Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective

PiaoHong Wang; Yao Lyu; Zhicong Lu

doi:10.1145/3757420

Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective

Department of Computer Science

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years, third-party platforms for trading virtual game goods have rapidly gained popularity in China. These platforms refer to those that do not belong to game companies but still allow players to trade virtual game goods with one another. However, the motivations and practices surrounding trading on these platforms remain largely underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an interview-based study with experienced players engaged in virtual goods trading. We used thematic analysis to examine the experiences and practices of players on these third-party trading platforms. Our work found that these third-party platforms have become an important component of maintaining players' gaming experience and converting large numbers of players into traders who earn cash from the game. Our research also offers nuanced insights into players' efforts to reconcile the dynamics between platforms and their expectations for virtual goods trading. © 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Editors	Jeff Nichols
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3757420
Publication status	Published - Nov 2025
Event	28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025) - Grieghallen Conference Center, Bergen, Norway Duration: 18 Oct 2025 → 22 Oct 2025 https://cscw.acm.org/2025/

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Number	7
Volume	9
ISSN (Electronic)	2573-0142

Conference

Conference	28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025)
Abbreviated title	CSCW2025
Place	Norway
City	Bergen
Period	18/10/25 → 22/10/25
Internet address	https://cscw.acm.org/2025/

Bibliographical note

Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.

Research Keywords

online games
virtual goods trading

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10.1145/3757420

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Cite this

@inproceedings{3aeec0b5f19b412fa2120ff51248df92,

title = "Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective",

abstract = "In recent years, third-party platforms for trading virtual game goods have rapidly gained popularity in China. These platforms refer to those that do not belong to game companies but still allow players to trade virtual game goods with one another. However, the motivations and practices surrounding trading on these platforms remain largely underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an interview-based study with experienced players engaged in virtual goods trading. We used thematic analysis to examine the experiences and practices of players on these third-party trading platforms. Our work found that these third-party platforms have become an important component of maintaining players' gaming experience and converting large numbers of players into traders who earn cash from the game. Our research also offers nuanced insights into players' efforts to reconcile the dynamics between platforms and their expectations for virtual goods trading. {\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).",

keywords = "online games, virtual goods trading",

author = "PiaoHong Wang and Yao Lyu and Zhicong Lu",

note = "Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.; 28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025), CSCW2025 ; Conference date: 18-10-2025 Through 22-10-2025",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1145/3757420",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

series = "Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery",

number = "7",

editor = "Jeff Nichols",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction",

address = "United States",

url = "https://cscw.acm.org/2025/",

}

Wang, P, Lyu, Y & Lu, Z 2025, Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective. in J Nichols (ed.), Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. vol. 9, CSCW239, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, no. 7, vol. 9, Association for Computing Machinery, 28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025), Bergen, Norway, 18/10/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3757420

Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective. / Wang, PiaoHong; Lyu, Yao; Lu, Zhicong.
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. ed. / Jeff Nichols. Vol. 9 Association for Computing Machinery, 2025. CSCW239 (Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction; Vol. 9, No. 7).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform

T2 - 28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025)

AU - Wang, PiaoHong

AU - Lyu, Yao

AU - Lu, Zhicong

N1 - Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025/11

Y1 - 2025/11

N2 - In recent years, third-party platforms for trading virtual game goods have rapidly gained popularity in China. These platforms refer to those that do not belong to game companies but still allow players to trade virtual game goods with one another. However, the motivations and practices surrounding trading on these platforms remain largely underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an interview-based study with experienced players engaged in virtual goods trading. We used thematic analysis to examine the experiences and practices of players on these third-party trading platforms. Our work found that these third-party platforms have become an important component of maintaining players' gaming experience and converting large numbers of players into traders who earn cash from the game. Our research also offers nuanced insights into players' efforts to reconcile the dynamics between platforms and their expectations for virtual goods trading. © 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

AB - In recent years, third-party platforms for trading virtual game goods have rapidly gained popularity in China. These platforms refer to those that do not belong to game companies but still allow players to trade virtual game goods with one another. However, the motivations and practices surrounding trading on these platforms remain largely underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an interview-based study with experienced players engaged in virtual goods trading. We used thematic analysis to examine the experiences and practices of players on these third-party trading platforms. Our work found that these third-party platforms have become an important component of maintaining players' gaming experience and converting large numbers of players into traders who earn cash from the game. Our research also offers nuanced insights into players' efforts to reconcile the dynamics between platforms and their expectations for virtual goods trading. © 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

KW - online games

KW - virtual goods trading

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019223526

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U2 - 10.1145/3757420

DO - 10.1145/3757420

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

VL - 9

T3 - Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

BT - Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

A2 - Nichols, Jeff

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

Y2 - 18 October 2025 through 22 October 2025

ER -

Online Game Players on Peer-to-Peer Trading Platform: An Infrastructure Perspective

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