The Future of GamingYou Don’t Know What You’re Going to Get

Who Am I?Andrew Mayer17 Years in the industry: Original Producer/Designer on Petz Senior Designer at Psygnosis San Francisco Creative Director at Cartoon Network OnlineCasual Games developer at Playfirst Social Games Consultant

Original Producer/Designer on Petz

Senior Designer at Psygnosis San Francisco

Creative Director at Cartoon Network Online

Casual Games developer at Playfirst

Social Games Consultant

The State of the Game

The State of the GameSome Assumptions (for the sake of argument) Piracy sucksDRM sucksPiracy and DRM

The State of the GameFor better and worse Piracy and DRM have killed the PC gaming market as we once knew (and loved) it. No DRM means you need to find ways to make $$$ when people are paying nothing to play.This drives new models.Piracy and DRM

The State of the GameMany of the innovations that are going to drive “the next generation” are already here. It’s no longer about processors and video cards.Free games need a much bigger audience.Grow your users or die!The Future is NowNew Rules not New Hardware

State of the GameBut the lines are still blurry.And it’s even harder to see when it’s not technology driven.But it’s getting clearer every day.The Future is NowThe Pieces are in Place

Where we PlayHardcore games are going niche. Already seeing a contraction in the market. Fewer players grabbing a bigger share. More cool “indie titles”. Virtual goods and pay to play are taking off. And that’s bleeding into the design.The Old Games IndustryWhat’s Happening to the Hardcore?

The State of the GameThere’s still $60 hardcore games being made, but there isn’t as much growth.Even the old is new. Stuff like Nazi Zombies & Fallout downloadsThe big boys want a slice of the tasty new piewith that delicious mainstream audience.The Old Games IndustryThings are changing

The State of the GameThe foundation of the next hardcore generationTurns out WOW really did change everything. People are willing to pay (and pay) for these experiences. The Old Games IndustryJust add Co-Op & Multiplayer

The State of the GameTwitter, Facebook, Myspace, Kongregate etc.Smaller games are making big $$$ Virtual goods alone will be $1.8 Billion this year. Small companies are making real money.You may not love the games, but developers are lovable again.The New Games IndustrySmall is the new BIG

State of the GameHardcore games go niche. Already seeing a contraction in the market. Fewer publishers grabbing a bigger share. More cool “indie titles”.More event titles. Virtual goods, co-op and pay-to-play take off. The New Games IndustrySo what happens to the Hardcore?

Where We Play

Where we PlayThe PCThe Entertainment BoxPortable DevicesThe BasicsWhere Do We Play Video Games?

Where we PlayNotebooks and Netbooks are now appliances.Huge monitors cost less every day.Even low end machines have pretty decent 3D graphics.Developers are much better at hiding scaling issues in the software.The PCComputers are Cheaper Than Ever

Where we PlayMachines that just work. (Even windows).The technology curve is slowing down so things are more stable and/or better built.Users no longer have a big wish list of innovations.The PCUser Friendlier

Where we PlayThe PC is still the home of the most popular games in the world. Still proving ground for new ideas.Still the home of the truly hardcore.The PCEverything DOMED is New Again

Where we PlayDedicated Closed (mostly)Most people don’t pirate.Allows you to make deals with big licensors across all mediums. (Games, TV, Music, etc.)In the living room.Led by Guitar Hero/Rock BandThe Entertainment BoxThe Console

Price MattersWhere we PlayThe Entertainment BoxThe Lesson of Nintendo

Where we PlayPrice MattersThe Entertainment BoxThe Lesson of Sony

Where we PlayWhether your opponent is busy making a killing or killing themselvesALWAYS PAY ATTENTION.The 360 is a fundamentally different platform from the one it started out as, and it ain’t over yet.PortablesThe Lesson of the 360

Where we PlayThe console isn’t just for games anymore.Now users want:GamesDownloadable content Movies on DemandTwitter, Facebook, and more. The Entertainment BoxThe New Rules

Where we PlayiPhoneDSMany more in the years to come.PortablesCheap and Easy

Where we PlayFollowers, not leaders.Sort of like consoles.But easier to pirate.Sort of like PCsBut not really open or as innovative.It’s also hard to make money if you’re not Nintendo or Apple.PortablesHandhelds are Hybrids

Where we PlayWorks on everything from your phone to your tower. Games don’t become obsolete. You can still easily play 10 year old flash games.Getting more sophisticated. Flash becoming mature Cloud computing is interesting, if not quite there yet.The BrowserEverything Everywhere—All The Time

The World of Free

The World of FreeFree games need hundreds of thousands of people, maybe millions coming every day.There is always some limit on the amount you can consume.The player is the primary method of advertising.Why Free?The Best Way to Build a Social Audience

The World of FreeYour info has value.Online games are one big endless focus test.They’re desperate to try and make the games more addictive.Metrics“They” want to know

The World of FreeAdvertisingOffersSubscriptionsMaking MoneyHow do you make money on Free?

The World of FreeThis works, but only if you have really big numbers and a really big audience.But everyone does it, if they can get away with it.At worst it’s something you’ll pay to get rid of.Three ways to make $$$Advertising

The World of FreeSign up/subscribe to something and get in-game currency. People pay the developer for bringing you their way. Works better than advertising alone, because the advertiser gets something real.Three ways to make $$$Offers

The World of FreeThis is the big one.Three ways to make $$$Virtual Goods

The World of FreeItems or cash that can be bought for real $$$.Limited quantities.SometimesBetter than the free stuff.Or at least easier to get.Virtual GoodsWhat are they?

The World of FreeAnyone here ever buy a Magic card?D&D 4th edition is the same model.Free to play with your friends. Low initial investments. Then you start emptying your wallet to get more. OM NOM NOMNOM!Virtual GoodsWill they work?

The World of FreeOver $1B in virtual goods will be sold in the US this year.Games are easier to upgrade.Balance become less important.Virtual GoodsAll Your Money $1.00 at a Time

The World of FreeDesigns have to make you an offer you cant refuse.Balance become less important.Games are more responsive to the player’s needs.Virtual GoodsHow do this change the game?

New Ways to Play

New Ways to PlayI call this the “Farmpocalypse”Tremble before it.The Future is FarmingIn the Future There Will Be Only Farming Games

New Ways to PlayEverybody else is making content for MEI’m making content for everybody else.Getting SocialWhat makes a game “social”?

New Ways to PlayRepetitive and simple.Played on an existing platform.A lot of people might not even call them games.Like it or not, it’s going to show up in a lot.Getting SocialGameplay Goes Beyond Casual

New Ways to PlayNot a lot of painYou don’t “fail”, you just win slower.Your friends are valuable resources that you need to collect and exploit.Getting SocialNo pain, slow gain.

New Ways to PlayYou can grind, but you can’t catass.Important actions are limited by energy points.Replenished over time—or with money.Prizes for showing up every day.Getting SocialThe Bite-Sized Grind

New Ways to PlayYou can grind, but you can’t catass.Important actions are limited by energy points.Replenished over time—or with money.Do the basic action (missions, farming, etc.) over an over again.Getting SocialThe Bite-Sized Grind

New Ways to PlayDaily prizes for showing up.In farming especially, you’re given a window of opportunity to “reap” rewards.Getting SocialChecking In

New Ways to PlayYou can buy stuff that has no in-game effect.Hats for your avatar!Pets are especially popular for this.But there’s always a reason to dress up your farm, buy more guns, or whatever.Makes it easier to sell cool stuff for real $.Getting SocialCollecting is Good

New Ways to PlayIt’s more about status and showing off than it is about personal achievement.In the world of social everyone is an achievement whore.But unclear goals aren’t so great for hardcore gamers.Getting SocialWinning is Relative

New Ways to PlaySocial games will get more complex.But only as much as the metrics allow.Popular titles get more MMO like.Check out Mafia Wars to see this in action.Action Gameplay will show up.But probably be more similar to old-style arcade gaming.Games of the Near FutureSocial: The Next Generation

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Are We Having Fun Yet?The hardcore audience is pretty-much maxed out.Retail prices are pretty-much maxed.Box sales are down.Dealing with ChangeThe Current Problems with Hardcore

New Ways to PlayMost devs love the new models.Or at least they love the iPhoneYou can invest less in the beginningThe games are smallerBuild the title as you go along.More money goes directly to the devs.Dealing with ChangeWhat do the Developers think?

Are We Having Fun Yet?Still learning the ropesSome are sad, because the old “tricks” aren’t working the way they used to.But you can try a lot of new things.We’re only at the beginning.Dealing with ChangeWhat do the Designers think?

New Ways to PlayThe old guard may be bummed.But there’s Lots of new Players are showing up.Millions of them.They will get more sophisticated, but they will be a new breed of gamer.The hardcore gamer is going to get some benefits, but won’t be the same world it was before.Dealing with ChangeWhat does the Audience think?

QuestionsContact:andrew@mediashifters.comTwitter: @mediashifters@andrewmayerwww.mediashifters.com