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The Critical Success Factors of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) in China and Ireland

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The Critical Success Factors of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) in China and Ireland Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin Dissertations School of Computer Sciences 2007-01-01 Open software to innovation: the critical success factors of massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) in China and Ireland. Wei Chen Technological University Dublin, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/scschcomdis Part of the Computer Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Chen, Wei, "Open software to innovation: the critical success factors of massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) in China and Ireland." (2007). Dissertations. 13. https://arrow.tudublin.ie/scschcomdis/13 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Computer Sciences at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License Open Software to Innovation: The Critical Success Factors of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) in China and Ireland Wei Chen A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Dublin Institute of Technology for the degree of M.Sc. in Computing (Knowledge Management) November 2007 I certify that this dissertation which I now submit for examination for the award of MSc in Computing (Knowledge Management), is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the test of my work. This dissertation was prepared according to the regulations for postgraduate study of the Dublin Institute of Technology and has not been submitted in whole or part for an award in any other Institute or University. The work reported on in this dissertation conforms to the principles and requirements of the Institute’s guidelines for ethics in research. Signed: _________________________________ Date: 16 November 2007 i ABSTRACT This project investigates the factors leading to the success of China’s Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) market and gives an analysis of how Open source has contributed to these success factors. It then will look at how the use of open source is mirrored in Ireland’s market for example, the software sector to see if the same factors are apparent or there are indicators of these. Knowledge Management plays a very important role for fasten the innovation of Open source software development in China. Key words: Open source, MMORPG, Knowledge Management, China’s MMOG Market ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ms. Deirdre Lawless – dissertation supervisor and Mr. Ronan FitzPatrick – course lecturer and dissertation advisor who supervised my work for their valuable support and guidance. Without their kind and helpful participation I would find it impossible to do this project. This dissertation could not have been written without Dr. John Kelleher who not only served as my course lecturer of Knowledge-based Project Management but also encouraged and challenged me throughout the research programme. Also I want to thank all the faculty members, Mr. Ronan Bradley, Mr. Damian Gordon, Dr. Svetlana Hensman, Dr. Brian MacNamee and Dr. Fred Mtenzi, who patiently guided me throughout the entire academic program, never accepting less than my best efforts. My sincere thanks go to Mr. Robert Lawless, Mr. Dingding Shi, Mr. Ning Dong and Ms. Yin Shi for assisting me in gathering data, correcting my poor spelling and giving valuable information for the dissertation. I cherish the both moral and financial support from my family members during the period of my studies abroad. There is no doubt that my success is based on all of your encouragement, love and support. Finally, to all of you who once again painstakingly read drafts, sometimes at short notice, provided comments, offered advice or drew attention to errors and omissions, as always, my grateful thanks. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ II TABLE OF FIGURES ............................................................................................ VII GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................. 1 1 PROJECT INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 3 1.1 ABOUT THIS PROJECT ......................................................................................... 3 1.2 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 4 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM .......................................................................................... 6 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 6 1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 7 1.6 RESOURCES ........................................................................................................ 8 1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS .................................................................................... 8 2 MMORPG CONCEPTS & OSS ........................................................................ 11 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 11 2.2 CLASSIFICATIONS &BRIEF HISTORY ................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Classifications ...................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 From MUDs to MMOGs – A brief history ........................................... 12 2.3 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE DESIGN FOR MMORPG SERVER ............................... 14 2.3.1 Development Activities And Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration........... 14 2.3.2 P2P Vs. Client / Server ......................................................................... 16 2.3.3 Database ............................................................................................... 19 2.4 OSS DEVELOPMENT IN THE MMORPG COMMUNITY ...................................... 21 2.4.1 What is in Open source ......................................................................... 21 2.4.2 OSS Development Processes ................................................................ 22 2.4.3 OSS features ......................................................................................... 23 2.4.4 Open source and online community ..................................................... 26 2.5 LICENSING AND LEGAL ISSUES ........................................................................ 27 2.5.1 Licensing ............................................................................................... 27 2.5.2 Copyright and Copyleft ........................................................................ 28 2.6 NETWORKS &ONLINE GAMES ......................................................................... 30 iv 2.6.1 Network Quality Relate To Online Gamers .......................................... 30 2.6.2 Latency And Player Actions In MMORPG ........................................... 31 2.7 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................... 32 3 CHINA’S SUCCESS OF MMORPG ................................................................ 33 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 33 3.1.1 History of China’s MUDs ..................................................................... 33 3.1.2 The Emerging of MMORPGs - History of Chinese MMOPRG ............ 34 3.2 KEY METRICS TO INVESTIGATE: ....................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Market Sizing And Forecasts ................................................................ 36 3.2.2 Size Of MMORPG Segment .................................................................. 37 3.2.3 Game Distributors Market Share ......................................................... 38 3.3 SUCCESS FACTOR 1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC OVERVIEW .......................................... 40 3.3.1 Population ............................................................................................ 40 3.3.2 Online Game Community Economy...................................................... 40 3.4 SUCCESS FACTOR 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE ...................... 42 3.4.1 From Dial-up to Broadband ................................................................. 42 3.4.2 Internet Cafes and Their Role in Influencing the Growth of the Games Market. 44 3.4.3 Online game addiction .......................................................................... 45 3.4.4 Broadband Network Technologies ....................................................... 46 3.5 SUCCESS FACTOR 3. BUSINESS STRATEGY ........................................................ 47 3.5.1 Outsourcing & Piracy .......................................................................... 47 3.5.2 Private Server / Cheats Vs. Play for free option .................................. 48 3.6 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................... 49 4 MMORPGS IN IRELAND ...............................................................................
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