Lesson 13 - Big business and the conglomerate

Videogames are big business - which is why some of the largest companies are including game companies in their product porfolios. You need to be aware of the bigger picture - aware of the huge conglomerates that overshadow the games industry.

Task 1:
Create a conglomerate map for Skylanders Giants - think of this as a hierarchy of the company. The output Skylanders game is on the bottom but there is a large multinational conglomerate on top. What companies are in between?
Task 2:
Create a conglomerate map for Grand Theft Auto 4 (or 5)

Homework for Thursday:
1.Ensure task 1 and 2 are completed for next lesson and fill any gaps in your Blogposts.
2. Read up on any GTA5 announcements that have been made in the last week

Further information on conglomerates can be found in the PowerPoint used this lesson - to be found after the cut.

SPRING 2013 - GTA V REVEAL

http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/45951/grand-theft-auto-v-is-coming-spring-2013.html

Posted today on the Rockstar Games website:

"Today, we're proud to announce that Grand Theft Auto V is expected to launch worldwide spring 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

 

Developed by series creator Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto V takes place in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California in the largest and most thriving game-world we have ever created set in the sprawling city of Los Santos and for miles beyond – from the tops of the mountains to the depths of the ocean.

 

Starting next week November 5, 2012, Grand Theft Auto V will become available for pre-order everywhere and fans can expect a host of new information to become available in November.

 

Look for downloadable desktop versions of the brand new artwork above coming very soon."

 



Note what we know for sure now:

• Spring 2013: Did a certain Mr Howard say May 2013 - will I be right? Even sooner would be nice!
• Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 - Not the Wii U, or portable versions - so core gamers targeted.
• Core audience a certain gender targeted with such provocative marketing?
• Los Santos - A return to the city that featured in GTA: San Andreas on the PS2 and original Xbox. On current Gen consoles this game-world is going to be HUGE.
• Consumers can pre-order from next week: Even with what little we know, expect pre-orders to be massive, filling top 10 charts for months before we get a sniff of the game.
• Clever stuff from Rockstar, as consumers will be hitting the online retailers like Play and Amazon for Christmas gaming purchases, have a look at the top 10 charts and Rockstar will have taken the top spot away from this Christmas' big hitters - Assassin's Creed III, Halo 4, Skylanders, Black Ops 2 etc. Watch this space!
• Developed by Rockstar North - Focus on getting this right - Developed by Rockstar North, Published by Rockstar Games - Obviously part of the same company, which is called Vertical Integration - R* own companies at every stage of production.

Press Release from Rockstar Games' parent company Take Two Interactive announcing the news to investers:
http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1751693&highlight=

"Grand Theft Auto V builds on everything we've learned about open world game design," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "We can’t wait to share it with fans."

Beginning November 5, 2012, Grand Theft Auto V will be available for pre-order in stores everywhere. For all other information and updates on Grand Theft Auto V including the latest trailers, please visit http://www.rockstargames.com/V/

About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K, which publishes its titles under the 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play brands. Our products are designed for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and are used under license from Microsoft.
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

GTA5: First viral signs

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/grand-theft-auto-5-marketing-kicks-off-with-viral-epsilon-progr/

Grand Theft Auto 5 marketing kicks off with viral 'Epsilon Program' site

 

A Twitter account for something called the "Epsilon Program" has materialized in the past few days, linking off to a freaky (and annoying) website for a pseudo-religion called "KIFFLOM", registered by Take Two Software.

The site features a thinly-veiled parody of the real-life Scientology organization and includes such hilarious "facts" as: "If you have a birth mark, you may be descended from Kraff, the famous Emperor of the 4th Paradigm." Considering that the next iteration of GTA is set in a faux Los Angeles and that the Epsilon Program was featured in a gags found within GTA: San Andreas, odds are good that we're looking at an early viral campaign for Grand Theft Auto 5. Good timing, since only yesterday investors were asking why the hype train for GTA 5 had not yet left the station.

Teasers and drip marketing ahoy, this seems to be Rockstar Games' GTA5 ploy - with no sign of a release for the next GTA.

(So far we have last November's trailer and 3 batches of 3 screenshots...)

 

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/364797/gta-5-third-new-batch-of-screenshots-capture-police-chase/