Beginning, persisting, and ceasing to play: A stage uses and gratifications approach to multiplayer video games

Scholars maintain the key to understanding media effects lies in understanding why people use media. Uses and gratifications research regarding video game use assumes player motivations are constant variables, as researchers have not measured player motivations over time. The present study investigated differences between multiplayer video game user motivations across three stages of game play -- beginning, persisting and ceasing to play. Data from surveys distributed via Internet forums showed statistically significant changes in motivations from both the beginning and persisting stages of play as compared to the ceasing stage. The present study confirmed motivations for video game use change over time, and thus takes an innovative step that can be replicated to better understand our relationship with other media.Keywords: Uses and Gratifications Theory, Stages of Game play, Video Games.