Knowledge sharing leads to engagement during Covid-19 for online gamers

Online games have emerged as a breath of fresh air in the lives of the current digital generation amidst the backdrop of COVID-19 and subsequent global lockdowns. Within Internet communities, online gamers actively engage in knowledge sharing, exchanging insights and updates on their experiences. This study introduces a model designed for Massive Multiplayer Online Gamers of Travian, focusing on intrinsic factors such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and the flow state, supported by the Technology Acceptance Model. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns and quarantine as moderators, this study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology, encompassing 496 gamers, to elucidate the impact of technology acceptance and flow theory on intrinsic motivational factors that drive online gamers' knowledge-sharing activities, underpinning the social protection theory. This pioneering research explores the implications of COVID-19 restrictions on gamers' behavioral patterns, contributing significantly to the existing literature by providing a deeper psychological understanding of the less-explored realm of diverse online gamers' activities during the pandemic.