Publisher Overview: Electronic Arts, FY 2013 - Q2 2014

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Publisher Overview: Activision Blizzard, FY 2012

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Publisher Overview: Take-Two Interactive, FY 2013

Publisher Overview attempts to analyze the businesses of major video game publishers in a visual, easy-to-digest format. Statistics and other information are largely retrieved from annual reports, quarterly conference calls, and other publically available sources. Publisher Overview aims to provide a snapshot of an organization’s current performance with accessibility in mind.

Next Generation: The Rise of AA Games?

2012 wasn't a pretty year for the video game industry. Hardware and software sales slumped 22% year-over-year and retail sales declined for the thirteenth consecutive month in December, according to NPD. Free-to-play models, cheap mobile games, and the recovering economy are among those responsible for the AAA industry's woes according to industry analysts. Though the next generation of consoles will most likely reinvigorate excitement surrounding core games, I doubt that'll be enough to offset its current problems.

Modern Gaming: Is It Evolving?

It's a pretty common question among gamers and industry experts alike; when will this medium evolve into a respectable past time? It's an important question, since stereotypes and negative stigmas still run rampant throughout mainstream culture. I personally believe that yes, gaming will one day be a respected medium. However, exactly when it will happen is a different question entirely.

Will it be 5, 10, or 50 years until gaming completely assimilates into modern culture? I guess it depends on how fast this medium is evolving. However, this implies that the industry is progressing in the first place. And sadly, I couldn't find convincing evidence that this medium is on a positive trajectory. Sure, there are promising signs here and there, but nothing overwhelming to suggest its evolving for the better. So naturally, I've come to the conclusion that no, the industry isn't evolving. In fact, I'd like to make the case that it's actually going in the other direction. Here are 7 reasons the gaming industry, specifically the hardcore, won't be respected anytime soon.

Are ARGs Still Effective?

Granted, I have no data or marketing experience on the subject, but I can't help but question the effectiveness of alternate reality games (ARGs) today. There's little doubt that ARGs are masters at generating hype for video games, but I fear that viral marketing is so commonplace today, that most ARGs have little effect intriguing a curious crowd. When the ARG achieved large-scale attention with the successful ilovebees campaign, an ARG promoting Halo 2, more and more publishers began using this alternate form of marketing. From Call of Duty: Black Ops to Mafia II to Bioshock 2, alternate reality games seem to be everywhere now-a-days. Their frequent use by publishers in addition to my personal experience with ARGs makes me curious how effective these viral marketing strategies really are. Should every video game have an ARG?  Have the prerequisites changed for ARGs to succeed? I don't have the necessary data to confidently form a conclusion, but analysing and comparing past and present ARGs may present an answer.