My impressions
I thought I should write up my thoughts re my recent attendence at GameHorizon:
- It seems pretty clear that the Computer Games industry is a major success story
- Apparently making more money than film & music [although all I can find on Google are rather dodgy get-rich-quick schemes which refer to this…!]
- What I *did* find was a report from back-end of 2008, quoted here and here, saying “Verdict research predicts gaming will become the UK’s premier leisure activity before 2009”
- But it seems to be in ‘stealth mode’ in terms of profile
- There have been various controversies about computer games – which are set out in this section from Wikipedia
- Reminds me of my MBA paper on Microsoft & Public Affairs paper [which I should publish]
- The nub of this was that Bill didn’t take politics seriously until he found his competitors were using their political connections as a business strategy
- Also is on the cusp of convergence of various positive technological trends
- 3D & virtual worlds
- Serious Games
- Favourite sessions
- ‘Sneaking in the Back Door to become an AAA Multiplatform Studio‘ Sponsored by Game Republic – Paul Wedgwood, CEO and Game Director, Splash Damage Ltd.
- ‘Separating Fact from Fiction: the Future of Digital Distribution’ – Roger Walkden, CEO, AWOMO
- ‘Development Opportunities in PlayStation Home’ Peter Edward, Director, PlayStation Home Platform Group
- Panel Discussion: ‘Game Exposure – The naked truth about marketing your self published IP’ Sponsored in partnership by BAFTA and Northern Film + Media.
- [that’s enough – Ed.]
- Pretty reasonable games industry in the UK, also in Europe
- Cutting edge stuff going, which I have highlighted in my list of favourite sessions
- What struck me was the the Social Media / online component that many companies are only now discovering seems to be standard operating procedure for the games industry – as Paul Farley (Managing Director, Tag Games) explained.
I met some good people & am following up various business opportunities. This was an eye-opener for me, and I expect to see the Games industry as part of a major convergence of computing trends in the home.
Live bloggging info
If you would like to read my live blogging notes from the conference, please see this summary page.
UPDATE: Interesting interview with Ian Livingstone of Eidos re GH
Technorati Tags: computer games,video games,games industry,business,north east england,gateshead,codeworks,gamehorizon,feedback,opinion
Related posts:
- GameHorizon live-blog #7: ‘Marking your self-published IP’; ‘Games driving other Interactive Content’;‘Heavy Rain’
- GameHorizon live-blog #8: ‘Round Up’ & Closing Comments
- GameHorizon live-blog #6: ‘Future of Digital Distribution’; ‘Future Technologies’; ‘PlayStation Home’
- GameHorizon live-blog #5: Sneaking in the Back Door to become an AAA Multiplatform Studio
- GameHorizon live-blog #4: ‘Survival of the fittest’; & ‘next Evolution in casual MMOPGs’