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Joel, while I think you make some good points, you might be pushing the analogy a bit far. The casual game industry is still heavily influenced by indie developers. By contrast, while there are certainly indie film companies that produce good films that break through, those companies don't drive the movie industry in quite the same way.
I realize this is not what you meant to imply, but I wonder if one should infer the following: the best chance for the casual game industry to survive is for it to be dominated by a few major players. Is that a sad-but-true inevitability, or can the casual game industry continue the way it is now?
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I think its a natural state of events for any industry that is maturing to be dominated by a few major players. Having said that, in order to casual games to prosper, there has to continue to be an ecosystem on the bottom of smaller sized developers (LDW, Hipsoft, Realore, are perfect examples) who are willing to take the risks and release high quality and value packed games yet not out-grow their size.
This scenario uniquely exists in casual games instead of other content such as because unlike hard core video games, movies, casual games don't cost millions of dollars to produce.
I actually think the casual game industry is driven more by small companies than indie game companies. There is a difference -- it's slight, but there is distinction.
The point I was trying to make in the article (and I did write it in 45 minutes or less!) is that maybe the growth of the movies industry during this recession is a good sign for casual games and we should all be looking at what movie industry is doing right in order to replicate their success.
With tons of bad news lately in content (e.g, newspapers) its good to see one success story. I am hopeful casual games will be another success story during this recession.
Really dig the avatar, by the way (it's Wilson, right?) Have been meaning to tell that to you.
Thanks,
Joel
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Point taken, J, about small versus indie.
Where I really agree with you in the article is your point about the pricing genie being out of the bottle. Just to take one random example, look at all the User Reviews for the latest offering (ERI) from Spintop. Several folks, myself included, have stated that they will wait for the game to show up at a club portal. I also think more developers could look at the discount pre-order model being used by Alawar right now for The Clockwork Man.
And yes, the avatar is Wilson; that's how I'm usually addressed in the breakfast threads.
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For what it's worth...I haven't been to a movie in 10 years! I buy them on DVD and watch them at home, just picked up one today...so I just saved 6 bucks for 2 of us going to see it, not to mention gas, food and beverages!
This is the same reason I like casual games, I don't have to go out and buy game consoles, controllers and what ever they are giving away today with them!
The 10%(joke) of us women who play casual games do so for the extreme ease of it, although I do have a PC game controller..., but then I like Aveyond!
Looking at the forums here and elsewhere I frequent, the average age seems to be around 40+ that are really the target market...compared to the $60 console games I used to buy this is a bargain and the lower they go the more I will buy...as long as they are worth it!
I am so surprised to see that there is hope for me yet, lol, as some of the members here are 70+, and they are just starting out! I am however the new 30...50..right!
I think you both make good points, and I look forward to following your blog Joel!
Suki
"is it REAL or is it MEMOREX"
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Joel,
I for one (and my wife Judy) happen to agree with you. What’s wrong with more of the same? If the quality is there and the game can be played for more than 5 hours, what’s wrong with spending $7 (at BFG game club prices) on it? That comes out just over a buck an hour, much less if it has replay-ability! That is pretty cheap entertainment in our book and a “must” for an elderly retired couple on a fixed income, such as we are. What matter if this HOG or that Match-3 or Puzzle (etc…) game does not “add” anything new to the genre, so what. Is the quality there, is it fun to play, does it have a decent length, can it be played more than once? Those are the questions we ask ourselves before buying our games, not if it is “new” or “different”. People LIKE to play games that they are familiar with. It is like welcoming and “Old Friend” into your home. If something “new” has been added, well that can be a plus (or maybe not) but it is NOT a necessity. Rating a game as to whether it “adds” to the genre should be a separate category and not if it is a “Good” game or not. The game should be rated on it’s own merits and the decision to buy (or not) based on that criteria.
Not only that, but we “share” that enjoyment with our children (5 sons and their spouses) and grandchildren (11 now & counting). So for us, casual games are a big part of our “Family Entertainment” budget that doesn’t “break the bank”, so to speak. Besides there is something for everyone, young and old alike. When the kids come to visit there are games for all to play & enjoy. They in turn buy them for themselves and their kids to play, because they played (& enjoyed) them at Grandmommie’s & Pop Pop’s house.
Well that’s just two elderly folks opinion, take it for what it’s worth. I realize that the above does not address the Movie (we are like Suki with the DVD's) theme but it does address a couple of other points you made that caught my eye. Thanks for the forum to speak to them.
Happy Gaming All,
OldMan44
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I do not completely agree with most of you when it comes to the movie industry, especially concerning the domination of some major players and the "more-of-the-same"-tactics. If I'm allowed, I would even expand this analogy by including the music industry. Both the major players in music and movie industries have strongly suffered over the last decade, especially because they mainly rested on their laurels, while neglecting innovation. I am pretty sure, that the recession might turn out to be good for the casual game market's revenues, but on the whole I strongly doubt that the continued inundation of the same games, the major players and the price-war will result in a positive development in the long run. I hope that I am wrong, though, but I think movie as well as music industry are not the best examples to look at ;)
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The Brodie Blog: Casual Games & Movies
Report as InappropriatePosted on 03/04/09, 12:34pm