Week 7 Update

Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Double Developing ToDragon Age II http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37587/Gamasutra_Member_Blogs_From_Double_Developing_To_Dragon_Age_II.php
GDC China Reveals Brian Fargo Keynote, Trio Of New Sessions 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38142/Report_PlayStation_Vita_Browser_Supports_HTML5_But_Not_Flash.php
Report: PlayStation Vita Browser Supports HTML5, But Not Flash 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38142/Report_PlayStation_Vita_Browser_Supports_HTML5_But_Not_Flash.php
Feature: Building In Better Testing From Day One 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38150/Feature_Building_In_Better_Testing_From_Day_One.php
Appeals Court Denies Bethesda Injunction In Fallout MMO Case 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38154/Appeals_Court_Denies_Bethesda_Injunction_In_Fallout_MMO_Case.php

Week 6 Update

Great Games's Trailers. Trying to get idea of what could be innovative.

- MW 3


- GOW 3


- Assassin's Creed Revelation


- Mess Effect 3

Week 5 Update

Innovation in Computer Games


Top News This Week
- Study: UK games industry struggling to find staff
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-10-05-study-uk-games-industry-struggling-to-find-staff
- Richest fifth 'take 97% of all iOS game revenue' 
http://www.develop-online.net/news/38761/Richest-fifth-take-97-of-all-mobile-game-revenue
- FIFA 12 enjoys record-smashing global launch 
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/fifa-12-enjoys-record-smashing-global-launch

What is Innovation?

•According to the Oxford English Dictionary, innovation is:

  Pronunciation:/ɪnəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/

  noun

                  –[mass noun] the action or process of innovating

                  –[count noun] a new method, idea, product, etc.:technological innovations designed

                     to save energy

Innovation??
•Or incremental improvements?
•Is innovation curtailed by the yearly release schedule?
•Does an innovative feature require more development time than the 12 month release window allows?
•And how long would it take to develop?
Mirror's Edge

•Mirror’s Edge divided opinion –
–See Keith Stuart from the Guardian

“Do game reviewers really understand   innovation? Or are we undervaluing it entirely?”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2008/nov/14/gameculture-playstation1
•Reaction to the above opinion 
"I don’t think Mirror’s Edge is as stunningly innovative as claimed... First person
perspective, running away from enemies, avoiding direct combat, quick time events, the
colour blue: all of these things have been done before.”
John Kershaw
http://nukezilla.com/2008/11/15/guardian-mirrors-edge-is-just-too-innovative-for-reviewers/
What is Innovative?

• Genres

–       Interactive Documentary

–       Serious Games

–       Others…maybe you have one in your head…

–       …maybe you’ll work on a genre-defining title? …the illegitimate child of

•        Rhythm + Action-Adventure +Platform + MMO + Angry Birds?

–       …and using a freemium model

Serious Games

What? SG involve the use of games technologies and methodologies for:

e-Learning, Simulation, Team building, Collaboration, Social Networking, Opinion shaping

for defense, education, scientific exploration, health care, emergency management, city planning, engineering, religion, and politics.

Innovation Growth Areas

•        Technology – 3DS, Kinect, 3DTV

•        Business Models – cover in next lecture

•        Business Processes – a little later today

•        What else?

Star Wars Kinect
- E3 2010 Video

- E3 2011 Video

Current Industry Trends

•        Industry is in a state of flux…

•        New Growing Platforms e.g. Mobile, Social Media & the “Online” space (Digital Distribution)

•        New Publishing Platforms e.g. App Store/Android/XBLA (Self-Publishing)

•        New Development Opportunities…

•        New Markets – Korea/India/China

•        Games as a Service

•        No more fire and forget

•        Work-for-Hire & Fixed Price Contracts are increasingly common

•        Indie Development

•        reaction to lack of innovation?

•        burn out or young guns

•        easy to use tools

•        Film Industry Model or “Hiring & Firing”

Concerns

•        Lack of Innovation

•        Super Developers

•        Pre-Owned

•        Piracy

•        Recession

•        Tax Breaks

•        UK-Specific (Canada)

Relative Articles

•        http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-6-most-ominous-trends-in-video-games/

•        http://nukezilla.com/2009/04/12/things-we-hate-about-gaming-innovation-and-change/

•        http://www.next-gen.biz/features/misfits

•        http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2008/nov/14/gameculture-playstation1

Week 4 Update

Epic, Chair Reveal Infinity Blade 2 For iOS 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37677/Epic_Chair_Reveal_Infinity_Blade_2_For_iOS.php


UK Studios Expect PC Declines, Increased Hiring 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37673/UK_Studios_Expect_PC_Declines_Increased_Hiring.php

Week 3 Update

Analyst: Battlefield 3 Surpasses 1.5M Pre-Orders In Total 

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/37360/Analyst_Battlefield_3_Surpasses_15M_PreOrders_In_Total.php

Dark Souls Review

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1197278p1.html

Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception Early Multiplayer

http://uk.ign.com/videos/2011/09/30/uncharted-3-drakes-deception-early-multiplayer

Assassin's Creed Revelations: Weapons of Death

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/119/1196964p1.html