The Games Industry

Console Manufacturers Publishing Houses Software Developers The Games Industry

Console Manufacturers

Publishing Houses

Software Developers

FIRST PARTY GAMES - produced by console manufacturers directly, e.g. Mario produced by Nintendo SECOND PARTY GAMES - developed by studios funded by console manufacturers, e.g. Project Gotham by Bizarre Studios THIRD PARTY GAMES - produced by publishing houses and developers independent of console manufacturers, e.g. Tomb Raider by Eidos Who makes videogames?

FIRST PARTY GAMES - produced by console manufacturers directly, e.g. Mario produced by Nintendo

SECOND PARTY GAMES - developed by studios funded by console manufacturers, e.g. Project Gotham by Bizarre Studios

THIRD PARTY GAMES - produced by publishing houses and developers independent of console manufacturers, e.g. Tomb Raider by Eidos

Set up in 1889 as a manufacturer of playing-cards Began developing Arcade games in the 1970s In the 1980s produced the Game & Watch Massive success with Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 Consolidated position with GameBoy Nintendo

Set up in 1889 as a manufacturer of playing-cards

Began developing Arcade games in the 1970s

In the 1980s produced the Game & Watch

Massive success with Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985

Consolidated position with GameBoy

Home-electronics giant (TVs, Walkman) Collaborated with Nintendo on use of CD-ROMs in games consoles Developed PlayStation after falling out with Nintendo. PlayStation phenomenon sold over 100million consoles worldwide Made gaming “cool” Sony

Home-electronics giant (TVs, Walkman)

Collaborated with Nintendo on use of CD-ROMs in games consoles

Developed PlayStation after falling out with Nintendo.

PlayStation phenomenon sold over 100million consoles worldwide

Made gaming “cool”

PC software giants Threatened by Sony’s dominance of the games market in the late 1990s Determined to enter console market with Xbox in 2002 Led the way with online-gaming Fully established industry player with the release of the 360 Microsoft

PC software giants

Threatened by Sony’s dominance of the games market in the late 1990s

Determined to enter console market with Xbox in 2002

Led the way with online-gaming

Fully established industry player with the release of the 360

Wii Tennis

Fresh and new motion sensing control system Good value Accessible to all Fantastic first party product - Mario, Zelda Easy and interesting to develop for Wii Strengths

Fresh and new motion sensing control system

Good value

Accessible to all

Fantastic first party product - Mario, Zelda

Easy and interesting to develop for

Graphically inferior Might put off existing market used to certain controls and game types Not a multimedia machine It’s called the Wii Wii Weaknesses

Graphically inferior

Might put off existing market used to certain controls and game types

Not a multimedia machine

It’s called the Wii

Halo 3

Uses powerful technology Traditional control and game types Good third party support Relatively easy to develop for Great online service Multimedia machine 360 Strengths

Uses powerful technology

Traditional control and game types

Good third party support

Relatively easy to develop for

Great online service

Multimedia machine

Doesn’t appeal to new consumers Development can be expensive Online experience can intimidate Need HD TV Often needs replacing 360 Weaknesses

Doesn’t appeal to new consumers

Development can be expensive

Online experience can intimidate

Need HD TV

Often needs replacing

Potentially the most powerful Amazing graphical capability Multimedia machine - BluRay compatible Improve online service Good third party support Attempt at market expansion - Singstar PS3 Strengths

Potentially the most powerful

Amazing graphical capability

Multimedia machine - BluRay compatible

Improve online service

Good third party support

Attempt at market expansion - Singstar

Hard and expensive to develop for Poor first party products Expensive - needs HD TV Relies on existing game types Poor launch and marketing PS3 Weaknesses

Hard and expensive to develop for

Poor first party products

Expensive - needs HD TV

Relies on existing game types

Poor launch and marketing

Expand the market Make it a social experience Keep it cheap and good value Continue to innovate Nintendo’s Strategy

Expand the market

Make it a social experience

Keep it cheap and good value

Continue to innovate

Wii Fit

Make it high-end and an aspirational product Multimedia machines Target existing consumers with similar products Push online gaming for added revenue Sony and Microsoft’s Strategy

Make it high-end and an aspirational product

Multimedia machines

Target existing consumers with similar products

Push online gaming for added revenue

Integrated Live play between hardware that supports Microsoft software Create an online community for communication and gaming through Microsoft products. Promote microtransactions Microsoft’s Live Strategy

Integrated Live play between hardware that supports Microsoft software

Create an online community for communication and gaming through Microsoft products.

Promote microtransactions

Use hard-drive to record telly Promote compatibility with PSP Make the PS3 the centre of home entertainment Sony’s Multimedia Strategy

Use hard-drive to record telly

Promote compatibility with PSP

Make the PS3 the centre of home entertainment

Capcom - Japanese publisher and developer New, challenging and creative games such as Killer 7, Okami, No More Heroes - not always successful Several key brands and series that drive the company - DMC, Resident Evil, MegaMan Understand cultural difference when creating games Balancing Business

Capcom - Japanese publisher and developer

New, challenging and creative games such as Killer 7, Okami, No More Heroes - not always successful

Several key brands and series that drive the company - DMC, Resident Evil, MegaMan

Understand cultural difference when creating games