Super Mario 64 DS Casestudy

Production:
Information on the game, ie. what kind of game is it, i.e first person shooter.

Who made it? Developer, publisher
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo

How was it funded?
What new technology or key features?

Marketing:
What was the strategy, i.e. viral, conventional?

Strategy: Strategic positioning is ultimately a unique set of sustainable activities that use your company's valuable, rare and inimitable resources to change the rules of the game. Strategic positioning is about being different. Nintendo decided to uniquely devote its resources to expanding the game playing audience through two key things: 'strong community' and 'immersive games'. http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=331

What kind of audience are they trying to attract and how? i.e. look at the different ads.

Trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl9dGH0wuq4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaaplVmYv6A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUTgBAB6Bj0&feature=related

Distribution:

Nintendo is also changing things up with its virtual library of NES, SNES and N64 games. This is a new and unique distribution model that has the potential for great success. Low cost hardware and software, a new intuitive game-play input and original game genres are a unique set of sustainable activities that, when combined, form Nintendo's strategic position. http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=331

How do you buy it?
Online and In-store, retailers such as play.com and Game.

How do you pay?
You can buy online by using PayPal, Visa Cards. Also in-store you can buy by using cash, connect debit/credit card and using vouchers/game cards/points cards.

How can you get hold of it?
You can get hold of it by going in-store and collection, pre-ordering/ordering online/in-store.

Consumption:
Is there any user generated content?
No.

Is it multi-player ?
Yes it is multiplayer, 1 to 4 people.

Is it online?
Yes you can play mini games online which are parts of the main game.
www.onlinesupermario.com/

Any points of interest, something that makes this game interesting?

4. What is media convergence and give an examples of its use in the industry?

media Convergence is old and new media that is included into a media form. for example in GTA 4 there are different types of advertising in the settings of the game for example Rockstar use their logo on billboards and on the side of taxis. also another type of media convergence are the radio stations in the game, rockstar make these stations seem very realistic because they actually put rockstar adverts into their stations. rockstar are very clever in the way they exploit their logo in the game, this in media terms is called viral marketing.

the benefits of this for rockstar is that they are promoting there entire company's logo and brand which will help to sell games other than gta as they will have a better reputation, also the brand as a whole will have gained reputation from the success of gta4.

a weakness is that their promotion side of the marketing mix could be improved as they could generate more revenue from bringing in capital from advertising for other companies, as there is a great amount of many in advertisement for example that's how free websites make so much money.

What has the impact of increased internet connectivity been on the media production, distribution and marketing process?

2. What has the impact of increased internet connectivity been on the media production, distribution and marketing process?

Increased internet connectivity means that we can achieve a faster broadband that is more accessible for a range of people to use for business and personal uses. A faster internet speed has had a positive impact on the production a of product. This makes the construction of a new product easier to arrange . For example the faster access means large amounts of programming data can be sent back a forth to developers in a faster and easier way. This speeds up the production process, instead of having to run around with CD's to all the people who need it, you can E-mail, or live stream things to the people who need to see. This increased time at development stage decreases the time it takes to produce the game. one disadvantage is that using a totally online production system means information sometimes gets leaked and data is sometime lost or sent to the wrong person which can result in the release of more information then was intended to give away.
As more people become connected to the internet E-commerce becomes an easier choice for buyers. Instead of going out to the shop to buy your game you click a few buttons and type in your credit card details and you get the game sent to you, this opens the market of delivery. also buying online in some circumstances can give you deals for other products sold by the store, this also opens up the door to more advertising, e.g. amazon.com has a tab called other items you may enjoy, which gives a list of products also bought by customers who bought he product you're looking at. One disadvantage of e-commerce is it takes business away from the physical stores simply because its easier to get something delivered then go out and buy it.
Increased internet connectivity opens up new windows for advertising for example websites specifically aimed at advertising the game or specifically for the game itself, also websites can put up banners advertising which makes a new source of income for websites. websites can also feature trailers and release dates, as well as advertising pre release material. websites are generally updated quite often so information is fresh and keeps the suspense building. For example GTA IV had a release clock and released information in little snippets just to keep the market buzzing about it. Also they put up hoax websites like those you can find in game on niko's laptop. Rockstar also came up with a competition which was to send in interesting and funny conversations which could be featured in the game on the radio stations.

What is an example of a vertically intergrated company?

A vertically intergrated company is a company which produces and manages the whole of a product from start to finish. One company who is famous to this approach of production is apple, however in the gaming industry Electronic Arts (EA Games) and Activision have famously been Vertically Intergrated.
In my case study of Guitar Hero, i have researched heavily into Nintendo. Nintendo are perhaps the most famous Vertically Intergrated company ever, completing the whole proccess from withtin the comapany.

What has the impact of increased internet connectivity been on the media production, distribution and marketing process?

The internet has had a huge effect on the way in which games are consumed, their are hundereds of games free to all online and many add on packages to established titles, such as Call Of Duty and FIFA 10. These packages can be downloaded from online market places designed by console makers. For example if you are signed into XBOX Live, you are automatically taken to the XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE when you turn your console on. This desktop has titles of games, films and television programmes, all avaliable for download. Many full feature games can be downloaded from the marketplace directly to a hard-drive, this completely iradicates the need to go out and buy a hard copy of the console. Games almost on demand!
Games which are not complete can be advertised on these market places, stating a date of release or a countdown clock, and nearer the release of the game, a free downloadable demo may come out.
Many people shop online at websites such as Amazon and Play.com, this is a way in recent years which games have been ditributed through. Also, games can be pre-ordered from the official websites, however they often are distributed by online giants such as Amazon & HMV.
Many web-sites have advertisement bars, these bars switch ads every 10 seconds, these advertisments bars can be found on most web-sites, not just one's which are directly linked to the game and the gaming industry.
The internet has become a great place for company's to begin a whole new type of viral marketing, e.g Guitar hero's video which had no advertisments in it which showed a boy riding his bike and simulating a guitar hero experience, but on a bike. It was released under a fake name and account.

Exam preparation task: Question 7

What impact have recent developments in technology had on the production, distribution, marketing and exchange of videogames?

The videogames industry is technologically driven, with new ideas and technologies pushing the industry forward. New technological developments impact on all areas of the industry, including production, distribution, marketing and exchange.

Recent developments in technology has had a huge impact in the area of production. New creation engines such as RAGE enable a relatively small number of programmers to create hugely complex games. For example, 150 people used RAGE to develop GTA4, a relatively small number of people when you think about the enormous size and complexity of the game. Similarly, the development of the Euphoria engine has meant that games physics has improved dramatically, making ever more realistic games. This improvement has lead to a huge amount of competition, as developers attempt to out do each others efforts.

Distribution has also been impacted by the improvement of technology. The recent development of websites such as Steam has changed the way that videogames are distributed. Steam enables users to purchase and download entire games directly. Whereas before buying games online meant having to pay for postage and waiting for the game to arrive, Steam is an instant service that removes the need for delivering a physical product and therefore removing some of the cost. In terms of exchange, Steam has also had an impact. As it's popularity increases, it is having a detrimental effect on the trade-in area of the market.

Marketing wise, new technologies are making a huge impact. With people spending more time on the internet, technology has enabled companies to market online and reach a larger audience. The recent increase in the use of social networking has allowed developers to improve the relationship with their audience by allowing them to communicate with them directly through websites such as Facebook and Twitter. This also improves the overall gaming experience as it extends it. An example of this is how Flickr was used to market Just Cause 2. An account was set up for the games protagonist, with screenshots of the game being uploaded as if they were the character's personal photos. This social networking aspect has had an enormous impact. As well as what I mentioned earlier, some games enable users to upload clips directly to Youtube. This example of technological convergence shows the growing importance of social networking in the video games industry.

Exam Preparation Task- Question 6

6. What is the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing?

The importance of of cross media convergence in production, distribution and marketing is that you can access different audiences in different ways, for example; GTA 4. To market this game it had to be available to all the different types of people who would be interested in it. The used both old and new ways of interesting the customers to the game. They used both old and new ways of marketing this product to the customers, for example; billboards and posters which are an older way of marketing but still available for all to see and trailers. The trailers which were used were very similar to a film trailer. Another way in which they would have gained more gamers is by releasing each trailer at different times, each containing more information about the game which gave the game a film like feature but also a series which made the gamers come back for more and wanting to see/know more about the game.

An example of Synergy in Guitar Hero is that as well as the game being released as a video game on the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360,there were also arcade machines released which allowed gamers to be able to play together in social/ public places (arcades). Another example of synergy with the Guitar Hero video games is that after the release and success of the video games; Key rings, Posters and Toys/ Figures were available to the gamers to purchase. This would have increased awareness of the game. Another use of synergy for the game Guitar Hero World Tour is the use of celebrities in the advertisements. This would also increase the awareness of the game but it would help to market it as it shows all of the celebrities playing and enjoying the game.


Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez, Tony Hawk and Michael Phelps playing on the Guitar Hero World Tour Video Game.


Heidi Klum playing on the Guitar Hero World Tour Video Game.

Exam preperation task (question 3)

What is technological convergence and give an example of its use in industry ?

Technological convergence is being able to use one system to perform many different functions, such as being able to play DVD's,Blue-ray DVD's and CD's, store music and photo's.
An example of this within the industry is consoles like the PS3, xbox 360. Also technological convergence occurs within games, for example GTA uses music within the games on radio stations and you can also go to the cinema.
An advantage of having technological convergence is that consumers will only need to buy one console in order to have a range of different functions. Another advantage of this is that as you can store music on it consumers will no longer CD's after they have uploaded them so they can sell them on to others.
A disadvantage of technological convergence is that it makes consumers more dependent on console manufactures as they are supplying many different functions, it would mean that businesses that just make DVD players would be put out of business as they are no longer needed.

What are some of the issues raised by Media ownership in the videogames industry?

Media Ownership is ownership of the rights of a concepts,property,idea - they can make money as other companies have to gain permission or license to that concept,property,idea. Issues of having Media Ownership include: companies having a similar idea, failure of the game content, one company using their power of the ownership to manipulate console companies.

One of the issues raised by Media Ownership in the video games industry, could be another company has a similar idea but it could go against the Media Ownership license of the other company. For example Rockstar's, Grand Theft Auto Vice City is similar in the idea of the game which involves violence, stealing and driving cars and tasks in Volition Inc.,Saints Row. This would be an issues as consumers could prefer Saints Row to GTA Vice City, so could separate consumers as some of them may only own one of the consoles but could only buy one of the games. Also because of the difference in release dates, people could say that Saints Row was incredibly similar to GTA Vice City which was release in 2002 whereas Saints Row was released in 2006. However there are enough differences to say Saints Row was not a copy of GTA Vice City, as the locations are different and also you can create your own character in the game Saints Row, which means the consumer can identify to the character as it may have the same characteristics as the consumer themselves.

An issue of Media Ownership is that it gives some game companies a lot of power over their game and who can gain license for the concept,property, idea. An example of this would be Rockstar previously gave Sony exclusivity to the GTA series, however when it came to the release of GTA IV Rockstar decided not to give Sony exclusivity. Also Rockstar used their Media Ownership of GTA IV to release the game on Sony, PlayStation, PSP and Microsoft Xbox. Rockstar then allowed Microsoft have a downloadable content for the Xbox, however this cost them $50 million to have for only 2 years.

Another issue of having Media Ownership of a concept,property, idea is that it does not always guarantee success in the video game that is produced. As E.T was a blockbuster film Atari believed it would be a good idea to get the rights of the film to make a game based on the narrative of E.T. However, the game did not get as much interest as Atari thought so the game failed in becoming as popular as the film. The reason the game was such a failure was because the negotiations between the original producer Steven Spielberg and Atari, took so long there development time was shortened which means the game was not to the full expectations of the audience, therefore Atari lost a lot of revenue as the consumers were sending the game back. This shows the Media Ownership of the rights of a concept sometimes do not fulfill expectations of what the consumers want, even though the company had exclusivity to the concept of E.T as a video game.

In conclusion, the main issue of Media Ownership in the video games industry is that one company can use the ownership to manipulate major console companies. This is the main issue as the company demand higher preferences for allowing other companies to have permission for either exclusivity or add-ons. The other issues are also important as they contribute to the success of the company that own the Media Ownership as failure of a game could lead to a negative perspective of the company.

Case Study Requirements

All case studies must include:
Production:
Information on the game, ie. what kind of game is it, i.e first person shooter.
Who made it? Developer, publisher
How was it funded?
What new technology or key features?

Marketing:
What was the strategy, i.e. viral, conventional?
What kind of audience are they trying to attract and how? i.e. look at the different ads.

Distribution:
How do you buy it?
How do you pay?
How can you get hold of it?

Consumption:
Is there any user generated content?
Is it multi-player ?
Is it online?

Any points of interest, something that makes this game interesting?

Exam Preparation Task

In your case study group discuss the following questions and try to answer them as much from memory first as possible, then turn to your notes.

1. What is an example of a vertically integrated company?

2. What has the impact of increased internet connectivity been on the media production, distribution and marketing process?

3. What is technological convergence and give an example of its use in the industry?

4. What is media convergence and give an examples of its use in the industry?

5. What are some of the issues raised by Media ownership in the videogames industry?

6. What is the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing?

7. What impact have recent developments in technology had on the production, distribution, marketing and exchange of videogames?

8. What are some of the significances of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences?

9. Think about the ways in which your own experiences of interacting with the videogames industry might illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour; write some bullet points on your own consumption of videogames.

Ensure your answers are in full sentences, try to construct an argument in response to the question.

Don't forget to include information on both GTA IV and your case study game, also feel free to incorporate historic information about the industry to illustrate your broad understanding of the industry.

Case Study (Deadspace: Extraction)- Distribution Task

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?

Deadspace Extraction is available on Wii solely but Deadspace is on Xbox 360 and PS3

• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.

The Wii has a very different control configuration so has had its own version of the original Deadspace game produced, the game relys in the controlers motion capeabilies such as the use of weapons

• After it's initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?

No

• What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?

No

• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live

Amazon, play, game, gamestation e.t.c

• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.

There are multiplayer capabilites

• Were there any promotions for your game? i.e. like Coca-Cola and FiFA

No

Distribution Task - Monster Hunter Tri

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?
  

-Release date : 23/04/2010 Nintendo Only

• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.

- This Game has been most popular on Nintendo consoles previously although it was available on Playstation format also. As it is a new game an interactive console will make the game better so they decided to sell it exclusively to Nintendo only for production for the Wii.

• After it's initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?

- It is possible to buy game ad ons and extras on the games official website such as weapons and armours.

• What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?

The only ad ons are exclusive to the official website and they provide small desirable extras such as weapons ect.

• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live

- You can purchase the actual game from many online and instore places however you can only play the game on the Wii console.

• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.

- There is available online play where you can battle with other people playing the game online on the Wii. Wii Online.

• Were there any promotions for your game? i.e. like Coca-Cola and FiFa

- As the game was made exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, they sold the game with special offers such as the Nintendo Wii bundle when they sold the game alongside the console and an exclusive original Nintendo Controller.

Distribution Task-Mario kart

1. Mario Kart is available exclusively on the Nintendo Wii.
2. I think that it is only available on the Wii as all Mario games have been exclusively for Nintendo consoles, also the Wii uses motion sensor technology so the game can be played using this or the traditional controls. using the motion sensor makes the game more challenging.
3. Mario Kart can be played both offline and online so that many opponents can be played against in various different ways for example you can invite friends round and play at your house or you can host games online against your friends or other people from all over the world.
4. This game cannot be played on any websites, however you can buy the game on many different websites such as, Play.com, Ebay, Amazon, Game.com and many other gaming websites.
5. This game prides itself on its multi-player capabilities, you can play with up to 4 friends on 1 screen, online you are able to play with 12 people in one race.

Super Mario 64 DS Distribution

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?
  -Initially the Super Mario 64 was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1996, the controller was designed specifically for this game, to be the perfect interface for controlling Mario's moves. The Super Mario 64 game is available on the Nintendo DS as it was released at the same time as that particular console.
  
• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.
  -Super Mario 64 is available on the Nintendo DS because it is sure to offer up plenty of challenges that you need help with. The Nintendo DS also means that you can play Super Mario 64 while travelling and moving around as the Nintendo DS is a portable handheld console. Also the Nintendo DS has a new style of control—touch control, that Mario can now be played on opposed to the platform console of Nintendo 64.
  
  
• After it's initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?
  -There were no add-ons or downloads, however after the Nintendo DS release soon after it the Nintendo DS Lite was distributed in 2006 which was smaller, lighter and brighter screens.
  
• What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?
  -http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/bf6eff85-6d2e-47f5-aa88-842dd0998eaa
  This official Nintendo website offers the narrative of the game, how the console has advanced the game technology and the features of the game available on the Nintendo DS. This makes the games desirable as it gives the gamer more information about the game possibly before they purchase it to make sure it's the style of game they know would enjoy. The website is desirable also as you know the information can be trusted as it is the official Nintendo website.
  -http://uk.gamespot.com/ds/action/dssupermario4x4/index.html?tag=tabs%3Bsummary
  This website offers summary, reviews, news, hints and cheats, forums, images, previews and features, videos and answers. This website is desirable for the gamer as it offers plenty of information about the game and also hint that could help them if they got stuck on a particular part of the game. The images and previews are also desribale for the gamer as it shows the type of graphics and how the game will peform on the Nintendo DS.
  
  
• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live
  -Online Retailers
  Many online retailers specialize in stocking older and used products.
  -Pawn Shops
  Pawn shops are an excellent place to find older products.
  -Garage Sales, Flea Markets, or Classified Ads
  You can often find great deals and games that can be difficult to find. Remember, cleaning before use is highly recommended.
  -Online Auction Sites. Online auction sites are often a good source of hard-to-find or discontinued products
  -Nintendo's Online Store (Accessories and Replacement Parts)
  
• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.
  Yes you can play Super Mario 64 in multiplayer via bluetooth on the DS.
  
• Were there any promotions for your game? i.e. like Coca-Cola and FiFA

Case Study - Distribution Task

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?
• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.
• What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?
• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live
• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.

1.our game is only available on the wii.
2.because the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.
3.unavailable online.
4. game , amazon, play.com and e bay
5.yes an essential part of wii fit is the multi-player mode.

Case study - distribution task

Case study - distribution task

1. The game was released worldwide for the Playstation 2, 3, Wii and the Xbox 360 in October 2007. Aspyr media developed the PC and mac versions of the game, releasing them later in 2007

2. I think it is on such a variety of consoles as it generally is a worldwide played game and the interactivity and ability of gameplay is available on all the given consoles.

3. Online and downloadable content for guitar hero seems to be more broad and varied through Xbox live. For example alot of online content is buying extra songs and stated alongside all of them on a website it says availability Xbox 360. Other consoles may get more online content than others depending on the how advanced and old the console is or the online accessibility it allows. For example the website also states Ps2 owners of the game will not be able to buy additional game packs as the other consoles can.

4. The games websites its available on are Xbox live, Playstation network the Wii online network and via the computer.

5.

• • What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?
  • Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.
  • After it's initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?
    
  • What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?
  • What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live
  • Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.
  • Were there any promotions for your game? i.e. like Coca-Cola and FiFA
    

Wii fit is only available on the wii and was released on the 21st of may 2008 it will only be made available on the wii, hence the name wii fit. It is the only console with that type of game, as it would not be successful on other games consoles.

wii fit is only avaiable on the wii because it is a branded wii game and is an addon to the console. the will fit balance board can also be used with other games for the wii. wii fit would not be as successful on other consoles as it is aimed at familys and not fort he hardcore gamer.

Wii fit plus was released 30th of october 2009 which is another disc similar to wii fit which has more games and activities to play.

No online games to play but online information avaiable at http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/hoiNtus4JvIcPtP8LQPyud4Kyy393oep

avaiable to be bought at :

game.co.uk

gamestation

amazon.co.uk

ebay.co.uk

play.com

tesco direct online

other supermarket online delivery services

hmv

Solo Play because the game is about improving personal fitness and achievements, how ever it can be compared to other Mii Characters.

yes Tv adverts internet banners, highlights on gaming websites gamers magazines, newspapers and gossip magazines

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?

Our game is available on the nintendo entertainment system Wii. However originally it was released on the gameboy in 1989

• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.

It is available on this because at the time Wii was a fairly new console and as it was being re-released.

• After its initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?

Yes, you can purchase sticker sheets, desk top backgrounds and aim icons

• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live
• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.

3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Distribution of games

Advantages
1. Stream games to your Pc , Mac and your Tv without the need for a console
2. Cheaper than buying a console and separate games. (Short Term)
3. USP - On demand games without use of console, anywhere.

Disadvantages
1. Might not have fast enough Broadband
2. Expensive in the Long term due to Monthly Fee
3. Reduces sales in shops that specialise in selling games

Case Study - Distribution Task

You need to do some research into how your case study game was distributed.
Make sure you answer the following questions:

• What consoles is your game available on and was it released on any other console, if yes then was it at the same time or at a later date?
• Why do you think it is available on that console? i.e. the Wii's interactivity is essential for the game experience.
• After it's initial release was there any add-ons or downloads?
  
• What content is available online, where online (what websites) and why do you think that particular content is online? i.e. what makes it different, desirable for the gamer?
• What websites are your game available on? i.e. XBox live
• Can you play your game with other people? i.e through bluetooth on the DS or on a multi-player mode on the Wii.
• Were there any promotions for your game? i.e. like Coca-Cola and FiFA
  

mario and sonic at the olympics

1)The game Mario and sonic at the Olympics was firstly and only announced on the Nintendo Wii and has not been introduced to any other gaming consoles, solely because of the fact that it needs motion censored technology because without this the game becomes less interactive, and considering the Wii aims at being an interactive, fun, competitive, and enjoyable game the Wii Olympics is perfect for the console.
2)This game is essential to the Nintendo Wii because of the level of technological development that is needed, for example the motion sensor fitted on the Wii.
3)there is no evidence of online game play for the game i have chosen, this is mostly because the game is only fun when interactive as it gets everyone involved. There is advertisement.
4)the game is available on almost every gaming site for example, HMV GAME, Argos etc. when it was more popular it was harder to get hold of as it had only just been released.
5) This game has been made so that you can not connect to other people using wi-fi connection.

5 advantages and disadvantages of onlive

Advantages of onlive:

1. No piracy of games as they cant be copied

2. Top games are available online sooner than in store

3. Stock isnt limited as it is in a shop.

4. Wide selection of games

5. Save money as game will be cheaper

Disadvantages of onlive:

1. Uses broadband to play so your internet will be slow

2. threatens other console manufacturers as it might put them out of business

3. The overall onlive console could be very expensive

4. May put physical stores out of business as they wont be needed.

5. The company may not reach expectations.

Onlive Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
- Instant game so when you buy it is there, not like in a shop where you may have to wait for new stock.
- Less money needed to make the game, like for boxes or discs as not needed because of downloadable software.
- There would be space in homes as there would be no game cases around the house.
- Games would be cheaper as they wouldn't have to make the discs or packaging. Also making it more environmentally friendly.
- Can play on many different things like TV or entry-level PC or Mac offering different places to play all the games. Not just one game only available on computer or just television.

Disadvantages:
- Games software would take up too much hard drive space.
- Internet may disconnect during a game or when downloading.
- People in other console manufacturing and games retail shops will lose jobs because they won't need to distribute
- Many people could be trying to download the same game at the same time, so it could take longer for the game to download.
- The monthly service fee is currently $14.95, subject to change, for the Onlive's Games Service. And only the first 25,000 that successfully registered get the first 3 months free. OnLive’s Game Service including game demos, video profiles and community features, but does not include playing full versions of games, which are to be purchased or rented separately. So even game demos have to be paid for.

Online advantages/disadvantages

Advantages.
1. It means that console manufactures are no longer as dominant in the games market.
2. Also games will become cheaper as costs are lower, so those savings can be passed on to the consumer.
3. A wide range of games are available at the click of a button.
4. It also makes gaming more social as online gaming allows you to play games with many different individuals.
5. People can enjoy and buy games without leaving the house.

Disadvantages.
1. How good the gaming experience is will depend upon the equipment the user has, for example how good their computer, internet connection is.
2. There will be a limited amount of space available to store games e.g the computer hard drive, so when that is full you will have to buy a bigger one.
3. There may be subscription fees passed on to the consumer in order for he company to make more money.
4. Will make other gaming companies go out of business, causing the online company to be the market leader meaning that they may charge what they like for their service as they have no competition.
5. If the website goes down for maintenance or your internet brakes you will be unable to play games until the problem is fixed.

online advantages and disadvantages

advantages

1. distribution costs will be cheaper because no packaging, and no actual disk to have the game on will be required.
2. less costs as there would be a cut in employees.
3. less costs for consumer as dont need console
4. don't need to go to shop to get the games as you can just buy them on computer.
5. can access your games anywhere in the world so no need to unplug console etc to play game.

disadvantages

1. gaming will be depending on internet connection which could be too slow, for certain levels of gaming.
2. lots of people would be left jobless.
3.most online website could need maintenance which could loose them sales.
4. harder for consumer to get information as they would not have anyone to go too.
5.most hard drives have limited capacity so could not be able to download too many game.

OnLive advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
1. One advantage for the consumer would be that the price of the games could become cheaper because it cuts out the manufacturing of the discs and their packaging.

2. Games will become available for a wider range of people because of the cut prices.

3. There will be more space in the home around television sets and makes the living room more family orientated.

4. No piracy of games as they cant be copied

5. Top games are available online sooner than in store

Disadvantages
1. Many people may lose their jobs for example the manufacturers.

2. OnLive could get a bad reputation as they have put all the manufacturers out of business.

3. Downloading these games will take up a lot of space on your computer and therefore could make your computer run slower.

4. Also it means that you wouldn't be able to purchase as many games due to lack of hard drive space

5. If you have a slow broadband connection it could take a while a download, so it could be very time consuming.

Onlive advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Easily accessible to consumers, they can stream games any time and anywhere
• Unique selling point of on demand games means Onlive will receive huge revenues and profits
• Onlive might become monopoly in the games market - Good for their own business because of profits
• Provides new jobs for a new type of technical service
• Reduces retail game shops stock and storage costs
  

Disadvantages:

• Quality issues - could affect internet connection and servers could crash
• Broadband service consumers currently have might not be powerful enough - imposing additional costs
• Expensive service - $15 dollars a month service charge
• Could reduce revenues of retail shops selling games and cause job losses
• Could put other console manufacturers out of business
  

Pros and Cons of Onlive

Advantages

- Get the games instantly don't need to go to store to get the game or wait for it to be delivered.

- Don't need disc to play and takes up no memory space of your PC or Mac.

-Large variety of games from existing consoles as well as new ones.

-Cheaper to get games to gamers as they don't need to pay packaging and shipping costs.

-Don't need to get memory cards to save game data.

Disadvantages

-Will Reduce jobs meaning people will get made redundant as manufacturers and retailers will have no jobs in the games industry.

-New software so possibility for lots of problems.

-Lose owner ship of the game (ie the disc)

- you need to buy a new and expensive console to play the games on even tho most people probably have a console already i.e. xbox PS3 and Wii

-companies will spend money on creating competitive exclusive content for certain games.

-lots of people downloading a new game would crash the server

mario and sonic at the olympic games

The advertisement for Mario and sonic at the Olympic games emphasises the fact that its a multiplayer game, and is affective because one of the main reasons of having the wii is the point that it is good for multiplayer gameplay, and it is interactive rather than sitting around, it gets everyone involved in the game.
The advert itself is good because it also emphasises a competitive structure, highlighting the fact that there are four players playing at once.

The advert is generally aimed at everyone, mostly teenagers and adults. This is represented by showing this age group in the advert having a good time, eagerly warming up to get into game-play.

It the advert is definately a fair representation of the game, although it is slightly commercialized it definatly has that contrasts the came really well without going over the top.

Assasins Creed II

Do you think this is an effective advert and why / why not ?

what type of audience is the game aimed at how can you tell from the add?

Do you think this is a fair representation of the game?

Yes i think this is an effective advert it shows the action, use of disguise and distraction with the girls and shows a lot of

aspects which you can find in game. It uses a well know event the venice carnival where everyone wears masks like the

carnival celebrated by the Serenissima Republic.

The game is most definitely aimed at the hardcore gamer market. this is not a family game. there is too much violence

and gore for younger audiences, the game also has a historic feel to it, as it is set in early times (venice 1486).

Yes having played the game myself i feel the advert is an excellent representation of the game. the event of the trailer

follow that of the story line, also the way in which the assassin acts and fights its an exact representation of how he fights.

the trailer also has the same graphical quality of that of the game, also the way in which everyone acts is the same.

The guards in the game also seem to have a sudden trigger switch in which they burst into action.

Our favourite game advert analysis

The game that we are doing is Viva Pinata on the Xbox 360.

We think that is effective because its creative and the music used is very catchy. It is also appealing to children because it has bright colours and delves into a child's imagination. This advert also give you a real insight into the game as in the last part it shows you game play so you would know what to expect when you play. It shows you the different thing that the game involved and what the graphics are like.

This advert is aimed at young children as the actors in it are also young so the children can relate to them. It also includes a talking pinata which adults wouldn't find entertaining. The colours used are very bright which younger children would also find appealing.

Advert Analysis: Gears Of War

1. Yes I believe it is an effective advert because it shows us the characters what the main character looks like gives us an impression of the kind of enemies you will br fighting
2. The game is aimed at a teenage/older market because the trailer suggests strong violence
   
3. In my opinion this is a fair representation of the game because it shows the main character fighting his way out of situation and working alone furthermore the scenery is that of a post apocalyptic city this is very similar to the maps you play in the game. The graphics used in the game are representative to those within the gameplay.
   

Uncharted - Drakes fortune advert analysis

We think that this advert is effective as it gives the audience a lot of information about the game as a whole because unlike GTA 4 it does not have a already existing good reputation, so needs to demonstrate that its game play is of a high quality to sell the game.
The audience that this game is trying to sell to are male teenagers who are interested in adventure games full of excitement, such as Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones. the advert shows this as it is quick paced and has a lot of action within it, also it shows quite a lot of violence in many different settings.
We think that it is a fair representation of the game as a whole as it shows the many different levels within the game with explicit detail on characters, weapons and lastly but certainly not least the incredible story line, which is presented in such a manner you actually feel your in the game.

Advert Analysis: Worms Armageddon Xbox Live

1) Do you think it is an effective advert and why?

I feel that this advert is quite effective as it reveals many aspects of the games content. The text breaks up the advert and reveals more about the franchise as a whole. These techniques are used as the game was released and advertised on Xbox live arcade, so it probably didn't have a huge amount of money to spend on marketing.

2) What type of audience is the game aimed at and how can you tell?

This game is aimed at both a younger audience as well as fans of the series. It appeals to fans of the series by mentioning aspects of previous games e.g. 'The worms are back... and they're bringing the whole arsenal along.' and ' The return of iconic weaponry. It appeals to a younger audience due to the cartoon look of the game and general .

3) Do you think it is a fair representation of the game?

Yes, as it uses gameplay footage extensively.

Favorite game- trailer analysis.

Mario Kart.

1. Do you think its an effective advert and why/why not?

The trailer for Mario Karts is fairly effective because of the amount of information presented about the game. For example you are told about the new vehicles, new items, new stunts and about the new "stunning 32 courses" and are shown examples from the actual game. The trailer also shows you the variety of controllers the game allows you to play with, meaning it lets you decide which is your personal favorite. However, although the trailer may be full of information, it lacks excitement and by the end does get a bit tedious because of its repetitive shots of the game and its annoying sound track. During the trailer you are also shown step by step how to make the best use of the online Mario Karts channel, where you can play against people around the world. Although this is an interesting feature to add, the way it is presented makes it feel more of a walk through of the game rather than trailer.

2. What type of audience is the game aimed at and how can you tell from the add?

From watching the trailer you can tell that the game has a large target audience ranging from around age 10 - 40. By seeing the bright and simple cartoon graphics you can tell the game isn't aimed at any serious game players. As the game trailer lacks seriousness, it is seen to be targeted towards younger children and families. Due to the multiplayer feature and the online channel you can see that it is a game to be enjoyed as a group.

3. Do you think it is a fair representation of the game?

I would agree that this trailer is a very fair representation of the game. Watching the trailer is a complete replica of what its like when you are actually playing the game. Everything from the graphics to special features seen in the trailer will be defiantly seen within minutes of playing the game.

My favourite game advert analysis

This an advertisement for the New Super Mario Bros Video game on the Wii.

I think that this advert is is effective as the first piece of information that the viewer will know is that it is a multi- player game. The advert shows 4 friends all playing the game together and having a good time whilst playing. It also shows clips of the game that the players are talking about.

I think from watching the advert that this game is aimed at an older male audience (20+) but from looking at the clips of game footage it looks like it would attract a younger audience as it has bright colours and a fun tune throughout also the game does not look too challenging. As its a multi player game it will attract more people to play with friends.

my favorite game advert analysis

I feel that this advert is very effective because it shows the exact game play footage in high definition. its also effective because it shows what the games about and how you play it. adding to this advert call of duty makes it known on what other specialist press magazines think of it e.g. ''JAW DROPPING''








the audience of this game are defiantly males, however the age is not clear due to the fact that men of all ages play it but if I had too make an assumption i would say 12-35 year old males.

yes, I feel that this advert shows the intense game play that this video game has included with in it I find the ( 11 10 09) at the end of the game tells me that this game will become the biggest game of the year. thus persuading me to buy this game.

My favourite game advert analysis

Assassins Creed 2:
1) Do you think it is an effective advert?

I think is it an effective advert because it shows the different aspects of the game such as the fighting, running and jumping as well as having the main protagonist voicing over the action, which shows that it has a detailed storyline.

2) What type of audience is it aimed at?

I think the target audience for this game is mainly teenagers 15+ as the trailer shows blood and violent content. The story is also about an assassin which involves killing and death so may not be suitable for young children.

3) Do you think it is a fair representation of the game?

I think the representation of the game is fair on all aspects. The trailer is based upon game play from the game and it doesn't show many cut scenes so the graphics are the same when you play the game.
Similarly, the action is exactly the same as in the trailer.

Analysis of My Favourite Game Gears of War Advert

Analysis of advert for Gears of War 1:

1. Do you think it is an affective Advert and why? - I believe that the advert is good as first

of all it shows you what the game is. It then has a popular song that gets the audience watching the advert. And to use real gameplay

shows the targeted gamer audience what the game is actually like.

2. What type of audience is the game aimed at & How can you tell from the ad? - The game

has a very dark appearance and obviously is a violent graphic game. The main logo is large black and red this shows the audience

from the start that the game will be dark and 18 Rated.

3. Do you Think it is a fair representation of the game? - I believe it is a fair representation

as it uses real gameplay graphics and shows you the main guy versus the enemy. It shows you what the game will entail and what

actual gameplay would be like.

Analysis of Our Favourite Game Final Fantasy XIII

Do you think this is an effective advert? Why?
Yes this is an effective advert as it asked a rhetorical question at the beginning of the advert which gives you a challenge to want get and complete the game. Also the song 'My Hands' by Leona Lewis goes really well with the advert which helps sell it as it makes the game look really intense.

What type of audience is the game aimed at + and how can you tell from the advert?
The type of audience the game is aimed at is teenagers 16+, we can tell this from the advert as it shows a 16 certificate at the bottom. We can also tell the game is aimed at both genders as the characters used in it are both male and female therefore appealing to everyone.

Do you think it is a fair representation of the game?
Yes this is a fair representation of the game as it shows the game in action and is extremely similar to actual game play.

The Boy and His Blob

This video was released in Fall of 2009 to help create a buzz around the product. This is a clip from the youtube games's channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Games#g/c/EC3CA0F329A67CA4

Mario Kart wii Marketing

Viral and Guerrilla marketing: Nintendo did not use these two kinds of marketing as they were not applicable to this game, because the audience the game is aimed will not benefit from these types of advertising as they are young children so they would be to young to buy specialist magazines and information would not need to be leaked to them as there parents will be buying the game for them, once the child sees some sort of advert they will want the game.

Mainstream market: This type of advertising is much more appropriate for a game like Mario Kart as young children and parents are much more likely to see the game in magazines,papers or the t.v.

Marketing

Marketing is the interaction between businesses and consumers. The commercial process of promoting, selling and distributing a product or service.

Viral Marketing is a technique based on the assumption that people will share information which they have found interesting. Video Clips on the internet is one of the main ways to create the "word of mouth" for the new product or service. It helps to create brand awareness and is alot more valuable than traditional advertising.

Guerrilla Marketing is an unconventional way of marketing, which relies on unconventional and
unexpected. The concept of Guerrilla Marketing is to create a unique, engaging, thought provoking "buzz" around the product or service.

Specialist Press is


Mainstream Press is

Wii Fit Marketing

Nintendo claimed to have the biggest marketing campaign for the Wii fit that there ever would be, mainly because this product was aimed as a whole family game rather then one for hardcore bedroom gamers, this opening in the market created massive space and a massive audience for Nintendo to advertise too.

Marketing

Specialist Press: Nintendo advertised their Wii fit to gamer magazines. gamer magazines focus mainly focused on the games enjoyment ability rather then the corporate information behind the product or the USP of the game which is pretty obvious already.

they also advertised in business magazines to possibly advertise to fathers who want more ways to spend time with their children and kids magazines for kids to recommend to their parents.

Mainstream press: this mainly focused of the corporate information of the game and the USP.

Guerilla marketing. this marketing style did no exactly fit the image of wii fit as it is a generally crime based way of advertising e.g. graffiti, how ever there were some bill boards in notable places. As well as an unplanned advert which when on youtube http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200824/1226/Nintendo-denies-sexy-Wii-Fit-video-is-viral-marketing

Beatles Rock Band Case Study: Marketing

Viral Marketing:

Guerrilla Marketing:


Specialist Press:Excited due to the fact it is part of Rock Band franchise. Magazines excited about release of new controllers due to similarities to actual instruments. Controversy due to price of the instrument controllers.

Mainstream Press: Heavily covered by mainstream press due to involvement of George Harrison, Paul McCartney and family members. Also because it was released to coincide with re-release of albums. surviving Beatles were present at enormous launch party. Heavily reported in Music magazines: split opinions due to Beatles huge fan base and influence.

Super Mario 64 DS Marketing

The Super Mario 64 DS Game was not marketed online as much as the GTA4 new game. Due to the differences of the release date. Mario was released March 2005 and GTA4 released October 2009. From looking online there are not many trailers for Mario as there was released for GTA4.
The differences between GTA4 and Mario marketing shows how much it has changed in a short amount of time. However we could find a trailer for Mario although it was the Korean trailer.

definitions

marketing definition: The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.

viral marketing

Definition

Marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message.

wii fit: this marketing type would not be appropriate for our produce as it is not targeted to hardcore gamers which would try to get as much info about a game as they could but to everyday people and families which would not be interested to gather information about the game.

Information

Viral marketing depends on a high pass-along rate from person to person. If a large percentage of recipients forward something to a large number of friends, the overall growth snowballs very quickly. If the pass-along numbers get too low, the overall growth quickly fizzles.

At the height of B2C it seemed as if every startup had a viral component to its strategy, or at least claimed to have one. However, relatively few marketing viruses achieve success on a scale similar to Hotmail, widely cited as the first example of viral marketing.

guerilla marketing

Definition

Unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources.

wii fit: our game would not market in this way because this again is not targeted to a specific type of audiences but too all who enjoy interacting with other people not just in their living rooms but world wide.

Information

Coined by Jay Conrad Levinson, guerilla marketing is more about matching wits than matching budgets. Guerilla marketing can be as different from traditional marketing as guerilla warfare is from traditional warfare. Rather than marching their marketing dollars forth like infantry divisions, guerilla marketers snipe away with their marketing resources for maximum impact.

specialist press

definition

this is when a certain type of press is targeted to their specific audiences

wii fit: once again our game would not use this method of advertisement because it was advertised to anyone and everyone included people which would not normally be interested in games, this is the reason for how successful the game was as it opened its target market extravagantly.

mainstream press

definition

advertising aimed at large amounts of audiences that read non specific media types such as magazines, billboards ,TV and computer.

wii fit: our game uses this type of marketing because as I said before it was advertised to anyone and everyone included people which would not normally be interested in games, this is the reason for how successful the game was as it opened its target market extravagantly. this type of marketing helped wii fit to reach massive revenue levels as it needed everyone to know about it and not just gamers which you would advertise on a gamers website if so.

Definitions

Marketing: The commercial processes involved in promoting and selling and distributing a product or service.

Viral Marketing: The marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message.

Guerrilla Marketing: Guerrilla marketing refers to highly aggressive marketing practices. It uses unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources.

Specialist Press: Uses strategic guerrilla print publishing and work with other competent leaders in their fields to deliver sensational custom publishing materials. Specialist press is a press that targets markets such as; magazines, online, direct mail and telemarketing to obtain the tailored research and insights you require, to optimize your approach and reach into the markets we serve.
'Merge' http://www.specialistpress.com/research

Mainstream Press:

Case Study - Super Mario 64 DS

Developer - Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
Publishers - Nintendo
Designers - Shigery Myamoto
Series - Mario
Platform - Nintendo DS
Release Date - March 11th 2005
Models - Single/Multi Player

The Super Mario 64 DS was a remake of the original Super Mario 64 game. In addition to updated graphics the remake had new characters and minigames. It has the original plot where the game is centres on rescuing princess Peach from Bowser.

Development.
The game has a 3D engine which mirrors the visual effects used in the original game. The graphic changes include higher polygon count and the lack of texture filtering.
The game was released at the same time as the Nintendo DS, which meant it was one of the few games for the DS.

marketing terms

Marketing:
Its the process in where companies decide and determine which products will be sold; whether they are good enough to be sold, what market to target. a management process that looks at customer satisfaction and whether a product will provide for the market.

Viral marketing:
Viral marketing describes any strategy that encourages individuals to pass on a marketing message to others. for example hotmail.com.

Guerilla marketing:
this is about theory and action. people are targeted unexpectedly by marketing in an unconventional way using a very low budget in order to maximize profit.

Specialist press:


mainstream marketing:
creating unique

Marketing Terms and descriptions.

Marketing - Marketing a product includes concept, development, product launch and distribution. Often includes advertisement.

Viral Marketing - This is when moves along encouraging people to carry on a certain message, e.g word of mouth marketing.

Specialist Press - Is a publication which specializes is a certain area e.g games, music or television.

Mainstream Press - Is a must wider publication, including all types of stories and articles.

GUITAR HERO - MARKETING.

Viral Marketing - Guitar Hero released a video of a boy riding his bike along a track made to look like a guitar hero game. It was released on youtube under a fake name with no advertisement featured.

Mainstream Marketing - Using adverts on TV to promote the game, uses young people to generalise teenagers but also because of the rock genre its for a much broadened audience.

Marketing Terms

Marketing Terms

- Marketing : the process by which companies determine what products to market and in what way to advertise them to their target audience. they decide what strategy to use in sales, business development and Communications.

Used to gain customers and keep those customers satisfied, as the customer is the focus of its activities.

-Viral Marketing : Determines the way in which advertising is used to encourage people to pass on the message about products or services. if information is passed from one person to big groups of friends then the product quickly gets well known. if the word does not spread then the product fizzes out shortly after being advertised.

-Guerilla Marketing : unconventional style of marketing relies on imagination rather then conventional methods such as viral marketing. guerilla marketing campaigns are unconventional and unusual and markets its target audience in unexpected places. the idea of creating an unique individual thought provoking buzz. It is an unusual way of advertising.

-Specialist Press : Advertising in specialist magazines and websites which are aimed at a specific audience, examples include a gaming magazine, cooking magazine. this addresses your main audience specifically although advertising space is shared with others in a similar market.

-Mainstream Press : "General news examples daily mail. BBC news. advertising addresses all markets possibility to draw in new customers from a different market.

Marketing Terms

Marketing: selling; the exchange of goods for an agreed sum of money. The commercial processes of promoting, selling and distributing a product or service.

Viral Marketing: A technique that is based on the assumption that people will share interesting and entertaining content. Videos, clips and the Internet are often used to create word-of-mouth 'buzz' for a new product or service, gaining exposure that is often more valuable than traditional advertising. Produces an increase in brand awareness.

Guerilla Marketing: A technique that creates a 'buzz' through unconventional and unexpected marketing activities on a low budget.

Specialist Press: When the press are specialised in a certain area, I.e. gaming magazines (ps3)

Mainstream Press: A wider type of press, I.e Newspapers (The Times).

Marketing Terms

Marketing: The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.

Viral marketing: It is a message (advert) that people are encourage to send to one another via the internet.

Guerrilla marketing: Marketing in a unconventional way, using a very low budget in order to maximize profit.

Specialist press: Things like magazines that are dedicated to the subject they are on and specialise in that field, for example PS3 magazine is aimed at people that are interested in the game and the console itself.

Mainstream press: Advertising aimed people that are not buying specialist magazines, in order to advertise to a new market to try and get them to buy specialist magazines and buy a series of games.

Marketing Definitions

Marketing: The promotion, selling and distribution of a product or service

Viral Marketing: A method of marketing that relies heavily on 'word of mouth', often on the internet. The communication between potential buyers and their friends is hugely important for this to work. It creates 'buzz' or hype around a product.

Guerrilla Marketing: A method that is designed to create a 'buzz' or hype around a product through unconventional and unexpected techniques.

Specialist Press: Magazines, publications etc. that address a specific subject/industry that will only appeal to those with a prior interest.

Mainstream Press: Publications that are not linked to a specific industry or subject, therefore having a larger audience.

notes on games britannia programme

1. I have learnt that the video games industry started to boom in the mid 1990's. they created new interactive worlds for their audiences. this changed the way we look at video games in today's world. the games can be bought from all around the world online and in stores. these games have become more affordable

2. gta4 also allows their audiences to interact in a new and vibrent world of gaming. it has also become affordable for all and is distributed all around the world, online and in stores.

3. wii fit is a fine example of a game which has been brought out to accomidate to the social side of gaming more that being a typical gamer. wii has also got a wider range of potential customers, as we have said before, not just typical gamers who it does also accomidate for playing independantly,but everyone and anyone who likes to enjoy themself and likes spending quality time with their freinds and family.

Notes on games Britannia programme

The games industry has changed a lot during a short period of time. For example it now takes a whole team of people just to make one game as story lines, characters and graphics have become a lot more complicated to make and design. Another thing that has changed is how games are distributed for example when games were just made by individual people, not big media corporations such as Rockstar games, codes had to be entered into the computer in order for the games to be played, games were not released on Cd's. Now games are sold in big quantities online and in store with lots of advertising and Hype surrounding them for example GTA 4 began advertising long before game was due to be released, this was done so that a high demand was created for the game. GTA was a long time in the making, it took a lot of time to plan story lines and characters overall it took about 6 years to make and release in to stores.

notes on games britannia programme

1. I have learnt that the video games industry started to boom in the mid 1990's. they created new interactive worlds for their audiences. this changed the way we look at video games in today's world. the games can be bought from all around the world online and in stores. these games have become more affordable

2. gta4 also allows their audiences to interact in a new and vibrent world of gaming. it has also become affordable for all and is distributed all around the world, online and in stores.

3. wii fit is a fine example of a game which has been brought out to accomidate to the social side of gaming more that being a typical gamer. wii has also got a wider range of potential customers, as we have said before, not just typical gamers who it does also accomidate for playing independantly,but everyone and anyone who likes to enjoy themself and likes spending quality time with their freinds and family.

Notes on Games Britannia Program

What have we learned about the games industry form the clip about production marketing distribution and consumption?

Lord of the rings was the first book to kick start the gaming innervation. Table top gaming was one of the first forms of multiplayer gaming. This enrolled the person in a fantasy adventure but not alone with other companions and players. The dungeon master controlled the story, this game had no end and no way to win which is similar to real life.

Tomb raider was the first give women a place in the gaming world. although this character was also seen as a tease for typical nerdy gamers. Sparked other games such as Heavenly sword. Lara croft was also seen as the lady indiana jones as their interests were linked

Consumption of the first dungeons and dragons game was largely bought by Lord of the rings fans. a Majority of these were people who grew up during the arcade era.

Personalities merged between those of people who play MMORPGs, they have personality online of who they want to be seen and personality offline of who they really are. eventually these two personalities meet.

Political arguments arose when violence and crime which was unaccepted in the real world seems to become okay accepted in the cyber world.

How can you apply what you've learned to GTA IV?

GTA IV was a game which socialised gaming as people could play it to escape form the real world into a similar yet different environment where crime is almost accepted.

How can you Apply what you've learned to your case study game?

Notes on Games Britannia programme

• The games industry has always been developing and, starting off with board games.
• Games which took place in a virtual world attracted players as it allowed them to control a life/lives in a world different from our own, some which were known as Godly games.
• Games like 'Lara Croft' became so popular as she was an intelligent character which the players began to empathise with and care for.
• GTA 4 took playing to the extreme in the case of there were 'no rules' in this game based on racing, drugs, sex and gambling.
• Social Networks took the world by storm with Networks such as 'Little Big Planet', allowing players to create their own worlds to be adored and criticised by others.
• The present day has seen social networking games such as 'World of Warcraft' and British game 'Runescape', allowing the player to explore exotic and imaginative worlds, whilst interacting with other characters to broaden their experience.
  

Notes on Games Britannia Programme

Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson were the founder of Games Workshop. They started with the role playing games which was called Dungeons and Dragons.

Ian Bell and David Barben were the co-founder of Elite video game., which could be played on BBC micro and Acorn Electron computers.

Peter Molyeaux was the creator of black and white which involved the user 'playing god' this meant that the user controlled everything within the virtual world.

This then lead on to Lara Croft being created. She was the first ever character made with a personality and background which the gamers became protective over.

Wipeout was the first to create a driving action game which was set in a fantasy world and therefore lead the gaming industry to create more realistic games.

Carmageden was the first game which was made to create political and media attention as the aim of the game was to kill as many people as possible by running them over.

Grand Theft Auto is a mixture of Carmageden and Wipeout and Lara Croft, this was a huge success beasue it was aimed at many people as you could do a variety of different things on it.

Case Study:Production

Once you have decided on the game you want to case study find out the following things initially:

TITLE: Production of (insert the name of your game)
What company developed the game?
How long did it take them?
What was the initial concept of the game?
How many people did it take to develop the game?
What kind of teams were needed (i.e. character animators)
What software was used to develop the game? (i.e. Euphoria)
What platforms is it available on?
How many units have been sold to date?
What company distributes the game?
What model of production was used for this game? i.e. the Hollywood model

You must make sure you blog all of your information.
DO NOT copy and paste, you must read the information and re-write it in your own words to ensure you understand all the information so you can use it appropriately in the exam.

Production of The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles Rock Band is a rhythm based music game. It features music performed by the Beatles exclusively, whereas other band specific games feature other bands.

It was developed by Harmonix Music Systems, was published by MTV games and distributed by Electronic Arts.