These experiments are not as useful nor controlled as you may think. Let me break down into some experiment design principles here:
#1 You can only generalize to the population studied
--Thus your demographics will be that of a more computer savvy user, with leisure time. This is NOT a representative sample of a normal population. When using regression methods you will get a homogenous result only from 'game performers'. These experiments are not valid unless you can prove that there is no purposeful difference between this population and the general population.
--It still can provide interesting insights, but any quantified data must be taken with a grain of salt
--The population may have one net effect, but perhaps a different type of agent/actor would have an OPPOSITE or equalizing effect (games are an artificial setting)
#2 Process defined by agency
--Here the markets are designed by an all-seeing game developer. I don't know about you, but many MMO's I have participated in had lackluster markets due to poor UI or the mere fact that it is a new market.
--Product innovations are limited or non existent, and users cannot refine markets based on their experiences. These days the most interesting economic studies are looking at PROCESS which is understood much less than outcome. Neo-classical economic theory does a great job at explaining outcome, but is horrid at process. That is why many market failures are not forecasted, but instead studied post-mortem.
This reminds me of the classic prisoner's dilemna and nash equilibrium.
Clearly if they all cooperate they could create a common platform that would allow people to use software across their hardware platforms. But those who do not participate and get exclusive titles, would then be at an advantage. People might buy their 'one extra' console just to get those exclusive titles.
It is silly, but that is a peak in the mind of a video gamepublishing exec.
Some people feel that they will not get the full medical care that they would have gotten otherwise. For instance when you do not opt-in, Doctors would hopefully fight until the very end to save you. Should you opt-in, when does the Doctor draw the line to save you versus save the organs for transplant.
Doctors cannot save you AND the organs, so when people feel troubled that this creates a conflict of interest with their mortality at stake, they vote against it. This may be based on incorrect data, but it is a prevalent attitude.
Slashdot Mirror
These experiments are not as useful nor controlled as you may think. Let me break down into some experiment design principles here:
#1 You can only generalize to the population studied
--Thus your demographics will be that of a more computer savvy user, with leisure time. This is NOT a representative sample of a normal population. When using regression methods you will get a homogenous result only from 'game performers'. These experiments are not valid unless you can prove that there is no purposeful difference between this population and the general population.
--It still can provide interesting insights, but any quantified data must be taken with a grain of salt
--The population may have one net effect, but perhaps a different type of agent/actor would have an OPPOSITE or equalizing effect (games are an artificial setting)
#2 Process defined by agency
--Here the markets are designed by an all-seeing game developer. I don't know about you, but many MMO's I have participated in had lackluster markets due to poor UI or the mere fact that it is a new market.
--Product innovations are limited or non existent, and users cannot refine markets based on their experiences. These days the most interesting economic studies are looking at PROCESS which is understood much less than outcome. Neo-classical economic theory does a great job at explaining outcome, but is horrid at process. That is why many market failures are not forecasted, but instead studied post-mortem.
This reminds me of the classic prisoner's dilemna and nash equilibrium. Clearly if they all cooperate they could create a common platform that would allow people to use software across their hardware platforms. But those who do not participate and get exclusive titles, would then be at an advantage. People might buy their 'one extra' console just to get those exclusive titles. It is silly, but that is a peak in the mind of a video gamepublishing exec.
Some people feel that they will not get the full medical care that they would have gotten otherwise. For instance when you do not opt-in, Doctors would hopefully fight until the very end to save you. Should you opt-in, when does the Doctor draw the line to save you versus save the organs for transplant. Doctors cannot save you AND the organs, so when people feel troubled that this creates a conflict of interest with their mortality at stake, they vote against it. This may be based on incorrect data, but it is a prevalent attitude.