Online game players tend to differ in the duration of time they play. However, no matter whether the time on playing an online game is spent positively or negatively, we may assume that when the duration of each online-game round is increased, players tend to engage in more interaction with their opponents. Though there are a significant number of research studies on time usage in computer games, there is no research exploring the direct effect of time on online game playing performance. As a result, this research aims to investigate the effect of time on player performance based on the case of an online word game. Ninety-three online word games (186 players) were randomly observed via the biggest online board game website in Thailand. The results show that an increase in time does not have effect on players’ performance. The managerial implication for further development is that webmasters may consider offering only time restricted games for players to avoid high traffic in websites; which, in effect will certainly solve the problem of lag time in online gaming.Time; computer game; online game; game playing performance; word game; online word game

Kincart, Andrew

Putthiwanit, Chutinon

English

Research Papers in Economics

Effect of Increase in Allotted Time on Game Playing Performance: Case Study of an 
Online Word Game 
Chutinon Putthiwanit
*  
PhD Student, Doctor of Business Administration Program, International College,  
Dhurakij Pundit University 
110/1-4 Prachachuen Rd., Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand 
E-mail: chutinon.p@pttplc.com; chutinonp@yahoo.com 
Phone: 66-8-7215-7975 
 
Andrew Kincart 
Graduate Student, Department of International Business 
Providence University 
200 Chung-Chi Rd., Shalu, Taichung County 433, Taiwan 
E-mail: g9837030@pu.edu.tw 
Phone: 886-9-2226-3070 
*Please correspond with Chutinon Putthiwanit 1 
 
Effect of Increase in Allotted Time on Game Playing Performance: Case 
Study of an Online Word Game 
 
Abstract 
  Online game players tend to differ in the duration of time they play. However, no matter 
whether the time on playing an online game is spent positively or negatively, we may assume 
that when the duration of each online-game round is increased, players tend to engage in more 
interaction with their opponents. Though there are a significant number of research studies on 
time usage in computer games, there is no research exploring the direct effect of time on online 
game playing performance. As a result, this research aims to investigate the effect of time on 
player performance based on the case of an online word game. Ninety-three online word games 
(186 players) were randomly observed via the biggest online board game website in Thailand. 
The results show that an increase in time does not have effect on players’ performance. The 
managerial implication for further development is that webmasters may consider offering only 
time restricted games for players to avoid high traffic in websites; which, in effect will certainly 
solve the problem of lag time in online gaming.   
 
Keywords: Time, computer game, online game, game playing performance, word game, online 
word game 
 2 
 
1.  Characteristics of Time in Computer Game and Online Word Game  
  Time  is  a  fundamental  element  of  our  daily  life.  Whatever  mission  we  want  to 
accomplish, we do need a sufficient time to achieve our goals. Individual uses and perceives time 
differently. For example, waiting for bus when already being late, time may be perceived as 
passing very slow (Luthman, Bliesener, Staude-Müller 2009). For virtual world like Second Life, 
Harris, Bailenson, Nielsen, and Yee (2009) claim that as time go by, Second Lifers spend more 
time in populated areas, make more friends, and joined more groups. Similar to the case of 
computer game, a study by Andersen, Zeng, Christensen, and Tran (2009) indicates that in a 
real-time strategy (RTS) game player needs to observe opponent’s behavior and uses proper 
stratagems in order to win game in the given time. This kind of time usage is considered as 
positive because it arouses player to think more to win the game. But on the other hand, when 
playing an online game, losing track of time can shape player to become addicted on game or 
even  missing  his/her  appointment  (Luthman  et  al.  2009).  Lemmens,  Valkenburg,  and  Peter 
(2011) also  support that  time spent playing violent games  specifically  can increase physical 
aggression. But however, no matter what the time on playing an online game is spent positively 
or  negatively,  we  may  assume  that  when  the  time  in  each  online-game  round  is  increased, 
players tend to perform more interaction with the opponent player (e.g. having more turn to play, 
more time to generate a better strategy, and so on). Nonetheless, though there is the number of 
research studies on time usage in computer game, but somehow, there is no research explores the 
direct effect of time given on game playing performance, especially online game. As a result, this 
research aims to investigate the effect of time given on player performance based on the case of 
online word game (Scrabble or so called Crossword in Thailand). 3 
 
  Online games become a popular activity throughout the world. Adults tend to play online 
game as well as youths (Rau, Peng, and Yang 2006). Traditional word game like Scrabble which 
people used to play on wooden or plastic board is now available online via Facebook, Thaibg, 
and etc. For some websites, players need not to pay when playing Scrabble online. Nevertheless, 
it may come to someone’s mind that what Scrabble is.  Scrabble was invented by American 
architect, Alfred Butts (BBC 2010; CBS 2010). It is a game which two to four players score 
points by forming words whereas the words are formed across and down in crossword fashion 
and must appear in a standard dictionary (Wikipedia 2011). In one game, there will be 100 
alphabet tiles available for both players. Players try to obtain the highest points by making words 
on a grid board (BBC 2010). Player may obtain 50 score bonus by putting seven alphabets or 
more simultaneously (so called Bingo) such as RETINA, RETSINA, TSARINA, SENIORS, 
SEQUOIA, ISOTONES, ISATINES, STYLIZERS, NUMEROUSLY, and etc. But however, by 
combining additional alphabet(s) with the existing word on the board (e.g. combining ISO with 
existing word TONE to become seven-alphabet ISOTONE), this case is not considered as Bingo. 
Therefore, to gain the points as high as possible, player needs to do many Bingos to win over 
his/her opponent. That is, player is required to manage his/her time efficiently to finish the game 
on time while performs a good score.  
 
  In case of Thaibg.com that authors will use as a platform for this study, authors have 
found that before beginning the game, player is allowed to take one from six options of game 
time. There are 2/15 (two minutes per one turn plus additional 15 seconds), 5/30 (five minutes 
per one turn plus additional 30 seconds), 10/60 (ten minutes per one turn plus additional 60 
seconds), 5/0 (five minutes per one game with no additional time), 12/0 (12 minutes per one 4 
 
game with no additional time), and 22/0 (22 minutes per one game with no additional time). 
Researchers set these two options into two categories, playing with time allocation (2/15, 5/30, 
and 10/60) and playing with no time allocation (5/0, 12/0, and 22/0).  As a result, from this 
literature reviews, here are our research questions:  
 
Research  Questions:  By  allocating  more  time  for  each  Scrabble  game,  will  player  tend  to 
generate more  words  in each turn or not? Moreover, should  the  webmaster  of Thaibg offer 
Scrabble/Crossword games with time allocation option (2/15, 5/30, and 10/60) or not? Why, 
what is the benefit, and how? 
 
2.  Research Methodology 
  This research is a descriptive research using quantitative data to which observation is 
applied to give us a greater understanding of the effect of time on game playing performance. 
Ninety-three Scrabble games (186 players) were randomly observed via the biggest online board 
game website in Thailand, www.thaibg.com, in Scrabble (Crossword) category. The rooms those 
were observed are Practice 1, Practice 2, Practice 3, Practice 4, and Practice 5. The observation 
started from 18
th January 2011 (12:30 AM) until 21
st January 2011. The player performance will 
be investigated based on the longest word played in each game. 
 5 
 
3.  Findings 
   Since there are 100 alphabet tiles available each game, Scrabble with two players and 
each player plays a word with an average of five-alphabet long will have possible ten turns 
available for each players. In Thaibg.com, the game will automatically end when the remaining 
time (RT) less than one second. From this situation, we may assume that: 
 
MTP = T(TT + AT) 
Whereas:  
MTP = Maximum time played for each Scrabble game in Thaibg.com 
T = Turns in each game 
TT = Time available in second for each turn 
AT = Additional time in second for each turn  
 
Therefore, we can calculate MTP for each option: 
MTP of 2/15   = T(TT + AT) 
              = (10)(120 + 15) 
              = 1350 seconds = 22 minutes 30 seconds per game 
MTP of 5/30   = T(TT + AT) 6 
 
              = (10)(300 + 30) 
              = 3300 seconds = 55 minutes per game 
MTP of 10/60   = T(TT + AT) 
               = (10)(600 + 60) 
               = 6600 seconds = 110 minutes per game 
MTP of 5/0    = T(TT + AT) 
               = (1)(300 + 0) 
               = 300 seconds = 5 minutes per game 
MTP of 12/0    = T(TT + AT) 
               = (1)(720 + 0) 
              = 720 seconds = 12 minutes per game 
MTP of 22/0   = T(TT + AT) 
              = (1)(120 + 0) 
              = 1320 seconds = 22 minutes per game 
 
  Furthermore, table 1 shows the summary of overall game observed via Thaibg.com. The 
total of 93 games (2 players per game) was observed. The player performance will be judged on 7 
 
the longest word played in each game. Time restrictions on each game were categorized as time 
allocation game and no time allocation game. 
 
Performance (Longest 
Word Played) 
Time Allocation  No Time Allocation 
≤ Six Alphabets  26  23 
Seven Alphabets  19  13 
≥ Eight Alphabets  8  4 
Total Games  53  40 
Overall Observed  93 Games (186 Players) 
Table 1: Overall Game Observed 
  Pearson  Chi-Square  was  used  to  determine  on  our  research  question.  Since  the  Chi-
Square  test  value  (.657)  exceeds  p-value  at  .05,  therefore,  this  result  answers  our  research 
question that by allocating more time for each Scrabble game, player will not tend to generate 
more  words  in  each  turn.  Therefore,  an  increase  in  time  does  not  have  effect  on  players’ 
performance. Table 2 is the summary of the result. 
  Asymp. Sig. 
Pearson Chi-Square  .657 8 
 
Number of Valid Cases  93 Games (186 Players) 
Table 2: Summary of the Result 
     
4.  Discussion, Managerial Implications, Limitation, and Future Research 
  Many online game players have problems controlling their playing time as well as they 
cannot stop playing a game that they have pleasure with (Rau et al. 2006). But however, playing 
game also has positive sides such as pressure relief, enjoyment, and so on. A study by Rau et al. 
(2006) mentions that the more time players play games, the more improvement in their skills has 
shown. For the managerial implication, webmaster may offer only no time allocation game such 
as 5/0, 12/0, and 22/0 in order to avoid high website traffic. The limitation of this research is that 
the  sample  observed  is  only  93  games.  It  therefore  is  not  enough  to  represent  the  whole 
population. Moreover, even though the observation took a period of three days, but the author 
did not observe for the whole day or whole night. That is, some games might be overlooked. 
The future research should study more about player performance such as score obtained in given 
time, frequency of turn played in each game, and etc.  
 
References 
Andersen, K. T., Zeng, Y., Christensen, D. D., & Tran, D. (2009). Experiments with online 
reinforcement learning in real-time strategy games. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 23(9), 
855–871. 9 
 
BBC  (2010).  Proper  noun  come  into  play  in  Scrabble  rule  change.  [Online]  Available: 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8604625.stm (January 6, 2011) 
CBS  (2010).  New  Scrabble  to  allow  proper  names.  [Online]  Available: 
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/06/entertainment/main6368179.shtml (January 6, 
2011) 
Harris, H., Bailenson, J. N., Nielsen, A., & Yee, N. (2009). The evolution of social behavior over 
time in second life. Presence, 18(6), 434–448. 
Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2011). The effects of pathological gaming on 
aggressive behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(1), 38–47. 
Luthman,  S.,  Bliesener, T.,  &  Staude-Müller,  F.  (2009).  The  effect  of  computer  gaming  on 
subsequent  time  perception.  Cyberpsychology:  Journal  of  Psychosocial  Research  on 
Cyberspace, 3(1), 1–11. 
Rau, P. L, Peng, S. Y., & Yang, C. C. (2006). Time distortion for expert and novice online game 
players. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(4), 396–403. 
Wikipedia (2011). Scrabble. [Online] Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble (January 
6, 2011) 
 

Effect of increase in allotted time on game playing performance: Case study of an online word game

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