Posts Tagged ‘kids’
DFC Intelligence and Live Gamer Release Market Forecasts for Free-to-Play and MMOG Lite Gaming Category
SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwire – 06/10/10) – Research firm DFC Intelligence and Live Gamer, the premier total commerce solution for interactive entertainment, today announced new projections for the Free-to-Play/MMOG Lite (F2P) gaming category. According to data from their recent survey, entitled “Consumer Trends in Virtual Goods and Downloadable Gaming in North America and Europe,” the category is …
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online games
An online game is a game played over some forms of computer network. At the present, this almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology; but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the internet, and hard wired terminals before modems. The expansion of online gaming has reflected the overall expansion of computer networks from small local networks to the Internet and the growth of Internet access itself. Online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously. Many online games have associated online communities, making online games a form of social activity beyond single player games. The rising popularity of Flash and Java led to an Internet revolution where websites could utilize streaming video, audio, and a whole new set of user interactivity. When Microsoft began packaging Flash as a pre-installed component of IE, the Internet began to shift from a data/information spectrum to also offer on-demand entertainment. This revolution paved the way for sites to offer games to web surfers. Some Online Multiplayer Games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI and Lineage II charge a monthly fee to subscribe to their services, while games such as Guild Wars offer an alternative no monthly fee scheme. Many other sites relied on advertising revenues from on-site sponsors, while others, like RuneScape, let people play for free while leaving the players the option of paying, unlocking new content for the members. After the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, many sites solely relying on advertising revenue dollars faced extreme adversity. Despite the decreasing profitability of online gaming websites, some sites have survived the fluctuating ad market by offsetting the advertising revenue loss by using the content as a cross-promotion tool for driving web visitors to other websites that the company owns. The term online gaming in many circles is being strictly defined to describe games that do not involve wagering, although many still use the term online gaming synonymously with online gambling. This article focuses on online games that do not involve wagering, online gambling is discussed in a separate article.
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An online game is a game played over some forms of computer network. At the present, this almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology; but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the internet, and hard wired terminals before modems. The expansion of online gaming has reflected the overall expansion of computer networks from small local networks to the Internet and the growth of Internet access itself. Online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously. Many online games have associated online communities, making online games a form of social activity beyond single player games.
The rising popularity of Flash and Java led to an Internet revolution where websites could utilize streaming video, audio, and a whole new set of user interactivity. When Microsoft began packaging Flash as a pre-installed component of IE, the Internet began to shift from a data/information spectrum to also offer on-demand entertainment. This revolution paved the way for sites to offer games to web surfers. Some online multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI and Lineage II charge a monthly fee to subscribe to their services, while games such as Guild Wars offer an alternative no monthly fee scheme. Many other sites relied on advertising revenues from on-site sponsors, while others, like RuneScape, let people play for free while leaving the players the option of paying, unlocking new content for the members.
After the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, many sites solely relying on advertising revenue dollars faced extreme adversity. Despite the decreasing profitability of online gaming websites, some sites have survived the fluctuating ad market by offsetting the advertising revenue loss by using the content as a cross-promotion tool for driving web visitors to other websites that the company owns.
The term online gaming in many circles is being strictly defined to describe games that do not involve wagering, although many still use the term online gaming synonymously with online gambling. This article focuses on online games that do not involve wagering, online gambling is discussed in a separate article.
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5 of many Online Games – Part 1
Will Xbox Join the Casual Gaming Revolution?
Will Xbox Join the Casual Gaming Revolution?
The Xbox 360 is one of the top video game consoles on the market. However, it faces tough competition from other systems, like Nintendo’s Wii. One of the major arenas where the Xbox 360 faces trouble is in casual gaming. More and more players are opting for these “pick up and play” games rather than those with in-depth plots and complex storylines.
Casual games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have swept the market and reaped tons of profits. However, few other casual games have been offered for Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 console was designed to feature the best graphics, which could enhance first-person shooters, RPGs, and other intensive games. Meanwhile, competitors like Nintendo’s Wii and DS focused on less advanced graphics and simpler games that could be easily enjoyed by anyone. It seems this latter group had the best results in the market, showing Microsoft developers that their Xbox 360 needed an update.
Xbox 360 developers may have recently had a wake-up call that their more intense games are no longer as popular. The latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series was recently released. However, Grand Theft Auto IV boasted remarkably low sales. Despite its $100 million development budget, the game failed to attract a wide market of players. This is clearly a sign that action packed games are declining in popularity.
The appeal of casual games is that players of all ages can easily learn the controls and play together. Many of the best games feature controllers that are motion sensitive and easy to use by even the most inexperienced players. That’s why the Wii has hit it big with its remote-style wands. Xbox 360 is now trying to include more adaptable controllers to its newer games. For example, Scene It? Includes a custom buzzer that is extremely simple to operate and makes it seem more like you are on an actual game show.
Casual games are great for developing companies as well. They require a much lower production budget than their hardcore gaming counterparts. Plus, they appeal to a greater variety of ages and demographic groups. Therefore, more copies of these games are ultimately sold. Additionally, these types of games lend themselves to other profitable avenues, like subscription online multiplayer features.
Xbox 360 hopes to take better advantage of the casual gaming market with titles like Lips, Scene It?, and You’re in the Movies. It is also featuring numerous casual game titles on Xbox Live Arcade. These can be downloaded to the console for a fee and played instantly. New games are expected to be 1 vs. 100, a massive multiplayer spinoff of the popular game show, and UNO Rush, which will also be a multiplayer experience.
Currently, Nintendo’s Wii, which focuses on casual games, is outselling both the Xbox 360 and PS3 systems combined. So, it seems Microsoft will have to change its gaming strategies. As Xbox 360 starts offering more and more casual games, the appeal of the console is expected to rise. Soon, we may see a vast turn-around in sales and a greater diversity among Xbox 360 players.
About the Author
Justin Mongiardo
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Multiplayer-Singleplayer – XBOX UNO