By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.NET
SINGAPORE - By all accounts, this year’s Games Convention Asia is toned down as there seems to be fewer participation of gaming companies, perhaps affected by the weak global economic crisis that detracted people from spending.
The annual event – already in its third year – was organized by the Leipziger Messe International (LMI) Asia, whose parent company operates the Games Convention in Europe.
Citing a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LMI CEO Wolfgang Marzin said Asian gaming companies were indeed affected by the economic crisis, like other industries in the region.
According to Marzin, global consumer spending has lessened on all games, be it console, handheld, PC and online games.
But Marzin also said Asian firms are more resilient against the effects and will see some growth in the coming years, again citing the PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers report said the global trend for the gaming and digital entertainment market for the year will remain weak until 2010 but will only start to pick up by 2011.
But the report also pointed out that the Asia Pacific region will be among the fastest growth areas for gaming and digital entertainment, growing 4.5 percent every year and reaching US$413 billion by 2013.
Consumer spending on gaming and other firms of digital entertainment is forecast to grow at least 7.1 percent every year.
Hybrid games, anyone?
Even with lesser game time for people, there is still demand for innovation in the game development industry.
One of the big topics in this year's Games Convention Asia was developing hybrid-type games that combined elements from established genres.
For example, titles developed by Gas Powered Games combined elements of role playing and strategy. These include “Supreme Commander” and “Demigod.”
Gas Powered Games Founder Chris Taylor said having innovations in the gaming business keeps people interested to try out new titles, while trying to compare these existing and familiar genres.
Such interest fuels better innovations from the developers, fueling more interest from players, which effectively makes the game development business more profitable.
“Players might get bored with the same old gaming style. They have to be interested in something new. But developing a new type of game isn’t easy, nor does it come cheap," Taylor said.
"But the outcome, especially if the product is a hit, is as much a reward already for the developer,” he added.
Gaming's newest platform
One platform that has seen an explosion in demand for gamers and game developers alike is Apple's iPhone device.
Even Filipino game development companies are starting to create games for the iPhone.
Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) Board Member Paul Gadi became part of a panel discussion on the iPhone as a gaming platform during the GCA.
He noted that more than just the fancy features of the iPhone, its unique touch screen and motion sensitivity makes it appealing as a gaming platform.
He also said the iPhone’s development software kit is friendly enough for developers to create games.
Filipino developer Anino Games is one of the local companies that are hoping to jump into the iPhone development bandwagon.
It created the game “Turbo Subs” that already became a hit on the iPhone. Not surprisingly, Anino was the first game development firm in the Philippines focusing initially on the PC.
Console power
Gaming consoles are a good measurement for the success of gaming. The higher sales of consoles means the industry is doing well.
But having a regional office solely dedicated to one console means the device also has a huge potential beyond current sales.
Erik Ford is the senior marketing manager for Microsoft’s Southeast Asian Entertainment and Devices Division, which sells games for Microsoft Windows as well as the Xbox 360 console.
Ford said that sales of the console have grown steadily in the Southeast Asian region, despite problems with piracy of Xbox 360 games.
In particular, Asian traffic in the Xbox Live network has also grown to 269 percent (he would not give exact figures).
Ford noted that the growth is due to the availability of online components of many of their games, which required the use of an original game.
“Xbox Live is a critical differentiator versus competition. It also makes people value original games because they can go online and play with their friends,” Ford said.
Reinventing Lara Croft
Even with different platforms vying for the attention of gamers, development firms shall and always will be primarily content developers working on products that can be delivered to any platform.
The choice of which platform to bring their games has many factors, one of which is the potential for the market.
One icon of the gaming industry that has spanned different platforms and crossed to different forms of media is buxom game character Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider series.
But after more than 10 years, questions linger if Lara Croft has still more going on for her.
In an interview, Ian Livingstone, president of Tomb Raider series creator Eidos Interactive said they are looking at ways to innovate Lara Croft and continue making her appealing to her old fans as well as new ones.
“It can be in a different platform like the iPhone but what’s important is how Lara Croft can continue engaging the player,” Livingstone said.
By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.NET
SINGAPORE - By all accounts, this year’s Games Convention Asia is toned down as there seems to be fewer participation of gaming companies, perhaps affected by the weak global economic crisis that detracted people from spending.
The annual event – already in its third year – was organized by the Leipziger Messe International (LMI) Asia, whose parent company operates the Games Convention in Europe.
Citing a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LMI CEO Wolfgang Marzin said Asian gaming companies were indeed affected by the economic crisis, like other industries in the region.
According to Marzin, global consumer spending has lessened on all games, be it console, handheld, PC and online games.
But Marzin also said Asian firms are more resilient against the effects and will see some growth in the coming years, again citing the PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers report said the global trend for the gaming and digital entertainment market for the year will remain weak until 2010 but will only start to pick up by 2011.
But the report also pointed out that the Asia Pacific region will be among the fastest growth areas for gaming and digital entertainment, growing 4.5 percent every year and reaching US$413 billion by 2013.
Consumer spending on gaming and other firms of digital entertainment is forecast to grow at least 7.1 percent every year.
Hybrid games, anyone?
Even with lesser game time for people, there is still demand for innovation in the game development industry.
One of the big topics in this year's Games Convention Asia was developing hybrid-type games that combined elements from established genres.
For example, titles developed by Gas Powered Games combined elements of role playing and strategy. These include “Supreme Commander” and “Demigod.”
Gas Powered Games Founder Chris Taylor said having innovations in the gaming business keeps people interested to try out new titles, while trying to compare these existing and familiar genres.
Such interest fuels better innovations from the developers, fueling more interest from players, which effectively makes the game development business more profitable.
“Players might get bored with the same old gaming style. They have to be interested in something new. But developing a new type of game isn’t easy, nor does it come cheap," Taylor said.
"But the outcome, especially if the product is a hit, is as much a reward already for the developer,” he added.
Gaming's newest platform
One platform that has seen an explosion in demand for gamers and game developers alike is Apple's iPhone device.
Even Filipino game development companies are starting to create games for the iPhone.
Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) Board Member Paul Gadi became part of a panel discussion on the iPhone as a gaming platform during the GCA.
He noted that more than just the fancy features of the iPhone, its unique touch screen and motion sensitivity makes it appealing as a gaming platform.
He also said the iPhone’s development software kit is friendly enough for developers to create games.
Filipino developer Anino Games is one of the local companies that are hoping to jump into the iPhone development bandwagon.
It created the game “Turbo Subs” that already became a hit on the iPhone. Not surprisingly, Anino was the first game development firm in the Philippines focusing initially on the PC.
Console power
Gaming consoles are a good measurement for the success of gaming. The higher sales of consoles means the industry is doing well.
But having a regional office solely dedicated to one console means the device also has a huge potential beyond current sales.
Erik Ford is the senior marketing manager for Microsoft’s Southeast Asian Entertainment and Devices Division, which sells games for Microsoft Windows as well as the Xbox 360 console.
Ford said that sales of the console have grown steadily in the Southeast Asian region, despite problems with piracy of Xbox 360 games.
In particular, Asian traffic in the Xbox Live network has also grown to 269 percent (he would not give exact figures).
Ford noted that the growth is due to the availability of online components of many of their games, which required the use of an original game.
“Xbox Live is a critical differentiator versus competition. It also makes people value original games because they can go online and play with their friends,” Ford said.
Reinventing Lara Croft
Even with different platforms vying for the attention of gamers, development firms shall and always will be primarily content developers working on products that can be delivered to any platform.
The choice of which platform to bring their games has many factors, one of which is the potential for the market.
One icon of the gaming industry that has spanned different platforms and crossed to different forms of media is buxom game character Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider series.
But after more than 10 years, questions linger if Lara Croft has still more going on for her.
In an interview, Ian Livingstone, president of Tomb Raider series creator Eidos Interactive said they are looking at ways to innovate Lara Croft and continue making her appealing to her old fans as well as new ones.
“It can be in a different platform like the iPhone but what’s important is how Lara Croft can continue engaging the player,” Livingstone said.
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When you're depressed whatya do? Play a game, so of course they are still popular.
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hi buddy, I found your blog from ask.com and read a few of your other posts.They are amazing. Please continue this great work!!! Best regards, Bill.
Доброго времени суток,дамы и господа. Наконец-то всем нам продемонстрировали эмблему грядущей в 2014 году Олимпиады, и я конечно не могу себе отказать в удовольствии нафлудить тут у Вас... :)
Итак, практически по всем каналам промчалось данное известие, как подобает, с наивысшей степенью ПиаРа. Сам президент подержал футболку с логотипчиком, замутили пресс-конференцию, на Первом забабахали концерт, ну и конечно, рекламные тизеры о нашей необыкновенной Олимпиаде.
При этом как то на второстепенный план отошла сама картинка, что будет красоваться на флагах, шарфиках, и прочей сувенирной продукции через 4 года. А хотелось бы приглядеться к ней по-внимательнее. Если честно, когда увидел, был мягко говоря разочарован. Сразу всплыла в голове такая картина: сидят где-то наши организаторы Олимпиады, и тут один вскакивает с дивана и кричит "мужыки, нам ведь завтра эмблему в Олимпийский коммитет надо отсылать". Начинается кипиш, но не долго думая наши функционеры садятся за ближайший компьютер, набирают незамысловатым шрифтом текст Sochi2014 (само собой на английском) добавляют банальное .RU А чтобы не заморачиваться с графикой, в Гугле находят олимпийские кольца и впихивают их рядом с этой надписью в фотошопе :)
Ребят, просто нет слов! Всё понимаю: кольца, название города, год проведения, но где тут фишка??? та, чтобы цепляла. Где нестандартные дизайнерские решения? Посмотрите на логотип той же зимней олимпиады в Турине, где изображен силуэт “Моле-Антонеллины”, который нельзя перепутать ни с чем. Он плавно переходит в изображение горы, окруженной кристалликами льда, на которой снег сливается с небом. Кристаллики переплетаются между собой, образовывая сеть: сеть новых технологий и вечного Олимпийского единства.
Я вот совсем не понимаю, зачем нам нужно это .RU Посещаемость сайта решили повысить? так я думаю он и без эмблемы имел бы посетителей. К тому же официальный сайт олимпиады будет на английском и явно не в зоне RU. Да и вообще на фоне продвижения государством доменной зоны RF, как то уже начинаешь привыкать к мысли что зона RU вскоре станет "устаревшей" чтоли, а то и вообще сгинет как пережиток прошлого..
ЗЫ То ли ещё будет, весной талисман нужно миру показывать..
ЗЗЫ Простите за эмоции, высказался, успокоился.. :) А может не так уж он и плох? :)
A little off topic, Guys... I have a question. Last week I looked at this site:
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Are there any other sites where you can play sports games for real moneys? I Googled and found only Bringit.com and Worldgaming.com but it looks these guys don't specialize in sport gamez. Any suggestions?
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