half of them, who have downloaded games, prefer to own physical copies.
New survey about the question of physical copies
33 selected respondents11 open questions
Good aspects and downsides of downloads/physical copies Storing of gamesCollectingGames as a hobby
The data was collected in December 2009
What is important in physical copies?
Feeling of really owning somethingOne can touch, look and show itFeeling of reliability and safetyRefunds, reselling, loaningSense of identity and memories
Forthcoming publications
Toivonen & Sotamaa, ”Huomioita pelien digitaalisesta jakelusta”, Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja 2010. (submitted)Toivonen & Sotamaa, ”Digital distribution of games: The players’ perspective”, Future Play Conference. Vancouver, May 6-7, 2010. (submitted)
Thanks. Questions?