Motivators Affecting Pokemon Go Players' In-Game Purchase Intentions Using Microtransactions

Burak Çetiner; Aylin Çalışkan

Article Details

Motivators Affecting Pokemon Go Players' In-Game Purchase Intentions Using Microtransactions

Authors:

Burak Çetiner | Aylin Çalışkan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı

Journal:

Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.295-314

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001343123

pISSN:

2667-8683

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In the last decade, gaming industry started seeing a rapid transformation from one-time charge and subscription based revenue models to freemium games with microtransactions. However, overwhelming the player base with microtransactions can lead to player frustration and resistance against the transactions, other players, and developers. Understanding the motivations behind gamers purchases of virtual goods is crucial for game developers to tailor their offerings and increase sales, thus ensuring business sustainability. This exploratory study aims to understand the motivators influencing Pokemon GO players in-game purchase intentions using microtransactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 Pokemon GO players attending the Pokemon GO Community Day event in Izmir, Türkiye. The gathered data was analyzed using deductive content analysis. The results revealed that while many motivations are similar to other games, Pokemon GOs unique gameplay style introduced new motivations such as gamedesign purpose misalignment, physical access, scarcity, enjoyment expectancy, and spatial proximitydistant access. Additionally, the components of consumption value theory were found significant role player in in-game purchase decisions. Fear of Missing Out FOMO was also identified as a significant factor, with many players making purchases to avoid missing out on experiences, events, or exclusive Pokemon. This research is the first to explore the motivations of an augmented reality games player base regarding microtransactions, offering new insights into player behavior and purchase intentions.

 In the last decade, gaming industry started seeing a rapid transformation from one-time charge and subscription based revenue models to freemium games with microtransactions. However, overwhelming the player base with microtransactions can lead to player frustration and resistance against the transactions, other players, and developers. Understanding the motivations behind gamers purchases of virtual goods is crucial for game developers to tailor their offerings and increase sales, thus ensuring business sustainability. This exploratory study aims to understand the motivators influencing Pokemon GO players in-game purchase intentions using microtransactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 Pokemon GO players attending the Pokemon GO Community Day event in Izmir, Türkiye. The gathered data was analyzed using deductive content analysis. The results revealed that while many motivations are similar to other games, Pokemon GOs unique gameplay style introduced new motivations such as gamedesign purpose misalignment, physical access, scarcity, enjoyment expectancy, and spatial proximitydistant access. Additionally, the components of consumption value theory were found significant role player in in-game purchase decisions. Fear of Missing Out FOMO was also identified as a significant factor, with many players making purchases to avoid missing out on experiences, events, or exclusive Pokemon. This research is the first to explore the motivations of an augmented reality games player base regarding microtransactions, offering new insights into player behavior and purchase intentions.

 In the last decade, gaming industry started seeing a rapid transformation from one-time charge and subscription based revenue models to freemium games with microtransactions. However, overwhelming the player base with microtransactions can lead to player frustration and resistance against the transactions, other players, and developers. Understanding the motivations behind gamers purchases of virtual goods is crucial for game developers to tailor their offerings and increase sales, thus ensuring business sustainability. This exploratory study aims to understand the motivators influencing Pokemon GO players in-game purchase intentions using microtransactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 Pokemon GO players attending the Pokemon GO Community Day event in Izmir, Türkiye. The gathered data was analyzed using deductive content analysis. The results revealed that while many motivations are similar to other games, Pokemon GOs unique gameplay style introduced new motivations such as gamedesign purpose misalignment, physical access, scarcity, enjoyment expectancy, and spatial proximitydistant access. Additionally, the components of consumption value theory were found significant role player in in-game purchase decisions. Fear of Missing Out FOMO was also identified as a significant factor, with many players making purchases to avoid missing out on experiences, events, or exclusive Pokemon. This research is the first to explore the motivations of an augmented reality games player base regarding microtransactions, offering new insights into player behavior and purchase intentions.

 Son on yılda, oyun endüstrisi tek seferlik ücret ve abonelik tabanlı gelir modellerinden mikroişlemlere sahip freemium oyunlara doğru bir dönüşüme uğramıştır. Ancak, oyun tabanını mikroişlemlerle boğmak, oyuncuların hayal kırıklığına uğramasına, işlemlere, diğer oyuncalara ve hatta oyun geliştiricilerine karşı direnç göstermesine sebep olabilme potansiyeline sahiptir. Oyuncuların sanal ürün satın almalarının ardındaki motivasyonları anlamak, oyun geliştiricilerinin tekliflerini kişiselleştirmeleri ve satışları artırarak iş sürdürülebilirliğini sağlamaları için çok önemlidir. Bu keşifsel çalışma, mikroişlemleri kullanarak Pokemon GO oyuncularının oyun içi satın alma niyetlerini etkileyen motivasyonları anlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Amaca yönelik olarak İzmir, Türkiyede Pokemon GO Topluluk Günü etkinliğine katılan 28 Pokemon GO oyuncusu ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Toplanan veriler, tümdengelimli içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, birçok motivasyonun diğer oyunlarlaa benzer olmasına rağmen, Pokemon GOnun benzersiz oyun tarzının oyuntasarım amacı uyumsuzluğu, fiziksel erişim, kıtlık, keyif beklentisi ve mekansal yakınlıkuzak erişim gibi yeni motivasyonlar ortaya çıkardığını ortaya koymuştur. Ek olarak, tüketim değeri teorisinin bileşenlerinin oyun içi satın alma kararlarında önemli bir rol oynadığı bulunmuştur. Kaçırma Korkusu FOMO da önemli bir faktör olarak tanımlanmış ve birçok oyuncunun deneyimleri, etkinlikleri veya özel Pokemonları kaçırmamak için satın almalar yaptığı ortaya konmuştur. Bu araştırma, artırılmış gerçeklik oyununun oyuncu tabanının mikroişlemlerle ilgili motivasyonlarını inceleyen ilk araştırma olup, oyuncu davranışı ve satın alma niyetleri hakkında yeni içgörüler sunmaktadır.

Article Details

Motivators Affecting Pokemon Go Players' In-Game Purchase Intentions Using Microtransactions

Authors:

Burak Çetiner | Aylin Çalışkan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı

Journal:

Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.295-314

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001343123

pISSN:

2667-8683

Microtransactions

Gaming industry

In-game purchase motivations

Pokemon GO

Consumption Value TheoryMikroişlemler

Oyun endüstrisi

Oyun içi satın alma motivasyonları

Pokemon GO

Tüketim Değer Teorisi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Burak Çetiner | Aylin Çalışkan

Publisher: Anadolu University

Main Topics: Tüketici Davranışı

Journal: Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.295-314

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001343123

pISSN: 2667-8683

Issues

Authors:

Burak Çetiner | Aylin Çalışkan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Tüketici Davranışı

Journal:

Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.25 Issue 1, pp.295-314

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001343123

pISSN:

2667-8683