The Journal of the Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회논문지)

The Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회)
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The influence of Social Norm and Critical Mass on Online Game User's Word of Mouth

사회규범과 크리티컬 매스가 온라인 게임 이용자의 구전의도에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

  • 배정호 (상명대학교 국제통상학과) ;
  • 김문섭 (강원대학교 경영학과)
  • Received : 2014.03.31
  • Accepted : 2014.04.15
  • Published : 2014.04.28
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Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find the specific structure with factors that affect online game users' positive word of mouth(WOM) for online game companies to maintain existing and new users. In previous studies the influence of characteristics of online games and attributes of users on intention to play online games is mainly focused on. However online games are products with communication on network, so that critical mass through diffusion as well as the use of product by individual consumers is important issues. Therefore, it is necessary to consider network externality effect that the more value can be obtained by more game users. The authors verified that the influence of the variables like social mass and critical mass, affecting consumers' attitude and WOM. According to the research results, social norm and critical mass have significant influence on positive attitude and WOM intention for online games. Another results verified that social norm and users' attitude affect positive WOM intention directly. These results suggest managerial implication regarding social norm and critical mass to online game companies that desire for WOM to get more online game users.

본 연구는 온라인 게임의 기존 이용자 유지 및 신규 이용자 유치 방안을 제시하고자 온라인 게임 이용자들의 긍정적 구전에 미치는 요인과 그 구조에 대해 밝히는 것을 목적으로 한다. 기존 연구에서는 게임의 속성이나 이용자의 속성이 온라인 게임 이용의도에 미치는 영향에 주로 초점이 맞춰져 있었다. 하지만 네트워크 기반으로 이용자 간 커뮤니케이션을 동반하는 온라인 게임의 특성상 개별 소비자의 이용뿐만 아니라 확산을 통한 일정 수준의 소비자 확보가 온라인 게임 시장에서 성공의 핵심 요인이다. 즉, 게임 이용자가 증가할수록 게임 이용자가 얻게 되는 가치가 증가할 것이라는 네트워크 외부성을 고려해야 한다. 따라서 본 연구는 온라인 게임의 사회규범적 특성 및 크리티컬 매스의 특성이 온라인 게임에 대한 태도 및 구전의도에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구결과 사회규범적 특성과 크리티컬 매스의 특성은 온라인 게임에 대한 태도에 유의한 양(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 사회규범적 특성과 태도는 이용자의 구전의도에 유의한 양(+)의 영향력을 직접적으로 미치는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 이러한 결과는 이용자 확보를 위해 긍정적 구전 확산을 원하는 온라인 게임 기업들에게 사회규범 및 크리티컬 매스의 활용 방안에 대한 실무적 시사점을 제시한다.

Keywords

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