Strategic timing of entry : evidence from video games


Engelstätter, Benjamin ; Ward, Michael R.


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URL: https://ub-madoc.bib.uni-mannheim.de/35391
URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-353911
Document Type: Working paper
Year of publication: 2013
The title of a journal, publication series: ZEW Discussion Papers
Volume: 13-117
Place of publication: Mannheim
Publication language: English
Institution: Sonstige Einrichtungen > ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
MADOC publication series: Veröffentlichungen des ZEW (Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) > ZEW Discussion Papers
Subject: 330 Economics
Classification: JEL: D43 , L13 , L96,
Keywords (English): Product entry , non-price competition , niche , strategy , submarkets , entertainment goods , video games
Abstract: This paper investigates how video game publishers’ choice of game release date is affected by the expected level of competition within the game’s product niche. We identify game niches by genre, age-appropriateness, a four week window cohort, publisher and console system. Our analysis is based on two different video game data sets, one based on industry sales data and the other featuring extensive consumer usage information. We show that consumer substitution across games is stronger within most of the dimensions describing product niches. Sales volumes decay quickly after the opening weekend, so at any point in time, a niche will typically be served by few current titles. Thus, publishers have incentives to avoid releasing during periods of fierce intra-niche competition. We show that games are more likely to be released so as to avoid weeks when their niche is relatively well served.

Das Dokument wird vom Publikationsserver der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim bereitgestellt.




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