http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/04/land-free-getting-your-moneys-worth-free-play-games
Showing posts with label MMORPG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MMORPG. Show all posts
Monday, 6 May 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Convergence Culture: TV and Gaming (The Walking Dead and Defiance)
Defiance & Convergence
Convergence of TV and MMO: The Making of Defiance
World-First Convergence of TV & Gaming
With 'Defiance,' Comcast's Syfy Bets $100M On Convergence Of TV And Videogames
The Walking Dead & Convergence
The Walking Dead: Convergence Unleashed
Convergence Culture and The Walking Dead
Convergence of TV and MMO: The Making of Defiance
World-First Convergence of TV & Gaming
With 'Defiance,' Comcast's Syfy Bets $100M On Convergence Of TV And Videogames
The Walking Dead & Convergence
The Walking Dead: Convergence Unleashed
Convergence Culture and The Walking Dead
Monday, 17 December 2012
Game adverts before the Hobbit
Just watched The Hobbit - No less than three game ads before the film. Though what was interesting was the choice of game genres depicted in the ads: All three were very cinematic but what was interesting was that two out of three were MMORPGS and the other was a dystopian fantasy FPS
Trailers below after the cut:
Trailers below after the cut:
Monday, 19 November 2012
Lesson 16 - Close study of a MMORPG
MMORPGs – Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games – are some of the most popular videogames available with millions subscribing at any one time.
TASK:
What is also interesting for us is the audience who play these games: a larger number are female and usually older than the players of conventional games.
- Select a MMORPG of your choice and prepare a study on it on your Blog.
Popular MMORPGs - Pick one from the list
World of Warcraft
Aion GLobal
Lineage
Runescape
Age of Conan
Second Life
Lord of the Rings Online
Everquest
Star Wars The Old Republic
Ultima Online
The Sims Online
Guild Wars 2
World of Warcraft
Aion GLobal
Lineage
Runescape
Age of Conan
Second Life
Lord of the Rings Online
Everquest
Star Wars The Old Republic
Ultima Online
The Sims Online
Guild Wars 2
Answer the following questions to gain some background knowledge about the game and identify the institutions involved in developing and distributing it.
- What is the genre of the game?
- How much does it cost to subscribe?
- How is the game different from a console-based game?
- Who makes the game?
- Is the game global or only available to certain regions, such as Europe?
- Now research the audience for the game. Identify some fan sites, art works and message boards relating to the game. What do these tell you about the players of your chosen game? Survey each of your selected sites and make notes on the following:
What do the players discuss? Tactics, locations, general chat?
How do the players represent themselves on the message board? Do they have game names and personal icons?
How many people are members of the message boards?
Does the page have links? If so, what to?
- Structure your case study so that it summarises your main findings as clearly as possible. You should include screen shots and other images to illustrate it.
TO BE POSTED BY THURSDAY'S LESSON
Saturday, 6 October 2012
World of Warcraft hobby sparks US political row
The gaming hobby of a political
candidate has become an issue in a state senate race in New England, US.
Maine Republicans have created a webpage revealing that Democrat candidate Colleen Lachowicz plays an orc rogue in World of Warcraft (WoW).
Ms Lachowicz's liking for back-stabbing and poison in WoW raise questions about her "fitness for office", they claim.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19842704
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Essays: Single player
Monday, 17 September 2012
Homework essay: WHAT'S NEW? Innovations in the videogames industry
Homework Task: Innovations in the videogame industry essay
Set: Monday 17th September
Due: Monday 1st October
(To be written in Word, spellchecked and then posted on your Blog)
The 2012 Videogames Industry: Your task is to write a 750-1000 word essay on one of the set questions below on new innovations in the videogames industry today. You are to conduct your own reading and note taking around the subject using my Label Cloud on the right hand side and the Gaming Site feeds also on the side to help you. For the first part of your essay define and give examples of the keyterms in your question - those words in bold below.
Essay questions
1. “Freemium” and microtransactions – Are the days of Day One purchases numbered, with publishers wanting more purchases down the line?
2. Digital Distribution – Will everything become digital in the future and who wants this?
3. The controller revolution: Gesture controllers – Wii, Kinect and Move etc – How have they affected the videogames industry?
4. Technological convergence – Game consoles becoming Swiss Army Knives – How have consoles evolved from purely game consoles and what has been the impact on the industry?
5. Social Gaming – Are casual Gamers taking over?
6. A long way from Snake: Mobile gaming – iOS and the rise of Android – is this the future of gaming?
7. Is single player dying? The rise of online gaming and multiplayer: Are single player games at risk of being the exception as opposed to the rule?
Is there an area of the videogame industry that you would like to research that is not covered by the topics here? See me asap and we can sort out an appropriate question for you to look at.
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Sunday, 19 August 2012
What is a video game?
Before we start our examination of the industry we need to get it straight what it is we are talking about. Please have a read below of the article by Nadia Oxford on http://gametheoryonline.com/
What, by definition, is a “video game?” Earth’s greatest scholars agree that it has something to do with sitting in front of the television and rescuing princesses, usually by way of manipulating a controller that is attached to a game box, which, in turn, is attached to a television.
While that description of a video game isn’t necessarily incorrect, it’s about ten years out of date. Console and PC gaming is still very relevant, but now it’s supplemented by alternative methods of gaming–many of which are free, or at least very easy on the wallet.
When you think of video games, make sure you leave some brain space for its offshoots, including:
Portable Games — It was Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi who realized, as far back as 1980, that commuters might appreciate being able to play electronic games on the go. The Game & Watch series of games was subsequently born, each with its own self-contained game (often an adaptation of an arcade hit) and a built-in liquid crystal display.
In 1989, Nintendo released the Game Boy, a handheld gaming system that could switch out game cartridges. The handheld gaming market exploded from thereon, with Nintendo generally holding the biggest pieces of the pie thanks to hit portable systems like the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS.
Whereas portable games were once simplified versions of console games, or else designed in a way that kept them from using too many resources, modern handheld systems like the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita are capable of displaying graphics on par with a console. Portable games can be purchased at retail, or downloaded via a system’s specific online store. Portable games are also currently facing a lot of competition from:
iOS/Smartphone Games — The term “iOS game” refers to any game that’s running off Apple’s mobile operating system. iOS games can include titles for the iPad and iPod Touch line of tablets/music players, but it’s most commonly used to identify a game that’s running on the iPhone.
iOS games are typically simpler than console or handheld games; you’ll find a lot of quick distractions and compelling puzzle games. However, the market is quickly becoming more complex, and the general low price of iOS games (which are bought and downloaded via Apple’s App Store–unlike handheld gaming systems, there is no physical media involved) make them good impulse buys.
Smartphones that run on Google’s Android operating system are also a popular choice for on-the-go gaming.
Downloadable Games — Pertains to games that are downloaded from an online store, as opposed to games that are published on a physical medium, like a disc or a game card. Downloadable games can be just as complex as console games that are bought at retail (in fact, PC gamers favour downloading big releases on Steam, a PC-based online distribution platform), though smaller, casual games are very popular, too. Downloadable games are usually cheaper than titles bought at retail. Popular distribution platforms include Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, the Wii Shop Channel, the Nintendo DSi Store, the Nintendo 3DS eShop, PlayStation Network, and the App Store.
Free-to-Play Games — Free-to-play games are, as the name suggests, free to play. Typically, these games run on web browsers, or on iOS platforms. They’re free to download and you can usually play them for as long as you want–though most of these games lock up a certain portion of their content until you pay for said content through an electronic transaction (usually via a credit card). These “microtransactions” are typically a few dollars, though most free-to-play games do offer you the chance to purchase super-cool items for much larger sums of money.
Social/Facebook Games — Social games have made a recent splash in the gaming landscape. Social games encourage sharing between players, and run off social networks as a result, with Facebook being the most popular. Usually, players are tasked with building towards or maintaining a goal, and are rewarded for interacting with each other, and for getting friends to play along, too. Most social games fall under the free-to-play category as well.
Zynga is currently by far the biggest developer and distributor of social games. Some of Zynga’s most popular works include FarmVille, CityVille, and Mafia Wars.
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) — MMOGs usually offer a big world for the player to explore. In this world, players can communicate with each other, unite to complete goals, or even compete. MMOGs tend to be deep and complex, with one of the most famous examples of the genre being Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.
Many MMOGs can be played on an Internet browser and cover a multitude of genres. It’s an especially popular market for kids thanks to games like Free Realms (Fantasy), Moshi Monsters (Fantasy/Educational) and NeoPets (Virtual Pets).
Depending on the game, MMOGs can follow the free-to-play formula, or require a monthly subscription from the player. Oftentimes, the game can be played for free until a certain level is reached, and then a subscription is required.
Triple A/”Blockbuster” Games — There’s still a place in the market for big-budget games that spend two years or better in development. These are the high-profile, widely-advertised games that are sometimes referred to as “Blockbuster” games. On a Nintendo console, it might be a new Legend of Zelda game; on the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, and/or the PC, it might be a new Call of Duty or Halo title. Blockbuster games tend to be developed with the core gamer in mind, though everyone is invited to enjoy them.
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What, by definition, is a “video game?” Earth’s greatest scholars agree that it has something to do with sitting in front of the television and rescuing princesses, usually by way of manipulating a controller that is attached to a game box, which, in turn, is attached to a television.
While that description of a video game isn’t necessarily incorrect, it’s about ten years out of date. Console and PC gaming is still very relevant, but now it’s supplemented by alternative methods of gaming–many of which are free, or at least very easy on the wallet.
When you think of video games, make sure you leave some brain space for its offshoots, including:
Portable Games — It was Nintendo engineer Gunpei Yokoi who realized, as far back as 1980, that commuters might appreciate being able to play electronic games on the go. The Game & Watch series of games was subsequently born, each with its own self-contained game (often an adaptation of an arcade hit) and a built-in liquid crystal display.
In 1989, Nintendo released the Game Boy, a handheld gaming system that could switch out game cartridges. The handheld gaming market exploded from thereon, with Nintendo generally holding the biggest pieces of the pie thanks to hit portable systems like the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS.
Whereas portable games were once simplified versions of console games, or else designed in a way that kept them from using too many resources, modern handheld systems like the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita are capable of displaying graphics on par with a console. Portable games can be purchased at retail, or downloaded via a system’s specific online store. Portable games are also currently facing a lot of competition from:
iOS/Smartphone Games — The term “iOS game” refers to any game that’s running off Apple’s mobile operating system. iOS games can include titles for the iPad and iPod Touch line of tablets/music players, but it’s most commonly used to identify a game that’s running on the iPhone.
iOS games are typically simpler than console or handheld games; you’ll find a lot of quick distractions and compelling puzzle games. However, the market is quickly becoming more complex, and the general low price of iOS games (which are bought and downloaded via Apple’s App Store–unlike handheld gaming systems, there is no physical media involved) make them good impulse buys.
Smartphones that run on Google’s Android operating system are also a popular choice for on-the-go gaming.
Downloadable Games — Pertains to games that are downloaded from an online store, as opposed to games that are published on a physical medium, like a disc or a game card. Downloadable games can be just as complex as console games that are bought at retail (in fact, PC gamers favour downloading big releases on Steam, a PC-based online distribution platform), though smaller, casual games are very popular, too. Downloadable games are usually cheaper than titles bought at retail. Popular distribution platforms include Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, the Wii Shop Channel, the Nintendo DSi Store, the Nintendo 3DS eShop, PlayStation Network, and the App Store.
Free-to-Play Games — Free-to-play games are, as the name suggests, free to play. Typically, these games run on web browsers, or on iOS platforms. They’re free to download and you can usually play them for as long as you want–though most of these games lock up a certain portion of their content until you pay for said content through an electronic transaction (usually via a credit card). These “microtransactions” are typically a few dollars, though most free-to-play games do offer you the chance to purchase super-cool items for much larger sums of money.
Social/Facebook Games — Social games have made a recent splash in the gaming landscape. Social games encourage sharing between players, and run off social networks as a result, with Facebook being the most popular. Usually, players are tasked with building towards or maintaining a goal, and are rewarded for interacting with each other, and for getting friends to play along, too. Most social games fall under the free-to-play category as well.
Zynga is currently by far the biggest developer and distributor of social games. Some of Zynga’s most popular works include FarmVille, CityVille, and Mafia Wars.
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) — MMOGs usually offer a big world for the player to explore. In this world, players can communicate with each other, unite to complete goals, or even compete. MMOGs tend to be deep and complex, with one of the most famous examples of the genre being Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.
Many MMOGs can be played on an Internet browser and cover a multitude of genres. It’s an especially popular market for kids thanks to games like Free Realms (Fantasy), Moshi Monsters (Fantasy/Educational) and NeoPets (Virtual Pets).
Depending on the game, MMOGs can follow the free-to-play formula, or require a monthly subscription from the player. Oftentimes, the game can be played for free until a certain level is reached, and then a subscription is required.
Triple A/”Blockbuster” Games — There’s still a place in the market for big-budget games that spend two years or better in development. These are the high-profile, widely-advertised games that are sometimes referred to as “Blockbuster” games. On a Nintendo console, it might be a new Legend of Zelda game; on the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, and/or the PC, it might be a new Call of Duty or Halo title. Blockbuster games tend to be developed with the core gamer in mind, though everyone is invited to enjoy them.
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