Evolution of Game Development

gamedev, gaming, history

Transcript

1. Evolution of Game Development Why we are standing here today
2. As we observe the evolution of video and computer games, we see that Business has changed along with Technology… …Sperasoft has evolved along with it.
3. In the Beginning… 1960’s-1970’s  Scope of game was cheap • Most content was handled via text, simple graphics and audio  Cost of Goods (CoG) were high • Arcade cabinets, even floppy disks were a costly delivery medium  Platform base was limited • Early home computers and consoles (Magnavox, Atari, Tandy, Sinclair, etc.)  Only a “niche” market of hardcore gamers existed • They paid for their passion
4.  Development cycles were short • Production budgets were small, and marketing was limited to niche periodicals and word of mouth  Resources were hard to find • Few knew how to develop computer games  Production companies were split between niche and mass market • Small development groups focused on core competencies • Larger companies focused on arcade games In the Beginning… 1960’s-1970’s
5. What has Changed  Scope of game content has grown • Players consume more sophisticated content faster  Development budgets have soared • Grand Theft Auto 4 cost $100 million, most MMORPGs can cost twice that  Studios have staff in the hundreds • Just one studio division can have over 200 people  Only the Top Ten games make enough money to keep a development studio solvent • Marketing budgets have grown in tandem with production costs
6.  Number of Platforms have exploded • Not just PC and Consoles, but tablets, phones, web-based for both standalone and social platforms  Financial Models have evolved • Retail has switched to Digital download; MMOs have switched from subscription based and are transitioning to Free-to-Play model with Microtransactions; DLC keeps IP alive through easily accessible post-release content What has Changed
7. What has stayed the Same  A bad game is still a bad game • Even the best production values can not save a bad design  Simple, elegant design with deep playability still resonates • MineCraft has sold over 9 million copies  Small studios can still be viable • Open source tools, app game market provide opportunities  Viral Marketing still exists yet has more power • Crowdfunding can get projects off the ground
8. What has stayed the Same  Hardcore audience endures • Generational transference has latitude  CoG remains expensive • Larger consumer base with shrinking retail outlet makes this model prohibitive As the products, the platforms and the market grew, trends began to form that defined a business that now competes financially with the movie industry…