Explaining mobile game takeoff through information configuration

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the number and quality of games that publishers have released, popularity of game genre, age rating and package size are configured to determine the mobile game takeoff in a short time.Design/methodology/approachBased on the signaling theory, the authors present a conceptual model. Using actual data about 170 mobile games at their initial stage in the Apple App store, the authors test the conceptual model by applying fuzzy qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).FindingsThe findings identify four solutions that explain Mobile game takeoff in a short time. The authors highlight the role of the number and quality of games released by publishers, as well as that of popular game genres, which are always core factors when present.Originality/valueThis paper complements the previous research on the diffusion of mobile games by exploring which information combinations can lead to mobile games takeoff in a short time from the perspective of configuration. FsQCA serves as a better tool for explaining the complex relationships among variables than a regression analysis approach does. The authors extend existing knowledge on how the number and quality of games that publishers have released, popularity of game genre, age rating and package size combine to lead to takeoff of mobile games in a short time.