localisation essay

Targeting a local audience for a game is a key importance when it comes to marketing a game. This is because in order to market the game it must aim at a key audience. This can involve different age categories; it is very hard for a game to target all age groups apart from maybe Fifa. However if the game has a age category to aim at this helps as it can focus its marketing at that age category. It is also important to aim at certain countries and cultures. This is because some countries or cultures may be offended by the content of certain games. This is the case in Call Of Duty where it displays the Nazi symbol; in Germany the Nazi symbol is illegal so obviously this could not be displayed on the game in Germany. It is also important to cater for all cultures and countries before launching the game in that country, this is because not only many some cultures take offensive to the games content it also needs to understand the game. This means the language of the game needs to be altered in order for foreign people to understand the game. Also people in different countries wont purchase the game if they cannot understand it.

Local audiences change the products introduced into such as China, they do not allow game consoles, as they believe they are a bad influence on the youth. Nintendo have made the game cube to sell to china, the GameCube was not selling well in America and was reduced to $50. Nintendo have created a special version of the game cube for china to protect it from being copied and made and sold cheaper. Nintendo are planning to create super Mario bros in Chinese language and the Chinese online game market is estimated to be worth £250 million this year. The actually games that are released in numerous countries also change their products in order to fit in with the country the product as been released too. They do this by changing the language so the people can understand the content. They can also make some basic changes such as Fifa may change front cover of players from that countries league to fit in better with the country it is being sold in.

Game localisation or game globalization refers to the preparation of video games for other locales. This adaptation to the standards of other countries covers far more than simply translation of language. There are different areas, such as linguistic, cultural, hardware and software, legal differences, graphics identity and music. Game localisation is done to maximise sales in different countries. This is done so people in the different countries purchase the game as they are highly unlikely to download the game if they cant understand the language or if there is content in the game, which is liable to offend them.

Marketing a game is a key process when creating a game; this is because it is no good having a superb game that no one knows about. Game localisation also features when marketing as the marketers have got to change language of the types of marketing (e.g. posters, adverts). It has also got to remove certain content in the area selling and marketing the game that is likely to offend the people living there.

Overall I think the production side of game localisation is the most important, this is because without the production mass money is being lost. However game localisation is a very important factor in the production of games, and some games today may not be ass big as they are without it. This is because game localisation allows games to feature in different countries; game sales would also not be as big if they only targeted an audience of one country. So in conclusion game localisation is a massive feature in the gaming industry.

Vivendi Structure

gta trailer

The trailer opens with Stevie Wonder's song: Skeletons. This is then intergrated with a back drop of the City Los Santos. This is used to try and show off GTA V's graphical power as the whole city is in view. after this the music softens with a voice over narrative with a selection of slow panning shots. this is becauese the trailer is introducing the first protagonist who has a easy living lifestyle. this judgement is made clearer by a wide variety of low angle shots and long shots of his house and possessions which also gives the impression that this character is in a position of power.
In the next scene we are introduced to the second protagonist of the game who the first impressions we get that he is mental insecure  and unstable, what Persuades are thought of this character is the jump cuts in between this scene the music in the background is loud and fast.  Also in his introduction their are a lot of explosions and events that make it look like an actual move like the train crash were jumps of just before they collide this also counteracts with the style of them game that it is about gangs and explosions.This is represented by really fast jump cuts and the music becomes louder and faster paced during his introduction.

From here the trailer intoduces the final Protagonist but doesnt give much away in terms of his character type. instead it shows his wealth with again a variety of action sequences involving a multitude of differant vehicles.

Sims mmorpg

The sims online is global MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) game based on the most popular computer game of all time - The Sims. The game was published by EA and released on December 17, 2002 for Microsoft Windows. The Sims is a strategic life-simulation game, in this genre of games, they attempt to copy the activities 'in real life'.
he game is different to a console game as it is a game for casual gamers who dont like 15 button controllers. The player creates a virtual character called a Sim and can customise them howver they want - By dressing them or customising their house etc. There is no clear objective to the game.

pegi

Pegi (Pan European Game Information) is a rating system that advises customers to what age rating is suitable for content in a video game. PEGI was established to help European Parents make informed decisions on buying video games. It was launched in spring 2003 and replaced a number of national age rating systems with a single system now used throughout most of Europe, in 30 countries. It is being introduced to make sure that content in games is not being consumed by audiences deemed to young to be exposed to it. For example GTA is rated 18+ as the media regulators feel that the violent nature and criminal themes of the game, are too mature for anybody below the age of 18 to consume. 
If someone has come to buy a game they must now prove there age to the seller so they are able to buy it. Previously it was rated through BBFC but they have stopped doing it now and all games are rated by Pegi.

unfinished

Game Localisation is a very difficult obstacle for game developers; a game can take anywhere from two months to an entire year to localise in another language, longer if edits are required for some reason rather than being a translation, for instance if censorship is required due to cultural barriers
It is important to target local because this means thast the console or game can be constructed and changed to please the majority, if the game gets changed so that people more people can play it then this will get more sales and therefore get a greater number of people involved in the gaming world. Targeting local audiances means that things can be monitered easier as most of the things to do with the game will be very similar or the same in alot of cases. Games can more easily be adapted to the area like for example alot of things need to be censored and left out in certain areas like the 'Nazi' sign in Wolfenstein needs to be cencored in Germany because of their history with this sign

games disribtuion

Task 1

1. the distributer of gta v will be take two interactive, they own rockstar games
2. the distributor for skylander giants is XPEC Entertainment
3. the distributer for iphone version of angry birds is EA Chilingo

game chat

1. on the top 20 list it appears that EA have a few games on the list so maybe that is one of the top developers
2. there is also only one new i.p in the charts which shows it is much harder for a new ip to sell there games compared to gamnes such as Assains Creed or Fifa which are established ips making it much easier for them to sell futures games
3.the top 3 games are avaliable on the three main platforms which are xbox, PS3 and Wii
4. there are also two activison games, they are targeted for a younger audience so it is clear they have suceeded in markerting there game
5.

Skylanders Giants

Skylanders: Giants is a 2012 video game in the Skylanders series, and a direct sequel to the 2011 game Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. It was released on October 17, 2012 in Australia, on October 19, 2012 in Europe, and was released on October 21, 2012 in North America, and will be released on November 22, 2012 in South America, by Neoplay. 
The game will introduce over 40 new toy figures, some of which are more than twice the size of the original Skylanders cast in both physical and virtual form. The game involves connecting a physical toy to the video game console through a "Portal of Power"; whichever toy is used creates a respective character in the game, Toy figures from the first game are also forward compatible with Giants, although there also new versions, called "Series 2" versions, of all previous toys, which have more powerful attributes than the originals.

The game also has a new and improved "Battle Mode", for head-to-head play, featuring more areas and gameplay options.

The game's plot is centered around the backstory between how the ancient Skylanders, who are the "Giants", were separated from the rest of the normal sized Skylanders.

It is available on the following platforms...

• Nintendo 3DD
• Playstation 3
• Wii
• Wii U
• Xbox 360

Farmville 2

On 26 June 2012, Farmville 2 was unveiled. This version of Farmville will be more 3d, and will allow viewing from multiple angles. Also, Zynga mentioned that the items farmed in game are going to be able to be used to make other items.Farmville 2 was released in September 2012.Farmville 2  was announced at Zynga's Unleashed press event at its San Francisco headquarters. the new game has a 3D view point which will allow the player to see the game from different and more interesting angles.

Indie Games

Independent video games (commonly referred to as indie games) are video games created by individuals or small teams without video game publisher financial support. Indie games is usually done on-line and relys on digital distribution.  Indie game developers are not financially backed by publishers and usually have little to no budget available, thereby generally relying on Internet digital distribution schemes. 

• indie developers are generally more product-oriented than hobbyist game writers

• Many hobbyist developers create mods of existing games, or work with specific technologies or game parts however indie gamers develop whole new games

Examples of Indie games..

• Super Meat Boy

• flower

• limbo

• angry birds

• braid

• minecraft

Tentpole Business Model

Tentpole Business Model
The Tentpole model is when a developer who has a triple A title uses the succsess of that triple A game to advertise their other games. This is mainly used by developers such asRockstar  who can afford to be a little riskier with their development, as this business model saves money on marketing when a big developer creates a new IP

Zynga

. Zynga is a gaming company that develops games for mobile phone platforms like Apple iOS and Android, as well as developing games for social networking sites such as Facebook, which are free to play. Zynga's profit comes from two sources: debit/ credit card payments and business partnerships. Zynga can make money through add ons in which people can purchase add ons (credits) with there cards by online payments. Another way zynga makes money is through advertsing, companys pay zynga to advertise there company/ products on the zynga games

Synergy and Symbosis

Synergy
Synergy is when two sections of the same organaisation work togther, in gaming it is where two developers work together, possibly to form a game or create a product

Symbosis
Symbosis is where to different things or two different organsisations work together and form a realashionship together

Rockstar studios

Rockstar North
Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design Ltd) is a British video game developer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, best known for creating the Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings franchises in its earlier guise as DMA.
in 1997 DMA was bought by British publisher Gremlin games. In 1999 Gremlin games was bought buy  French publisher Infogrames for £24 million. Infogrames sold DMA Design to Take-Two. DMA and BMG merged to form Rockstar.


Rockstar Toronto
Rockstar Toronto was named this in 2002 after Rockstar Games bought Barking Dog Studios and renamed it Rockstar Vancouver

Rockstar San Diego
Rockstar San Diego started off as Angel Studios, it then was aquirred by Rockstar in 2002

Rockstar Leeds
was former Mobius Entertainment, was bought by Rockstar in 2004

Rockstar Lincoln

was once Tarantula Games

Hot Coffee Mod

1)  What is the Hot Coffee Mod?In GTA San Andreas there was a mini game called Hot Coffee where main character Carl "CJ" Johnson has sex with his girlfriend, the mini game was based on sexual relations between the couple. This caused contraversey so it was made unaccesible in the game. However it was still in the game and on the disc and became accesible through hacking and modding.

2) How did the mod affect San Andreas's age rating?
When the mod was discovered the games rating was made to change from mature to adult only.

3) How did it affect developers/platform holders?
Rockstars parent company Take 2 Interactive became angry with Rockstar because the Hot Coffee Mod damaged there reputation

Digital Distribution – Will everything become digital in the future and who wants this?

In recent times digital distribution of console games has become more and more common. Digital distribution is much cheaper than normal as there is no need for packaging or shipping costs. People are now able to buy games with just the click of the button and don’t even have to go the shop to buy them. Digital distribution is ideal for the person who just wants a clean gaming area that is free of clutter or does not want to go down to their local game shop and purchase a solid copy.
We are currently in the 7th generation of gaming which is the longest gaming generation, most video games in this generation are distributed through shops however recent moves mean digital distribution is becoming more and more common. Digital distribution is when the game is either fully or ‘partially’ distributed/downloaded through the internet. If games did become digital distributed then it would maininly be the developers and platform holders who benefit from this most, this is because it will save them money as they dont have to pay lorry drivers to drive games to shops, they also dont have to buy discs and game cases for the games to go in. Also if games became digitally distributed i think there would be more people buying the game because it would be advertised everytime they turn on their console so it would be much easier to purchase it. Game shops would feel a negative impact of digital distribution, this is because people would lose jobs and shops would close down as game shops would no longer be needed as everything would be digital.   It is now estimated that each person by the age of 21 will of played 10,000 hours on a console, because gaming is so common now and there is that many people playing on them people now believe digital distribution can take off and within years game shops will be extinct. To make digital distribution work consoles will have to be connected to the internet in order for people to be able to purchase the games.
You can now purchase games digitally however it has not taken off yet as some imagine it may in upcoming years. The games digitally are the same price as games in the shop so possibly to get things moving digitally games should be cheaper.
In conclusion i believe that within the next 5-10 years digital gaming will of taken off and game shops will be gone as people will decide to buy them online but not in the near future because no console is capable of handling such a large demand of full games or the memory space to hold them. However in order for the market to broaden internet on all consoles should be made free so digital distribution would be easier and able to advertise.

Wii U - JOE WESTON

 

The Wii U  is an upcoming video game console from Nintendo as the successor to the Wii.The Wii U GamePad is the main controller for the Wii U. It features a built-in touchscreen, which can either supplement or replicate the gameplay shown on the main display, and can function as a standalone screen without the use of a television screen. The controller features an accelerometer, gyroscope, camera, dual analog sticks, a built-in microphone, and supports near field communication .The console will also be compatible with the Wii Remote Plus, Wii Nunchuk and Wii Balance Board, as well as a Wii U Pro Controller for more traditional controls. It is scheduled for released on November 18, 2012 in North America, November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, and December 8, 2012 in Japan.
The price of the console will start at £249.99.

Launch Games Assassin's Creed III
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Darksiders II
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
ESPN Sports Connection
Game Party Champions
Just Dance 4
Madden NFL 13
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Mass Effect 3: Special Edition
NBA 2K13
New Super Mario Bros. U
Nintendo Land
Rabbids Land
Rayman Legends
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Transformers: Prime
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU

Introduction

My name is Joe and this is going to be my AS Media Blog for the Videogames section of the January OCR exam.since i have been born i have had a few different consoles, my first was the game cube, on this i used to play mario games and fifa, i have also had a gameboy and xbox. since then i have had a xbox 360, on that i liked to play fifa. Now i have got a ps3 i like to play fifa on that also and i aso watch dvds on it.