Determinants of Time and Money Costs of Russian Gamers in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games

Every fifth man plays videogames in Russia. One of the most popular videogames genre is MMORPG. The share of MMORPG amongst games which Russian gamers play the most is 53% at 2016. Today just buying the game usually is not enough, it demands additional costs. Gamer may not realize that the game occupies time, previously used for work, studying, relationships, or that he spends impermissible amount of money on it, wasting his money reserve or vital part of budget. The research problem is gamers dilemma in choosing the level of his time and money costs on MMORPG, social-economic factors which influence on readiness to pay certain amount of money and time on a game. The study aim to reveal social-economic determinants of time and money costs of Russian gamers on MMORPG. The objects of the study: 1. To reveal behaviour types of gamers by pastime in MMORPG, 2. To reveal behaviour types of gamers by purchases in MMORPG, 3. To group gamers by their pastime and purchases in MMORPG, 4. To measure influence of different social-economic factors on time costs on MMORPG 5. To measure influence of different social-economic factors on money costs on MMORPG The object of the study is Russian gamers in MMORPG. The subject of the study is influence of social-economic determinants on time and money costs of Russian gamers in MMORPG. The role of social-economic factors on time and money costs of Russian gamers in MMORPG is important, but not so significant as it was presumed. Social-economic factors are indirect, not the main definitions of time and money amount which gamer spend on MMORPG. Presumably the solution lies rather in psychological area. Time budget, lifestyle and personal preferences of gamer are more influencing than income level, marital status, employment status or other social-economic factors.