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Abstract

This study investigates networked social influence in Sky: Children of the Light, a social multiplayer online game. Drawing on survey responses (n = 9,254) and in-game data from over 660,000 players, we use an innovative graph-based machine learning approach to quantify how individuals influence others’ playtime, and regression analyses to test predictors from the COM-B model. Results show that Capability enhances influence, although excessive task focus correlates negatively with social impact; Opportunity emerges as the strongest predictor, with active social interactions significantly boosting influence; and Motivation varies by playstyle, with socializers and competitors demonstrating greater influence than narrative-focused players. By applying the COM-B model in a digital gaming context, this research highlights behavioral dimensions of player influence and employs a novel metric for quantifying interpersonal influence. These findings suggest practical implications for game design, particularly by highlighting how social interaction opportunities and different player motivations shape influence within communities.

Keywords

social value algorithm games networked social influence COM-B model player engagement

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Capability,Opportunity,and Motivation in a Social Multiplayer Online Game: Player Influence Dynamics in Sky: Children of Light

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