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?