The Gaming IndustryBy Brian Bovino

Alternate Reality Games

Alternate Reality Multiple Media

Uses clues through: Mobile phones Various online platforms

Often times, ARG winners get prize money

Used mostly to promote movies or television shows.

Everything you know about ARGs is WRONG argues that ARGs are too gimmicky

Is this an effective way to market?

Is it buzzworthy?

Would you play an ARG if it wasn’t associated to a movie or show?

Susan O’Connor on Game Writing

Games are becoming more cinematic

Publishers aren’t settling for bad writing anymore

“Dedicated” writers are being hired to work toward the cinematic goals

What does good writing do for a gaming experience?

Linear Gaming a Thing of the Past?

Clint Hocking argues that linear storytelling models are archaic

Games are becoming more interactive: Xbox 360’s Project

Natal Nintendo Wii Games like Heavy

Rain

What is a game that lacks a linear story? Non-Linear Game

Design Sandbox concept Branching Story

Lines

Is linear storytelling really outdated?

The Evolution of Game Writing Valve's Writers And The Creative

Process interviews the company’s writers and asks for their commentary on the industry

Variations in writing depends on the game: Re-playability Cinematic Experience

Publishers are staffing writers in-house consistency

Is good writing appropriate in all genres of gaming?

What other benefits do in-house writers give to game developing firms?

Game Developer’s Guild

Union for game developers

“Free agent” developers would join the guild guild would work with game producers to source their talent

Has the potential to bring the following to game production: Organization Security Standardization

Is standardization something the gaming industry needs?

Could sourcing from a guild could lead to lack of consistency on a project series?

The Birth of Social Scamming… [cough]…I mean Social Gaming

Social Games include: Mafia Wars Farmville Vampire Wars

Social Gaming companies like Zynga profit unethically

Use faster game progression as a bribe to profit through “in-game currency” and advertising

Rules have been put in place by Facebook to cut down scamming, but developers ignore them and Facebook doesn’t enforce them

However… Advertisers are benefiting

from social gaming The number of users

continue to multiply

Ethical or Unethical?

Reality Games: Unaware Participation

Companies are starting to use this as a promotional technique

Toyota’s YouOtherYou promotion

“Friend” gives Toyota (Prankster) contact information of the “Prankee”

Toyota then pranks the victim through emails, phone calls and text messages

“Friend” can track the prank in real time from his/her computer

The end of the prank results in a “Gotcha!” and somehow ties in Toyota’s new Matrix vehicle… many “prankees” were not happy at all.

Acceptable Promotion Technique?