Pay-to-play versus hybrid bundling for digital game platforms in digital decarbonization era

IF 4.4 3区 管理学 Q1 OPERATIONS RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
Simeng Liu, Yashuang Wei, Guofang Nan, Dahui Li
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Abstract

Digital game platforms have provided “pay-to-play” (P2P) games for players to purchase and play on platforms for many years. Recently, platforms have adopted the hybrid bundling (HB) strategy that provides a bundled service of digital games in addition to P2P games. This strategy has the potential to facilitate the growth of digital games and address efficient decarbonization of physical copies of games. This study develops a theoretic model to explore whether the platform should adopt HB and, if so, what are the optimal value and price of the bundled service. We find that HB benefits profits when the usage cost of the bundled service is lower than that of P2P games, the unit price of P2P games is relatively high, and the spillover effect is low. Under such circumstances, the platform decides to provide a low-value and high-price bundled service to supplement P2P games. Moreover, when the usage cost of the bundled service is higher, HB benefits market size which also promotes digital games and reduces carbon emissions. Under such circumstances, when the unit price of P2P games is high, the platform provides a high-value and low-price service; otherwise, a low-value and low-price service. Interestingly, HB cannot simultaneously benefit both profits and market size. We find that a win–win–win situation exists for the platform, players, and social welfare when HB is profitable for the platform. When HB expands market size, it is always beneficial to players but may hurt social welfare. Finally, the bundled service may lead to social inefficiency.

Abstract Image

数字脱碳时代数字游戏平台的付费与混合捆绑模式
多年来,数字游戏平台一直提供 "付费游戏"(P2P),供玩家在平台上购买和玩耍。最近,平台采用了混合捆绑(HB)战略,除 P2P 游戏外,还提供数字游戏捆绑服务。这种策略有可能促进数字游戏的发展,并有效解决游戏实体副本的去碳化问题。本研究建立了一个理论模型,以探讨平台是否应采用 HB,如果采用,捆绑服务的最佳价值和价格是多少。我们发现,当捆绑服务的使用成本低于 P2P 游戏的使用成本、P2P 游戏的单价相对较高、溢出效应较低时,HB 会带来利润。在这种情况下,平台决定提供低价值、高价格的捆绑服务来补充 P2P 游戏。此外,当捆绑服务的使用成本较高时,HB 有利于市场规模的扩大,这也促进了数字游戏的发展并减少了碳排放。在这种情况下,当 P2P 游戏单价较高时,平台提供的是高价值、低价格的服务;反之,则是低价值、低价格的服务。有趣的是,HB 不能同时有利于利润和市场规模。我们发现,当 HB 对平台有利可图时,就会出现平台、玩家和社会福利三赢的局面。当 HB 扩大市场规模时,它总是有利于玩家,但可能会损害社会福利。最后,捆绑服务可能导致社会效率低下。
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来源期刊
Annals of Operations Research
Annals of Operations Research 管理科学-运筹学与管理科学
CiteScore
7.90
自引率
16.70%
发文量
596
审稿时长
8.4 months
期刊介绍: The Annals of Operations Research publishes peer-reviewed original articles dealing with key aspects of operations research, including theory, practice, and computation. The journal publishes full-length research articles, short notes, expositions and surveys, reports on computational studies, and case studies that present new and innovative practical applications. In addition to regular issues, the journal publishes periodic special volumes that focus on defined fields of operations research, ranging from the highly theoretical to the algorithmic and the applied. These volumes have one or more Guest Editors who are responsible for collecting the papers and overseeing the refereeing process.
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