Platform selection by software developers: Theory and evidence

Masayoshi Maruyama, David Flath (), Kazumitsu Minamikawa, Kenichi Ohkita and Yusuke Zennyo

Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 2015, vol. 38, issue C, 282-303

Abstract: This paper analyzes platform selection (affiliation) by game developers in the Japanese home video game industry. We develop an elementary model of affiliation by software developers and propose the hypothesis that wider availability of game titles for a platform positively inclines game developers to affiliate with that platform when releasing new game titles. Then, using data for Japan, we estimate a multinomial logit model that includes both the attributes of game developers and the characteristics of platforms, and find evidence supporting this hypothesis. Overall, the findings suggest that game developers expect the indirect network effect to apply, and the prospect of future growth matters to them when deciding with which platform to affiliate.

Keywords: Video game; Software; Platform selection; Indirect network effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D43 L14 L22 L86 M21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:38:y:2015:i:c:p:282-303

DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2015.10.003

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