What are the technological and social transformations associated with digital economy?

Background Digital economy Online game and simulation game Example: Happy Farm vs. Hay Day

Background: Digital economy is through the convergence and innovations to achieve the transformations. ICT (Information and communication technology) Virtual reality Digital Economy Bill 2016 UK

Digital economy: Digital economy depends on digitization of information, individual information and communication infrastructure. (Zimmermann, 2000) Digital economy as a new wide range of combination, it is a new level and form connects with mixed ideas and actors. (Carlsson, 2004 )

Online game and simulation game: The rapidly development of digital economy, the form of game has changed. Single- player game to MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) Simulation game was defined that it is a model of reality. A better game can connect players’ daily life and virtual community. Moreover, it will build a knowledge base of intercultural communication skills. (Rayboum, 1997)

Happy farm vs. Hay Day Happy farm was developed and published by Five Minutes Ltd in 2008. The company chose to publish this game on SNS platform. It is a website game and belong to massively multiplayer online game. Renren Inc., Kaixin001 and QQ tencent was published this game . Hay Day is an online multiplayer game. It is becoming more and more popular in recent years. It is developed and published by Supercell in 2012.

Happy farm: Functions in the game: Buy/Feed animals. Buy/ Gain crops. “steal” friends crops. Sell crops, milk and eggs.

Hay Day: Hay Day has already have a better technical support. Functions in Hay Day: In-app purchase. Virtual coins and diamonds.

Functions in Hay Day: “neighborhood”- It is like a community to make players communicate with each other.

Products can sell in a roadside shop in this game, and other players can come to this user’s homepage to buy the products via “public newspaper”. All the trade and building will pay by virtual coins.

Conclusion: The background that promotes digital economy. Digital economy---different definitions of digital economy. Online game and simulation game. Simulation game development process can shows the transformations of technological and social associated with digital economy. Happy Farm compare with Hay Day in order to analyze the transformations in technological and social associated with digital economy.

Reference list: Carlsson, B. (2004) The Digital Economy: what is new and what is not? Structural Change and Economic Dynamics 15 (2004) 245–264. Digital Economy Bill (2016) House of Commons (Bill 80 2016-2017). London: The Stationery Office. Rayboum, E. (1997) Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Learning. Computer game design: New directions for intercultural simulation game designers. 24(2) 144-145. Zimmermann, H. (2000) Understanding the Digital Economy: Challenges for new Business Models. 8(2) 729-732.