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A Study on the Effect of Game Character Identification on Item Purchase and Game Play Intention

게임 속 캐릭터에 대한 동일시가 아이템 구매 및 게임 이용의도에 미치는 영향

  • Received : 2021.09.13
  • Accepted : 2021.11.08
  • Published : 2021.12.20

Abstract

Character identification is illustrated in terms of game players' altered self-perception during gameplay. Research has shown that players' identification with game characters resulted in game players aligning their attitude with game character. This study investigates the relationships among control, ownership, character customization, identification, flow with game charater, and the impact on game players' behavior toward item purchase and play intention. Empirical results showed that character ownership and character customization significantly predicted use-character identification, but the impact of character control was not supported. In addition, the positive relationships between identification and flow was supported.

게임 캐릭터 동일시는 이용자의 게임 이용과정 속에서 경험하는 자아에 대한 지각이며, 게임 캐릭터에 대한 동일시 정도에 따라 게임에 대한 태도 역시 변화하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 캐릭터에 대한 통제, 소유권, 개인화, 동일시, 플로우 변수들 간의 관계를 분석하고, 게임 이용의도나 아이템 구매의도와 같은 이용자 행동에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 실증결과에 따르면 캐릭터 소유권, 개인화는 캐릭터 동일시에 유의한 영향을 미치지만, 캐릭터 통제와의 관계는 유의하지 않았다. 또한 동일시와 플로우 간의 긍정적 관계를 확인하였으며, 동일시로 강화된 플로우는 이용자의 행동에도 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인하였다.

Keywords

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