• Journal of KIISE
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.314-322
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• 2017

In MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), users advance their own characters to get to the maximum (max) level by performing given tasks in the game scenario. Although it is crucial to retain users with high levels for running online games successfully, little efforts have been paid to investigate them. In this study, by analyzing approximately 60 million in-game logs of over 50,000 users, we aimed to investigate the process through which users achieve the max level and churn of such users since the moment of achieving the max level, and determine possible indicators related to churn after the max level. Based on the result, we can predict churn of the max level users by employing behavioral patterns before the max level. Moreover, we found users who are socially active and communicate with many people before the max level are less likely to leave the service (p<0.05). This study supports that communication patterns are important factors for persistent usage of the users who achieve the max level, which has practical implications to guide elite users on enjoying online games in the long run.