Click the pic to check on progress or offer a supportive message on my Mo Growing journey this November..
Mr H
Friday, 2 November 2012
Movember Fundraising
Click the pic to check on progress or offer a supportive message on my Mo Growing journey this November..
Mr H
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
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.
Note what we know for sure now:
http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1751693&highlight=
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.
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
- Beginning
About
Headquartered in
"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.
Monday, 29 October 2012
Social Gaming & Zynga links
Social games are a bit part of many people's lives, maybe without them realising it! They are games aimed at mainly casual gamers but are played through social networking sites such as Facebook. The major company in this field is Zynga - if you have played a game on Facebook, the chances are it will be a Zynga game. Castleville, Chefville, Words with Friends, Cityville, Farmville, Mafia Wars just to name a few - If you haven't played one of these, I bet somebody on your Friend's List has!
The big part of their business model is that they can scale to a massive user base without having to spend a massive amount of money on marketing, somethign that can more than double the cost of building a traditional game. They did this by causing you as a player to automatically spam your friends with requests to join the game.
Facebook enjoys a symbiotic relationship with Zynga as both companies profit from these games - Facebook takes a slice of any real money purchases made in the games. In fact, in 2011 Zynga was responsible for 12% of Facebook's total revenue (money coming in).
The social gaming market has appeared so lucrative that traditional console game companies, such as Sony and Electronic Arts, which target more serious gamers, are starting to experiment with more casual social games for mobile devices.
The lifespan of these social games are often quite short - with many estimated at a 3 month span - so it is imperative for Zynga and other social gaming firms to make as much money as possible and come up with the next big hit. This has led to numerous complaints of plagiarism as EA and other developers have said that Zynga simply copies ideas from other gamemakers and polishes them up and brands them with the Zynga name. It is a cut throat market and morals often come into question! Especially in the last week as it was announced that Zynga have partnered up with online betting site BWin to create a 'real money' casino game. Cue the Daily Mail worrying over whether this will encourage younger Facebook users to develop gambling problems. So Zynga is a company that is often in the news at the moment!
Zynga's Wikipedia page - Useful for a bit of background to this company, as well as the controversies behind some of their practices.
The Zynga Petting Zoo - Marketing campaign for Farmville
Inside Zynga - An insight look at the social gaming company (Note: vid made by Zynga = GLOSSY!)
Useful articles though simply Googling Zynga can lead to the latest news on the company.
6 Reasons Zynga and Social Gaming are dying
Zynga in Slumps-Ville, but social games are still hot
Zynga shares surge after earnings report
EA believes social gaming's collapse is overhyped
235 million people play games on Facebook every month
App Center hits 150 million monthly visitors
Zynga in trouble over Mafia Wars guerrilla marketing
Bingo! Facebook gambles on games using real money, not credits, to engage users
Zynga makes first move into 'real money' games, partners with Bwin
EA sues Zynga for copying The Sims Social
Indie developer calls Zynga out over plagiarism
EA makes millions using Facebook Ads for Battlefield 3
The big part of their business model is that they can scale to a massive user base without having to spend a massive amount of money on marketing, somethign that can more than double the cost of building a traditional game. They did this by causing you as a player to automatically spam your friends with requests to join the game.
Facebook enjoys a symbiotic relationship with Zynga as both companies profit from these games - Facebook takes a slice of any real money purchases made in the games. In fact, in 2011 Zynga was responsible for 12% of Facebook's total revenue (money coming in).
The social gaming market has appeared so lucrative that traditional console game companies, such as Sony and Electronic Arts, which target more serious gamers, are starting to experiment with more casual social games for mobile devices.
The lifespan of these social games are often quite short - with many estimated at a 3 month span - so it is imperative for Zynga and other social gaming firms to make as much money as possible and come up with the next big hit. This has led to numerous complaints of plagiarism as EA and other developers have said that Zynga simply copies ideas from other gamemakers and polishes them up and brands them with the Zynga name. It is a cut throat market and morals often come into question! Especially in the last week as it was announced that Zynga have partnered up with online betting site BWin to create a 'real money' casino game. Cue the Daily Mail worrying over whether this will encourage younger Facebook users to develop gambling problems. So Zynga is a company that is often in the news at the moment!
Zynga's Wikipedia page - Useful for a bit of background to this company, as well as the controversies behind some of their practices.
The Zynga Petting Zoo - Marketing campaign for Farmville
Inside Zynga - An insight look at the social gaming company (Note: vid made by Zynga = GLOSSY!)
Useful articles though simply Googling Zynga can lead to the latest news on the company.
6 Reasons Zynga and Social Gaming are dying
Zynga in Slumps-Ville, but social games are still hot
Zynga shares surge after earnings report
EA believes social gaming's collapse is overhyped
235 million people play games on Facebook every month
App Center hits 150 million monthly visitors
Zynga in trouble over Mafia Wars guerrilla marketing
Bingo! Facebook gambles on games using real money, not credits, to engage users
Zynga makes first move into 'real money' games, partners with Bwin
EA sues Zynga for copying The Sims Social
Indie developer calls Zynga out over plagiarism
EA makes millions using Facebook Ads for Battlefield 3
Lesson 12 - Social Gaming
Social gaming
Starter Task:
When you log in and get onto this Blog, go to this link and answer the question on screen.
The lesson's PowerPoint is behind the cut
Starter Task:
When you log in and get onto this Blog, go to this link and answer the question on screen.
The lesson's PowerPoint is behind the cut
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Latest spreadsheet - who is missing what?
Click the pic to see full size the latest grid of who is missing what:
What's coming up in coming weeks...
Free2Play ... Social gaming ... MMORPGs ... Conglomerates ... Refreshers required on viral and guerilla marketing as well as types of convergence ... exam paper wording and practice ... and whatever knowledge gaps we feel we need to plug.
Remember to keep a record of any videogame adverts you see and post on the Blogpost below.
Another example of convergence:
Friday, 26 October 2012
Skylanders - Giants Youtube Channels
http://www.youtube.com/user/SkylandersGame
Go to the above address to view the commercials for Skylanders - Giants
TASK FOR HALF TERM:
Research as much as you can about this game and BlogPost a case study. (Hopefully after Miss Crompton's lesson yesterday you will know that copying and pasting is NOT to be found in a case study.)
What is so unique about the game? (The first game was the no. 1 kids toy of 2011)
How is the game marketing?
How much does it cost?
The article you should have taken home helps to illustrate the audience and the market involved in such games as Skylanders but anything you can find out would be helpful.
Tip: This toys+game combo is a golden example of symbiosis.
Go to the above address to view the commercials for Skylanders - Giants
TASK FOR HALF TERM:
Research as much as you can about this game and BlogPost a case study. (Hopefully after Miss Crompton's lesson yesterday you will know that copying and pasting is NOT to be found in a case study.)
What is so unique about the game? (The first game was the no. 1 kids toy of 2011)
How is the game marketing?
How much does it cost?
The article you should have taken home helps to illustrate the audience and the market involved in such games as Skylanders but anything you can find out would be helpful.
Tip: This toys+game combo is a golden example of symbiosis.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Videogames Advert Spotting: What have you seen?
We have already said that the fourth quarter of the year - October - December is a very cramped part of the videogames release calendar, so you will notice in the run up to Christmas that adverts for both consoles (hardware) and games (software) are advertised more often.
I would like you to make a note any time you spot a videogames advert.
Name of product:
Channel seen on:
Ad break of which TV show seen between:
Time of day:
If we all try to add something to this list every time we see a games ad we can pinpoint audiences, marketing strategies and other information from the commercial.
Get spotting!
I would like you to make a note any time you spot a videogames advert.
Name of product:
Channel seen on:
Ad break of which TV show seen between:
Time of day:
If we all try to add something to this list every time we see a games ad we can pinpoint audiences, marketing strategies and other information from the commercial.
Get spotting!
GTA5 news coming... in November!
I'm sure you have all read this as you're all checking the Rockstar Games website for snippets of news on a daily basic (Really? Just me then...) but they have released........
a piece of artwork. Click below to enlarge.
"Lots of info coming next month. Get ready.
For now, enjoy this first official artwork release from Grand Theft Auto V."
And that's it.
See for yourself here.
TEASE! *dies*
If you haven't already, do add Rockstar Games on Facebook. Cough, Viral Marketing.
https://www.facebook.com/rockstargames
See how they use this platform for drawing us in.
Following the artwork release they created a new Facebook page dedicated to GTAV https://www.facebook.com/rockstargames#!/grandtheftautoV
http://uk.ign.com/wikis/grand-theft-auto-5?objectid=20587
IGN have made a Wiki for GTA 5 that will be added to as and when new information is, ahem, leaked to the public. As we want to be mentioning anything to do with Rockstar and GTA in the exam, it would be wise to pay this page a visit a few times before the exam as things WILL start heating up in the GTA-promotion market just as we get to crunch time for revision.
Video game publishers
Still unsure about what the difference between the developer and a publisher is?
Have a read of the video game industry series' Wikipedia article on:
Video Game Publisher
Very easy to understand!
Just as you need to be able to use these terms correctly and identify the role that the publisher has, whether you are talking about GTA IV/Skylanders/CoD/Angry Birds etc.
Have a read of the video game industry series' Wikipedia article on:
Video Game Publisher
Very easy to understand!
Just as you need to be able to use these terms correctly and identify the role that the publisher has, whether you are talking about GTA IV/Skylanders/CoD/Angry Birds etc.
Vertical Integration
Another definition from The Media Student's Book...
Vertical Integration: Gaining control over the whole process of making a media product - developing, publishing, distributing and exhibiting.
Rockstar Games have become a vertically integrated company by buying developers they have previously worked with, such as DMA Design who became Rockstar North and Angel Studios who became Rockstar San Diego. By doing this Rockstar have control over development, funding and marketing of their products.
Vertical Integration: Gaining control over the whole process of making a media product - developing, publishing, distributing and exhibiting.
Rockstar Games have become a vertically integrated company by buying developers they have previously worked with, such as DMA Design who became Rockstar North and Angel Studios who became Rockstar San Diego. By doing this Rockstar have control over development, funding and marketing of their products.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)