Antecedents of Online Game Dependency – the Implications of Multimedia Realism and

Uses & Gratifications theory

 

J. V. Chen, K. C. Chen, & William Ross (2010)

 

Journal of Database Management, Vol. 21, (2), 69 - 99.

 

 

ABSTRACT

Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG) dependency has been widely studied but research results suggest inconclusive antecedent causes. This study proposes and empirically tests three predictive models of MMOG dependency using a survey of online gaming participants. It finds multimedia realism for social interaction serves as an original antecedent factor affecting other mediating factors to cause MMOG dependency. These mediating factors derive from Uses and Gratifications theory and include: (1) participation in a virtual community, (2) diversion from everyday life, and (3) a pleasant aesthetic experience.  Of these, participation in a virtual community has a strong positive relationship with MMOG dependency, and aesthetics has a modest negative relationship.   Moderating effects suggest neither gender nor “frequency of game playing” are significant but experience playing online games is a significant moderating factor of MMOG dependency.

 

 

                                                            

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal of Database Management (JDM)

 

Journal cover image and abstract copyright (c) 2010 by IGI Publishing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)

Keywords: Online Game Addiction, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Interaction, Virtual Community, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE)