Game Server Research Articles

Towards a responsible gaming ecosystem: a call to action

Purpose Drawing from transformative service research (TSR) and service ecosystem perspectives, the author seeks to provide multi-level insights into gaming service systems and call to action how this knowledge can contribute to cultivating socially responsible gaming by addressing the following research questions: What insights from service ecosystem and TSR literature can help optimise value co-creation and cultivate socially responsible practices in digital gaming services? What future research directions could advance the understanding of digital gaming services and their potential to develop a responsible gaming ecosystem that balances social well-being with commercial success? Design/methodology/approach Adopting a conceptual approach of theory synthesis and adaptation, the author discusses four overarching themes alongside key research gaps and directions crucial for understanding the dynamics of gaming ecosystem. Findings The central themes – “Exploring individuals as game service consumers”, “Gaming service exchange dynamics among meso-level stakeholders”, “A macro lens to gaming service ecosystem” and “The complexities of multi-actor dynamics and interdependencies” – shed light on how responsible services can be fostered. Research limitations/implications Given the absence of a well-defined scope for understanding responsible gaming, future research should develop a typology to capture its multifaceted aspects. Expanding beyond micro-level analysis, conducting consultation interviews with industry practitioners and policymakers can contribute insights into promoting responsible gaming services. Social implications The author offers insights for the game players, designers and developers, service providers and policymakers to promote a healthy gaming culture. Originality/value Through this research, the author advances the understanding of gaming as a service by illuminating value co-creation and co-destruction within an interconnected gaming service ecosystem through the lens of TSR. Such understanding empowers businesses to prioritise consumer welfare in their decision-making and practices.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ КОМАНДОЙ ВНУТРИКОРПОРАТИВНОГО СТАРТАПА: ПРОЦЕССНОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ДИНАМИКИ РАЗВИТИЯ

Innovative development of the Russian economy is impossible without increasing the efficiency of small innovative enterprises (startups), including those created within companies. The problems of managing internal startups and especially startup teams have been relatively poorly studied by modern science. The high dynamics of startups causes high variability and intensive transformations in team management practices. To create a highper formance startup team, it is necessary to understand the internal logic of change in the parameters of teams and team management. The article studies the dynamics of changes in team characteristics and team management within the startup development process. The research methodology is based on process research and case studies. The work investigates the dynamics of the startup team a cloud gaming service. The startup was organized within one company but was then sold to a large IT corporation. The article examines certain characteristics of the team in their development including management methodologies, team composition, communications, culture, motivation, operational and strategic planning pro cedures.

An online cost optimization approach for edge resource provisioning in cloud gaming

Cloud gaming (CG), as an emergent computing paradigm, is revolutionizing the gaming industry. Currently, cloud gaming service providers (CGSPs) begin to integrate edge computing with cloud to provide services, with the aim of maximizing gaming service revenue while considering the costs incurred and the benefits generated. However, it is non-trivial to maximize gaming service revenue, as future requests are not known beforehand, and poor resource provisioning may result in exorbitant costs. In addition, the edge resource provisioning (ERP) problem in CG necessitates a trade-off between cost and inevitable queuing issues in CG systems. To address this issue, we propose ERPOL (ERP Online), a convenient and efficient approach to formulate ERP strategies for CGSPs, without requiring any future information. The performance of ERPOL has been theoretically validated and experimentally evaluated. Experiments driven by real-world traces show that it can achieve significant cost savings. The proposed approach has the potential to transform how CGSPs manage their infrastructure.

A Genetic Algorithm-based approach for placement in the fog of latency-sensitive multiplayer game servers

A Genetic Algorithm-based approach for placement in the fog of latency-sensitive multiplayer game servers

Service quality in cloud gaming: instrument development and validation

PurposeThe global market for cloud gaming is growing rapidly. How gamers evaluate the service quality of this emerging form of cloud service has become a critical issue for both researchers and practitioners. Building on the literature on service quality and software as a service, this study develops and validates a gamer-centric measurement instrument for cloud gaming service quality.Design/methodology/approachA three-step measurement instrument development process, including item generation, scale development and instrument testing, was adopted to conceptualize and operationalize cloud gaming service quality.FindingsCloud gaming service quality consists of two second-order constructs of support service quality and technical service quality with seven first-order dimensions, namely rapport, responsiveness, reliability, compatibility, ubiquity, smoothness and comprehensiveness. The instrument exhibits desirable psychometric properties.Practical implicationsPractitioners can use this new measurement instrument to evaluate gamers' perceptions toward their service and to identify areas for improvement.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the service quality literature by utilizing qualitative and quantitative approaches to develop and validate a new measurement instrument of service quality in the context of cloud gaming and by identifying new dimensions (compatibility, ubiquity, smoothness and comprehensiveness) specific to it.

Online Game Service Providers Responbilities for Damages Sufficiented to Consumer

<em><span lang="EN-AU">The purpose of this study is to find out and explain how the responsibility of online game service providers is for losses suffered by consumers and legal settlements carried out. Consumer protection is a term used to describe legal protection given to consumers in their efforts to meet their needs from things that can harm the consumers themselves. The problem that will be examined and analyzed in this research is how the responsibility of online game service providers to Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection. This study uses a normative legal approach method in the form of a statutory and conceptual approach by using primary legal materials, namely laws and secondary legal materials, namely books and journals related to the discussion. The responsibilities of providers of online game services regarding Law No. 8 of 1999 Concerning Consumer Protection include the presence of responsibilities that are responsible for administrative and criminal responsibility, and there is civil responsibility for online game providers which is contained in Article 19 of the Law on Crime Protection. and Consuimein those who have Tangguing are responsible for damages for damages, Tangguing are responsible for compensation for damages for violations and Tangguing are responsible for compensation for losses for consumers. Based on this, the existence of defective goods and/or services is not the only basis for accountability for the provider of online game services. This means that the responsibilities of the provider of online game services cover all the disadvantages that consumers experience. And article 4 of the Consumer Protection Act explains the rights and beliefs of consumers. The results of the research show that the providers of online game services can answer their mistakes by paying compensation or deliberations to reach consensus</span></em>

Optimizing Network Performance and Availability in Game Servers: A Comparative Study of Load Balancing Techniques in Sophos Firewalls

Optimizing Network Performance and Availability in Game Servers: A Comparative Study of Load Balancing Techniques in Sophos Firewalls

ANALISIS SEGMENTING DAN TARGETING TEMPAT BILLIARD DI WILAYAH JAKARTA BARAT

One of the objectives of providing billiard game entertainment services is to complement the market demand for billiard lovers in the scope of Jakarta, especially in the Greenlake city area, especially due to the lack of places to play billiards in the West Jakarta area that provide property and a comfortable and exciting place. In general, the craze of the Indonesian people, especially in Jakarta, for Billiard games is increasing, as seen by the number of new Billiard businesses or places to play in Jakarta. Billiard playing places that are in demand are certainly different, because the atmosphere of the Billiard playing place itself is a characteristic of each Billiard service provider. Likewise, the competitors of billiard game service providers in Jakarta are the most popular places to play in each region. Segmentation and targeting must be detailed in order to achieve customer satisfaction. The method used is descriptive qualitative using a purposive sampling approach

The UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention in Asia: the case of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

ABSTRACT The UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2009. Since then, it has been ratified by a total of 72 parties, but Cambodia remains the only one of these parties located in Asia. Against this backdrop, this article presents the case of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) located on the shores of the South China Sea. The Macao SAR has a strong economy, which relies primarily on the gaming services and tourist industries, but is seeking to diversify its economy in order to make it more sustainable. To this end, the article assesses the role of underwater cultural heritage in diversifying its economy and stresses the need for greater policy coherence both between different cultural policies but also between cultural, commercial and other policy areas.

Informal Game Play in the Classroom: Utilisation and Integration of the Metalanguage of Games

This paper discusses a case study of a 28 children in a middle years (11-15 year old) classroom and the use of the "third space" between the classroom and the home as an area of play for consolidation of both the learning at school and the informal learning of the games played at home. The research aims to look at whether the third space could be a vehicle to enable participants who have identified themselves as competent in the gaming world to link those learning strategies to classroom learning and therefore transfer that success to the classroom. The research took place at an International Baccalaureate school in Perth, Western Australia and utilises the third space as a gaming server and Discord chatrooms. Data was collected from the servers, questionnaires, researcher observations, game walkthrough videos and through interviews with the participants. Being an International Baccalaureate school the children take part in a “cognitive curriculum” which is part of the metacognitive learning of the International Baccalaureate. The participants were applying these strategies to their reflections on their action within the server and these reflections then informed their further participation within the “informal” game. In this way it could be theorised that children who were skilled “shapeshifters” could be at an advantage both communicating within the collaborative group work and moving between the informal and formal spaces. The analysis of the data focuses on the ways in which the students unpacked, utilised and discussed the formal classroom learning whilst participating in the Java Minecraft server game space. The metalanguage of learning and building competence in digital games informally through play outside of the school appears to link well to the metalanguage of the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The paper investigates whether linking children’s understanding and use of the gaming metalanguage to the International Baccalaureate metalanguage enables children to traverse the metalanguage of the classroom more successfully. The analysis of the data is utilised threefold in this presentation to: Identify that there is a linkage between gaming language and International Baccalaureate curriculum elements make these links apparent and show how they would apply in the classroom.

Edge Computing for Computer Games by Offloading Physics Computation

Realistic graphics and smooth experience in computer games come with the cost of increased computational requirements on the end-user devices. Emerging Cloud Gaming that enables executing the games on thin devices comes with its disadvantages such as susceptibility to network latency and the incurred cloud computing cost for the game service provider. The monolithic architecture of the game engines also presents an issue for cloud gaming where scaling efficiency in the cloud turns out to be limited. This paper proposes using edge computing principles to offload a subset of the local computations executed by games to a nearby edge server typically assigned for gaming applications. Specifically, we focus on physics computations since depending on the number of objects and their interactions modes this part may have considerable computational cost. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach we developed an edge gaming framework called Edge Physics Simulation (EPS) using the open-source game engine Bevy and the Rapier physics engine. We come up with an experiment setup in which a game scene with a high number of objects is executed using both standard local computation approach and using the proposed EPS method. In the experiments up to 8000 objects of varying shape complexities are employed to trigger significant computational load due to the collision detection process. Assessment metrics used are average physics computation time, resource consumption of local device and, the breakdown of the physics duration into its critical components such network time, simulation time and compression time. Our results show that EPS significantly reduces physics time compared to local execution. For the highest number of objects 75% reduction in physics computation time is reported where breakdown of physics time is further analyzed.

Video Streaming and Cloud Gaming Services Over 4G and 5G: A Complete Network and Service Metrics Dataset

The development of telecommunications, particularly mobile communications, has led to the emergence of numerous multimedia services. As these services become increasingly reliant on connectivity, the network has a huge impact on the user experience. However, it is difficult to assess the End-to- End (E2E) performance of the service because of the limited access to the application data and encryption used to secure and integrate the network information exchanged. In this context, this work presents a dataset based on several metrics, namely Key Quality Indicators (KQIs), representing different services' E2E conditions. In particular, video streaming and Cloud Gaming (CG) services are considered in the dataset. Furthermore, a detailed description of the testbed where the dataset has been generated is given, discussing the rationale behind the choices made for its development.

Cloud-Based Game Server Infrastructure AT PT. Games Karya Nusantara (Majamojo)

In the era of the game publishing industry, MAJAMOJO collaborates with game developers in developing game server infrastructure in Indonesia, by realizing the adoption of cloud computing using the Roadmap for Cloud Computing Adaption (ROCCA) method. Cloud computing implementation by following 5 stages of modification of the ROCCA adoption model, namely the analysis, design, adoption, migration, and management stages. By using Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud Service (CSP) services. Cloud computing adoption is carried out by developing game server infrastructure as connectivity between the client and the game server. The analysis is carried out by collecting data and interviews from speakers, in the design of the cloud computing technology to be used, the selection of the technology is based on the results of the analysis stage, then the adoption process prepares the cloud infrastructure to be built, based on software selection and setting up servers with recommended specifications, then migration is the core of the cloud computing adoption process, Where the process transfers the system from the physical server to the virtual server, new management will be executed if the adoption and migration process has been completed with the Game Server and Game Client connectivity indicators running normally. With the application of cloud computing based on the characteristics of the cloud itself, it is flexible, scalable, and safe to access over the internet.

To Whale or Not to Whale: Repeated Purchase Behavior Paid Players in Genshin Impact

Online games are a means of entertainment for people of all ages and can be easily accessed by anyone. Games or online games that are becoming a trend today are socially interactive video games. These online games invite friends, family, and others to join and participate in ongoing games. This study investigates factors influencing repurchase decisions and intentions among online game players, Genshin Impact, in DKI Jakarta. A quantitative research method was employed, utilizing Partial Least Square with SmartPLS software, and a sample of 500 respondents was analyzed. The variables examined include online game service, game authenticity, social influence, facilitating online conditions, hedonic motivations, price value, habit, repurchase intention, and repurchase decision. The findings reveal that game authenticity, facilitating online conditions, and habit positively influence repurchase intention, while online game services negatively affect it. However, social influence, hedonic motivation, and price value do not significantly impact repurchase intention. In terms of repurchase decisions, facilitating online conditions, hedonic motivation, price value, and repurchase intention have a positive influence, whereas social influence and habit exert a negative effect. Online game services and game authenticity do not significantly influence repurchase decisions. The study also found that repurchase intention mediates the positive impact of game authenticity, facilitating online conditions and habits on repurchase decisions, and the negative impact of online game service on repurchase decisions. However, it does not mediate the effects of social influence, hedonic motivation, and price value on repurchase decisions.

Factors Affecting Players to Buy Virtual Items in Online Games

The fast growth of technology and the internet have ushered in a new era for humanity. One of the advantages of the internet is its entertainment value. Online games are a well-known form of online content. In typical PC or console games, only one or two people play the game on a personal computer. In online games, several players from all over the world to play on game servers over the internet. Playing online games gives gamers a sensation of enjoyment, flow, and satisfaction with the game. These variables will influence the purchase intention of players. This study aimed to explore the influence of flow experience, satisfaction, and enjoyment on purchase intention through the mediation of continuous usage intention. This study is quantitative in nature. The sample for this study consisted of 485 digital gaming participants. The purposive sampling was implemented by distributing online questionnaires that were subsequently analysed with Smart PLS. The findings of this study indicate that the sense of flow, satisfaction, and enjoyment can influence the continuous usage intention. Consequently, flow experience, continuous usage intention, and satisfaction can influence purchase intention. Additionally, enjoyment does not affect purchase intention. Then, flow experience can influence purchase intention directly or through continuous usage intention.

Factors Affecting Players to Buy Virtual Items in Online Games

The fast growth of technology and the internet have ushered in a new era for humanity. One of the advantages of the internet is its entertainment value. Online games are a well-known form of online content. In typical PC or console games, only one or two people play the game on a personal computer. In online games, several players from all over the world to play on game servers over the internet. Playing online games gives gamers a sensation of enjoyment, flow, and satisfaction with the game. These variables will influence the purchase intention of players. This study aimed to explore the influence of flow experience, satisfaction, and enjoyment on purchase intention through the mediation of continuous usage intention. This study is quantitative in nature. The sample for this study consisted of 485 digital gaming participants. The purposive sampling was implemented by distributing online questionnaires that were subsequently analysed with Smart PLS. The findings of this study indicate that the sense of flow, satisfaction, and enjoyment can influence the continuous usage intention. Consequently, flow experience, continuous usage intention, and satisfaction can influence purchase intention. Additionally, enjoyment does not affect purchase intention. Then, flow experience can influence purchase intention directly or through continuous usage intention.

Future Business Model for Mobile Cloud Gaming: the Case of South Korea and Implications

5G was expected to have a disruptive impact on society owing to its high bandwidth, hyper-connectivity, and low latency. Mobile cloud gaming, therefore, was expected to take off with the introduction of 5G. However, progress has not been successful and it means that factors beyond technological advancement need to be considered. This paper interviews experts to analyze the current status of mobile cloud gaming services to better understand the mobile cloud gaming industry. The findings reaffirm that the performance of the service (e.g., latency, coverage of 5G networks, etc.) is a critical factor, but also reveal the lack of consideration of the polarized user segments and bidirectional requirements of gaming services. Therefore, to facilitate the expansion of mobile cloud gaming, industry and academia alike should focus on transforming the mobile cloud gaming services in two ways. First, provide bundles of casual games with a freemium business model using existing infrastructure. Second, expand coverage of 5G networks and optimize service for ultra-low latency. Since it is more feasible to take the first approach, it is recommended that the initial efforts focus on the first, rather than the second, which frequently has been the case.

Fragmented Control of Platform Game Work in China

AbstractThis article adopts a labour process theory approach to analysing distinct circuits of labour control in platform video game work in China, a novel manifestation of the platform economy rooted in the special formation of Chinese gaming infrastructure as well as in precarious labour regimes. Platform game work encompasses a broad range of online video game services such as live game streaming, paid boosting, and game companion, matching customers’ demands to workers who provide entertainment or assist play. Platform game work has drawn an estimated seven million young workers into precarious employment during the past decade. The article outlines three interwoven features defining the fragmented control of platform game work: the crucial function of extra-platform intermediaries in regulating labour processes; the deployment of relationship labour in order matching and community management; and the mutual reinforcement of platform diversity and fast-moving platform architecture. These three features co-create a decentralised yet resilient structure organised by a network of platform and non-platform, human and machine agencies. Positioning platform game work in the broad spectrum of gig work, the article illuminates new modes of labour control and workers’ embedded agency, adding to the nascent literature on diverse labour regimes and subjectivities in the platform economy.

Staff engagement and perceptions of video games in public libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand

Purpose This paper aims to investigate public library staff engagement and perceptions of video games and video game services. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative data on staff video game experiences, perceptions and confidence were collected through an online questionnaire. Findings The results indicate an overall positive perception of video games in public libraries, with 87% of the respondents supporting video games in public libraries. Video game players appear to think more positively about video games and have more general knowledge about them than non-players. They also appeared to be more confident in delivering related services and were more likely to be running gaming-related events. It was concluded that staff attitudes towards video games are not a barrier to their inclusion in public libraries, as found in previous research. Practical implications Encouraging staff engagement with video games may improve their knowledge and confidence in delivering video game services, although further research is required to confirm this. There is a potentially underserved population of those aged 46–84 years, nearly half of whom play video games. Evaluation of this potentially underserved population is an interesting topic for future research. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first survey of public library staff views towards video games in Aotearoa New Zealand, and it updates previous research in light of developments in gaming, gaming technology and the increased focus on public libraries as providers of digital technology and sites of community engagement.

Measuring and estimating Key Quality Indicators in Cloud Gaming services

The gaming industry has proposed the concept of Cloud Gaming (CG), a paradigm that enhances the gaming experience on reduced hardware devices. However, this paradigm puts a lot of pressure on the communication links that connect the user to the cloud. As a result, the service experience becomes highly dependent on network connectivity.In this context, the present work proposes a framework for measuring and estimating the most important E2E (end-to-end) metrics of the CG service, namely Key Quality Indicators (KQIs). Therefore, different machine learning (ML) techniques are evaluated to predict KQIs related to the CG user experience. For this purpose, the most important KQIs of the service, such as input lag, freezes or perceived video frame rate, are collected in a real network deployment. The results show that ML techniques can be used to estimate these indicators solely from network-related metrics. This is seen as a valuable asset for the delivery of CG services over cellular networks, even without access to the user’s device, as it is expected for telecom operators.