During the last decade games have arguably become the largest form of leisure information systems (IS). However, today games are also increasingly being employed for a variety of instrumental purposes. Although games have garnered a substantial amount of research attention during the last decade, research literature is scattered and there is still a lack of a clear and reliable understanding of why games are being used, and how they are placed in the established utilitarian-hedonic continuum of information systems. To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of the quantitative body of literature that has examined the reasons for using games (48 studies). Additionally, we compared the findings across games that are intended for either leisure or instrumental use. Even though games are generally regarded as a pinnacle form of hedonically-oriented ISs, our results show that enjoyment and usefulness are equally important determinants for using them (though their definitive role varies between game types). Therefore, it can be posited that games are multipurpose ISs which nevertheless rely on hedonic factors, even in the pursuit of instrumental outcomes. The present study contributes to and advances our theoretical and empirical understanding of multipurpose ISs and the ways in which they are used.

During the last decade, virtual goods have become an important target of consumption online (especially in games, virtual worlds and social networking services) amongst physical and digital goods. In this study we investigate the question of why do people purchase virtual goods by conducting a metaanalysis of the existing quantitative body of literature (24 studies) on the topic. The meta-analysis revealed an important aspect of value of virtual goods: contrary to traditional goods, the reasons why people purchase virtual goods are tightly connected to the platform where they are sold in. These findings underline the significance of service design and its relationship to the formation of value of virtual goods: the value of virtual goods is context-bound, and therefore, bound to the environment where they are usable in. Most factors that were found to be significant predictors of purchase behavior (such as network effects, selfpresentation, enjoyment, ease of use, flow and use of the platform) are directly related to the aspects and design of the platform beyond the general attitudes towards virtual goods themselves. Moreover, we found that enjoyment and prolonged use of the platform were more important predictors for purchases in virtual worlds than in games.

This paper reviews empirical literature on adoption/acceptance, continued use as well loyalty in the context of games. The study reviews dependent variables, independent variables, coefficients between independent and dependent variables, used methodologies as well as types of games covered in the reviewed literature.

This paper reviews quantitative literature that addresses the questions of what explains why people buy virtual goods. The study reviews independent and dependent variables, path coefficients, used methodologies, theoretical backgrounds as well as types of services covered in the relevant literature. The goal of the paper is both to provide an overview to the literature and to investigate reasons for virtual good purchase. The results in the body of literature reveal that, for example, purchase behavior is most strongly driven by how satisfied people are with the use of virtual goods and whether they have a positive attitude towards using real money in virtual environments. Moreover, people seem to purchase virtual goods in order to give a favorable image of themselves. Furthermore, interestingly the enjoyment of using the platform where the virtual goods are sold in does not predict virtual good purchases.