G.o.t.m.o: VII – Media and Entertainment Conference 2007

Hosted by Columbia University, the NYU Stern Media and Entertainment Association has put together a day filled with business folks answering questions on the future of television, Net Neutrality, and most relevantly the video game industry. More information here. — read on

G.o.t.m.o: VI – Impromptu NYU visit

Today I visited NYU Stern for a Media Entertainment Association panel called Business Models within the Video Games Industry and witnessed some interesting tidbits of game industry insight. What follows is a reasonably coherent synopsis based on my notes. Keywords: digital distribution, in-game advertising, valuing IP, and where to invest $5 million in the game industry. — read on

SOE & online card games

Apparently Sony Online Entertainment has noticed the profitability of card games, both in terms of higher monthly revenue ($67 per user per month on average) and lower development cost. Some of the Hollywood IP it already made into card games are: Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Disney) Pirates of the Spanish Main Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Lord of the Rings (New Line Cinema, $75 monthly revenue per subscriber) Stargate: SG1 Remember, SOE owns EverQuest and Untold Legends. Apparently, only Wizards of the Coast's Magic: the Gathering has been in this territory. But according to Scott Martins (director of development at SOE's most recent acquisition Worlds Apart Productions, now SOE Denver): "The revenue per user is incredible, although it's still relatively a niche business. We can build these games in five months with a team of nine people for a fraction of the cost of a PC game." — read on

Midway & Viacom

Sure, on paper Midway is its own entity, and the fact that Viacom's Summer Redstone holds a majority share of 88% (himself and through National Amusements, Inc.) technically has nothing to do with either company's operations. But you can't help but wonder if there isn't some leverage he's getting out of this. Sure enough the $5.9 million Midway spent on advertising with Viacom in 2005 suggests some collaborative potential. So, if we then assume there is no connection between Viacom and Midway, what do we make of the exclusive WWII title Hour of Victory Midway is developing for XBOX360? A harmless collaboration, or perhaps an indication that Viacom and Microsoft are working together behind the scenes? I guess what I'm trying to say is that it muddies the ownership structure of these companies and it is difficult to maintain that Midway is not under the rule of Viacom but rather an off-shoot similar to the relationship between XBOX and Microsoft. — read on

Making Sense of Software (1993)

On my way through Alex Stockburger's dissertation (PDF) I came across a short essay by Ted Friedman called "Making Sense of Software" which he apparently wrote in 1993. In describing SimCity he fields Jameson and Harvey arguing that the game reflects on "the dilemma of making sense of space under late capitalism." To Harvey's question as to "how can spatializations [...] represent flux and change?" Friedman argues that video game software can help in "constructing cognitive frameworks." He continues by explaining how during game play a person "comes to think of one's self as an organic extension of the software, and the software as an extension of one's consciousness." And makes the connection between "individualism and perspectivism" in the Renaissance. But the real gem in all this is hidden in one of the footnotes:

"...learning how to play computer games is a process of learning a distinct semiotic structure. To some extent, this language, like that of Classical Hollywood narrative, carries over from one text to the next; initiates finish one game and can comfortably start to play on a new one. But in some ways, every new computer game is its own world, a distinct semiotic system, and it is the very process of learning (or conquering) that system which drives interest in the game.

MTVN & There.com (Makena Technologies)

I'm not sure that this counts as a gaming property. But I guess it's all the same to whoever is making money of this project...

"There.com parent company Makena Technologies announced today that it has collaborated with MTV Networks to launch "Virtual Hills," an online extension of the popular MTV television show "The Hills." Fans of the show can immerse themselves in a virtual environment that replicates the show's Hollywood setting, interact with cast members in- world, and participate in special events closely tied to the show's storyline."

MTV Networks & Nexon

Nexon will "create a new premium user experience for MTVN'S Neopets" and in return MTV will do the "marketing of the launch of Nexon's casual MMOG game titles in North America via its portfolio of television and online brands. Two of the first titles to be marketed under the alliance will be "Maple Story" and "Kart Rider" which are already enjoyed by 50 million and 80 million players around the world, respectively." Source: PRNewswire — read on

Harmonix loses Guitar Hero to NeverSoft (Activision)

After MTV Networks bought up Harmonix Music Systems for $175 million, it's going to be the wonderful people that produces that endless stream of Tony Hawk games to come up with GT: III. Dangit. — read on