Consumer Brand Engagement and Video Game Media Brand Authenticity

Figures & data

Table 1. Theme frequency counts.

Theme or Sub-Theme Name	Definition	Code Count Frequency
Desire For More Competitors	Describes how consumers wanted more competitors to enter the market to pressure EA to improve The Sims 4 and further involve consumers in the process.	188
Unable to Provide Feedback	Describes how consumers felt they were unable to provide feedback to EA and that they did not want to listen to or accept their feedback.	37
Game Features	Describes themes that focused on gameplay features in The Sims 4.	507
Desired Features	Describes conversations about the various features that consumers hoped would be added to The Sims 4 by EA and The Sims brand rather than mods.	303
Missing Features	Describes conversations about features that were missing in The Sims 4 that were present in past The Sims games. These features were often considered essential and superior to what was offered in The Sims 4.	204
The Sims Community	Describes themes that focused on The Sims 4 community during the discussion around value and missing features.	269
Whining	Describes how consumers that were perceived to be complaining or criticizing The Sims 4 were labeled as negative and whining.	41
Customers Should Complain	Describes how consumers felt that they should complain as they had paid money to buy the game and wanted to provide feedback.	61
Brainwashed Community	Describes the perception that The Sims 4 community was “brainwashed” by EA and would accept anything branded as The Sims without checking its quality and value.	167
Value	Describes themes that focused on consumer perceptions of The Sims 4’s value.	518
Lack of Value	Describes how consumers felt that The Sims 4 was lacking in value for the price asked.	399
Lack of Value Compared to Previous Games	Describes how consumers compared The Sims 4 to prior The Sims games when determining their value perceptions and found it lesser and not satisfactory as they perceived it was unfinished.	119
Value and Fun in the Games	Describes how consumers still found The Sims 4 fun and worth purchasing and did not perceive it as lacking value or authenticity.	47