Price index for computer games: What is hidden from the naked eye?

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Abstract

This paper presents a study of the price dynamics of a wide range of video games in the time period from 2008 to 2020. During the research, a necessary database for analysis was created, video game prices were modeled using econometric methods, and price indices were constructed for various game genres: RPG (Role-Playing Game), strategy (Strategy), action (Action), adventure games (Adventure), causal games (Casual), indie games (Indie), simulators (Simulators) etc. Hypothetically, the price range of video games by genre and system requirements were due to the different amount of effort required to create them. During the construction of hedonistic price indices, prices were cleared from the characteristics of the quality of products (computer games). Video game system parameters were used as characteristics. The work also uses various approaches to modify hedonistic indices by considering genre heterogeneity. Thanks to the study, it is possible to track the dynamics of the behavior of the cost of video games over the considered period of time, with the representation of lagging and advancing trends. Genre diversification of the price elasticity of key variables used during the construction of models was provided.

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About the authors

M. V. Arslanov

HSE University

Author for correspondence.
Email: markarslanov8@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

T. A. Ratnikova

HSE University

Email: taratnikova@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Distribution of the number of released games by year

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3. Fig. 2. Distribution of video game prices over time

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4. Fig. 3. Distribution of prices for video games

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5. Fig. 4. Price and price indices with and without characteristics and genre heterogeneity in the prices themselves and its effect on the contribution of characteristics to prices

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6. Fig. 5. Genre price diversity and individual price indices for individual game genres

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7. Fig. 6. Genre diversification of price elasticities of key variables

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