1. Technological convergence
Convergence of technology occurs when multiple products come together to form one product with
the advantages of all of them.
Example
You have an example of technological convergence in your pocket (most likely) – your phone.
Right – it’s a phone, it’s an MP3 player, it connects to the internet, it can play videos, it has a
camera. All different technologies squished into one machine.
What is the significance of having digital devices/platforms that can play games and
consoles that have other uses.
Lets look at the main three consoles:
PS3 – DVD, Blu-Ray player, can store digital information (photos, music, films, TV), BBC Iplayer,
web browser, PS Home, PS Store.
360 – DVD, Xbox Live store (download, films, music, demos, new games), web browser, connect
to friends through facebook, Last FM,
Wii – Virtua Console (download old Nintendo games), online play, web browser, Iplayer.
All these machines are now ‘home entertainment centres’ as they can play different types of media
this is significant:
It opens up the market – consumers who might want a Blu-ray player might get the PS3 as you
can also play games in, while otherwise they might not have invested in just a games machine.
It positions the games machine in the lounge (family room) rather than in the bedroom. Now the
console is a family possession and encourages family to invest in family games (Mario Kart, Wii
Sports, Singstar, Kinect).
The most significant part of technological convergence is fact that all these console are
online which allows for:
Online play
Online sharing of ideas
Downloading new content and new games
Also it allows for most of the media convergence – old media and new media coming together.
2. Things to think about when looking at the Red Dead Redemption Prezi
What is the impact of both PS3 and 360 both being online ready have for Rockstar and the
consumers of Red Dead Redemption?
How does it help that the PS3 and 360 are technologically converged help Rockstar in terms of
sales of their products?
What significance does technological convergence have for Rockstar in terms of their marketing
strategie?
Which stages of the production process (development, marketing, distribution, exchange,
exhibition, consumption) are most affected by tehnological convergence and why?
Technologies
Which technologies were used during the process of getting Red Dead
Redemption from the developer to the consumer?
Which of this these technologies had the most significant impact and why?