Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Monday, 10 December 2012
Computer games revision
Poster with facts and figures on publishing and design/production:
Marketing and distribution facts and figures:
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
success criteria
Success Criteria for band 4:
Explanation/ analysis/ argument:
Learnt how to:
Structure essays
How to unpick questions
The different parts of video games (publishing, design, marketing, distribution)
Crowd funding
Need to do more:
Learning facts and figures
Terminology to add to essays
Explanation/ analysis/ argument:
- show knowledge and understanding of institutions and audience.
- Use facts
- Develop arguments
- Use connectives such as however, but etc
- Relate everything to the question
- Use words from question throughout
- Use evidence from AC3 and DFA
- facts and figures such as amount it cost, how many it sold etc
- Make sure examples arerelevant to the question
- Use relevant and accurate terminlogy
- Such as cross-media convergence, synergy etc
Learnt how to:
Structure essays
How to unpick questions
The different parts of video games (publishing, design, marketing, distribution)
Crowd funding
Need to do more:
Learning facts and figures
Terminology to add to essays
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
publishing
Publishing
In a normal production chain, such as for Assassins Creed 3 (AC3) the publishers have complete control over the design because of their initial investment wheras, in a crowd funding production for example Double Fine Adventure (DFA) a ‘point and click’ game the audience have input on the design, marketing and distribution as they have donated money towards it. The game is then shaped and changed around what the audience want unlike in a normal publishing company. The production costs for a normal production are a lot more than for crowd funding where, for example in DFA Tim Schaffer aimed at just one specific genre for a specific target audience who can then fund the project as he isn’t bothered about how many he sells, he just wants enough money to make the game. He aimed to get $400,000 in order to make the game but in fact gained $3,336,371 in just over a month. A normal publishing company such as ubisoft, who published Assassins Creed 3, will want to appeal to a wide audience selling 3.5 million copies in the first week with multi-genres in order to sell more and gain money. The audience is just passive, waiting for the publishers to sell them the game but in crowd funding the audience are active and have a say in how the game is made.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Assassins Creed 3; Further Research
A gamers review from www.tumblr.com
Assassins Creed 3 Review:
Overview:
When Assassins Creed 3 was announced, gamers everywhere rejoiced. Gone were the
“expansion” sequels and our tired, yet awesome friend Ezio. Assassins Creed 3
promised to move the series forward in every way. New main character, new time
period, new city, new graphics engine, and fresh gameplay enhancements. The
gaming media and fans alike gravitated toward the Game-informer spread, and the
first gameplay footage. Following the release of more trailers and footage, the
hype train began. Soon Ubisoft found themselves making one of the most highly
anticipated games of this year; according to Ubisoft Assassins Creed 3 is the
most pre-ordered game in Ubisoft history. It was clear that Assassins Creed 3
was the game to beat in the hardcore gaming season. So does Assassins Creed 3
live up to the enormous expectations? Lets find out.
Story: I am a bit hesitant to speak of the story. The story is deep, engaging and contains a bit of confusion. I enjoy the story a ton and I really don’t want to spoil anything here. Only thing to keep in mind is, you play as a native american in 1776 America by the name of Connor, and you follow his adventure to stop the templars who he wishes to seek revenge upon. There is much depth to the story especially when it ties everything to present day. The story does have dry spots, but toward the end it picks up considerably. My biggest gripe however is the ending. Don’t worry I won’t spoil a thing, but I must say the ending is confusing and not satisfying. I didn’t really understand the ending much at all. However, after watching a synopsis of the story through a video on youtube, the ending was a bit clearer but not clear enough. Go into Assassin Creed 3 knowing the backstory so you can fully understand the events that transpire throughout the game. I wish I had refreshed myself first.
Gameplay: The gameplay is just more Assassins Creed; If you’ve played any of the previous entries, you’ll have no problems here. Not much has changed in terms of gameplay. You still hold Left trigger to run, and climb walls using L and the thumb stick. You still perform assassinations, eavesdrop on templars, perform light platforming, and complete miscellaneous activities throughout the city (like collection fetch quests and helping citizens). Though not all is familiar here. There are cool new mechanics like hunting animals for money, climbing trees, and weather effects which change how you approach certain scenarios. The combat system has seen an upgrade with tighter controls, and a “Batman: Arkham” style counter system. All that is here works perfectly but isn’t drastically new like the trailers and gameplay videos suggest. I will say that all of the classic Assassins Creed elements in this new America setting is really cool and does make some of what you
do feel fresh.
Don’t go into this game expecting a revolution.
Presentation: The graphics are definitely a step up from previous entries, but doesn’t look nearly as good as what was depicted in the trailers. Now this is to be expected because I was playing on an xbox 360 while the gameplay footage shown online was no doubt the PC version. However, the lighting effects, and general city atmosphere is truly a sight to behold. The attention to detail is superb. From trees that rock with the wind, to townspeople holding normal conversation, animals roaming the country side; it’s almost impossible not to be immersed in this huge and realistic world. It’s worth noting that with scope and scale this big, there are a considerable number of glitches you will encounter. Clipping issues, freezing, and missing dialogue are just a few of the issues you will encounter but none of these hinder the overall fantastic presentation. Another big disappointment for me was the main character you play as. Connor’s voice actor displays little emotion so it’s hard to relate or love this character. I feel like they should have made Connor a full cold blooded assassin with a strong personality than just being somewhere in the middle. I wanted a bit more from him.
Overall: Despite this game feeling a bit fatigued and disappointing, It is still a must own game. The story is interesting albeit confusing as hell, graphics and gameplay are top notch even though it doesn’t push the bar like I would have wanted it to, and you are getting one long game. 1 play-through of this game took me 20 hours to complete and I still have many side missions left to complete. Overall there can easily be over 40 hours of gameplay in this one. If you’re looking for an adventure game this holiday season, and haven’t played any Assassin’s Creed games, I suggest playing the previous installments to get acquainted with the story. However if you’re a fan of the franchise, don’t hesitate to buy this game NOW. This game is A PURCHASE IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE FRANCHISE. If you don’t care for Assassin’s Creed games, this game won’t change your mind much. There is no doubt though that Assassins Creed 3 is one of the best games this year and is a serious contender for my game of the year 2012.
Overview:
When Assassins Creed 3 was announced, gamers everywhere rejoiced. Gone were the
“expansion” sequels and our tired, yet awesome friend Ezio. Assassins Creed 3
promised to move the series forward in every way. New main character, new time
period, new city, new graphics engine, and fresh gameplay enhancements. The
gaming media and fans alike gravitated toward the Game-informer spread, and the
first gameplay footage. Following the release of more trailers and footage, the
hype train began. Soon Ubisoft found themselves making one of the most highly
anticipated games of this year; according to Ubisoft Assassins Creed 3 is the
most pre-ordered game in Ubisoft history. It was clear that Assassins Creed 3
was the game to beat in the hardcore gaming season. So does Assassins Creed 3
live up to the enormous expectations? Lets find out.Story: I am a bit hesitant to speak of the story. The story is deep, engaging and contains a bit of confusion. I enjoy the story a ton and I really don’t want to spoil anything here. Only thing to keep in mind is, you play as a native american in 1776 America by the name of Connor, and you follow his adventure to stop the templars who he wishes to seek revenge upon. There is much depth to the story especially when it ties everything to present day. The story does have dry spots, but toward the end it picks up considerably. My biggest gripe however is the ending. Don’t worry I won’t spoil a thing, but I must say the ending is confusing and not satisfying. I didn’t really understand the ending much at all. However, after watching a synopsis of the story through a video on youtube, the ending was a bit clearer but not clear enough. Go into Assassin Creed 3 knowing the backstory so you can fully understand the events that transpire throughout the game. I wish I had refreshed myself first.
Gameplay: The gameplay is just more Assassins Creed; If you’ve played any of the previous entries, you’ll have no problems here. Not much has changed in terms of gameplay. You still hold Left trigger to run, and climb walls using L and the thumb stick. You still perform assassinations, eavesdrop on templars, perform light platforming, and complete miscellaneous activities throughout the city (like collection fetch quests and helping citizens). Though not all is familiar here. There are cool new mechanics like hunting animals for money, climbing trees, and weather effects which change how you approach certain scenarios. The combat system has seen an upgrade with tighter controls, and a “Batman: Arkham” style counter system. All that is here works perfectly but isn’t drastically new like the trailers and gameplay videos suggest. I will say that all of the classic Assassins Creed elements in this new America setting is really cool and does make some of what you
do feel fresh.
Don’t go into this game expecting a revolution.Presentation: The graphics are definitely a step up from previous entries, but doesn’t look nearly as good as what was depicted in the trailers. Now this is to be expected because I was playing on an xbox 360 while the gameplay footage shown online was no doubt the PC version. However, the lighting effects, and general city atmosphere is truly a sight to behold. The attention to detail is superb. From trees that rock with the wind, to townspeople holding normal conversation, animals roaming the country side; it’s almost impossible not to be immersed in this huge and realistic world. It’s worth noting that with scope and scale this big, there are a considerable number of glitches you will encounter. Clipping issues, freezing, and missing dialogue are just a few of the issues you will encounter but none of these hinder the overall fantastic presentation. Another big disappointment for me was the main character you play as. Connor’s voice actor displays little emotion so it’s hard to relate or love this character. I feel like they should have made Connor a full cold blooded assassin with a strong personality than just being somewhere in the middle. I wanted a bit more from him.
Overall: Despite this game feeling a bit fatigued and disappointing, It is still a must own game. The story is interesting albeit confusing as hell, graphics and gameplay are top notch even though it doesn’t push the bar like I would have wanted it to, and you are getting one long game. 1 play-through of this game took me 20 hours to complete and I still have many side missions left to complete. Overall there can easily be over 40 hours of gameplay in this one. If you’re looking for an adventure game this holiday season, and haven’t played any Assassin’s Creed games, I suggest playing the previous installments to get acquainted with the story. However if you’re a fan of the franchise, don’t hesitate to buy this game NOW. This game is A PURCHASE IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE FRANCHISE. If you don’t care for Assassin’s Creed games, this game won’t change your mind much. There is no doubt though that Assassins Creed 3 is one of the best games this year and is a serious contender for my game of the year 2012.
Franchises: other half
Franchises
Wikipedia
DEVELOPMENT
Game Design:
Assassin’s Creed is the next-gen game developed by Ubisoft Montreal that will redefine the action genre. While other games claim to be next-gen with impressive graphics and physics, Assassin’s Creed merges technology, game design, theme, and emotions into a world where you instigate chaos and become a vulnerable, yet powerful, agent of change.
The setting is 1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict.
You are an Assassin, a warrior
shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw
your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape events
during this pivotal moment in history.
Software:
In its pre-release form Assassins Creed won over five industry awards, including honours from IGN, Games critics, Game Spot and many more. Ubisoft has been using Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk MotionBuilder software products as key components of its games for many years and the 2007 release marks the first title that has incorporated the use of Autodesk HumanIK.
Engine:
Anvil (development project name Scimitar before 2006) is a game engine created in 2007 by video game developer Ubisoft Montreal for use on Microsoft Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Playstation Vita.
Claude Langlais
(Technical Director of Ubisoft Montreal) says that modeling is done in 3ds Max
for environment and ZBrush for characters. The engine
uses Autodesk's HumanIK middleware
to correctly position the character's hands and feet in climbing and pushing
animations at run-time. Anvil has been improved for Assassin's Creed II.
Features added include a full night and day cycle, enhanced draw distance, the
same vegetation technology used in Far Cry 2, improved
lighting, reflection and special effects, new cloth system, and a new AI and NPC
navigation system Assassin's
Creed:Lineage short films made by Hybride Technologies (a post-production VFX studio acquired by
Ubisoft) and Ubisoft Digital Arts used assets from Anvil to recreate the
environment in which the live actors are filmed. The latest iteration of the
engine called AnvilNext which is going to be used for the upcoming title Assassin's Creed
III has support for weather cycling. AnvilNext is reported to have the
ability to render massive crowds up to 2000 characters (while it was a few 100s
in the previous versions of the engine). This version of the engine also
features a dynamic game world, where the game world will change itself over the
course of time. This means enemy settlements may appear/disappear relating to
the events in the game. AnvilNext will also feature improved visuals and
AI.
DISTRIBUTION
In the video games industry, digital distribution is the process of delivering video game content as digital information, without the exchange or purchase of new physical media. This process has existed since the early 1980s, but it was only with network advancements in bandwidth capabilities in the early 2000s that digital distribution became more prominent as a method of selling games. Currently, the process is dominated by online distribution over broadband internet.
To facilitate the sale of games, various game companies have created their own platforms for digital distribution. These platforms, such as Steam (software), Origin, and Xbox Live Marketplace, provide centralized services to purchase and download digital content for either specific video game consoles or PCs. Some platforms may also serve as digital rights management systems, limiting the use of purchased items to one account.
Game Design:
Assassin’s Creed is the next-gen game developed by Ubisoft Montreal that will redefine the action genre. While other games claim to be next-gen with impressive graphics and physics, Assassin’s Creed merges technology, game design, theme, and emotions into a world where you instigate chaos and become a vulnerable, yet powerful, agent of change.
The setting is 1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict.
Software:
In its pre-release form Assassins Creed won over five industry awards, including honours from IGN, Games critics, Game Spot and many more. Ubisoft has been using Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk MotionBuilder software products as key components of its games for many years and the 2007 release marks the first title that has incorporated the use of Autodesk HumanIK.
Engine:
Anvil (development project name Scimitar before 2006) is a game engine created in 2007 by video game developer Ubisoft Montreal for use on Microsoft Windows, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Playstation Vita.
DISTRIBUTION
In the video games industry, digital distribution is the process of delivering video game content as digital information, without the exchange or purchase of new physical media. This process has existed since the early 1980s, but it was only with network advancements in bandwidth capabilities in the early 2000s that digital distribution became more prominent as a method of selling games. Currently, the process is dominated by online distribution over broadband internet.
To facilitate the sale of games, various game companies have created their own platforms for digital distribution. These platforms, such as Steam (software), Origin, and Xbox Live Marketplace, provide centralized services to purchase and download digital content for either specific video game consoles or PCs. Some platforms may also serve as digital rights management systems, limiting the use of purchased items to one account.
Sainsbury's only supermarket to increase entertainment share
Sainsbury’s has been the only supermarket to increase its share of the entertainment
market over the past quarter.
The retailer has grown its share of the sector - which includes physical sales of videos and games, and physical and digital music sales - to 6.6% in the 12 weeks to 30 September, compared with 4.6% in the same period a year ago [Kantar Worldpanel]. Tesco’s share dropped 2.5 points to 12%, while Asda dropped 1.2 points to 9.9%, and Morrisons fell 0.9 points to 2.9%.
Amazon
The retailer has grown its share of the sector - which includes physical sales of videos and games, and physical and digital music sales - to 6.6% in the 12 weeks to 30 September, compared with 4.6% in the same period a year ago [Kantar Worldpanel]. Tesco’s share dropped 2.5 points to 12%, while Asda dropped 1.2 points to 9.9%, and Morrisons fell 0.9 points to 2.9%.
High Street Games Retailers Heading for Closure?
The
other day i was in town and i thought to myself, "i'm going to pop into GAME".
Now i wasn't going in there because i wanted to buy something, i went in there
to see as to why i hadn't gone in there for the past year or so. So there i was,
standing in GAME and not a customer in sight. What i did see was a manager, two
members of staff and some, what i would call, "over-priced games". Was it
because it was after the January sales and everyone was spent out or was it
simply because online shopping is now the cheap way to shop?
High
Street Gaming retailers are in trouble. Whilst GAME and Gamestation offer a
points system, where points make pennies, online retailers are selling the same
games from £5 to £10 cheaper. So why would you fork out £39.99 to earn a couple
of quid in points when you can buy the same game online for at least £5 less?
Well the answer is you wouldn't, if you were looking to get the game at the best
price that is! If you're not bothered about saving a few quid or want a game on
midnight release then popping into your local games shop is the thing to do. But
other than that, the reality is that High Street retailers are no longer the
place to go for video games. Modern Warfare 3 was selling for £44.99 in GAME
upon release, Supermarkets were offering it at around £38 and we here at
GamerSpy found it online for £32.91. How can GAME compete with that? They
can't.
In an interview with MCV, Ubisoft’s Stephanie Perotti discusses the potential to sell more than just Ubisoft games on the newly relaunched Uplay store. The new store includes social features, the ability to purchase DLC content by completing Achievements, and everything else you’d expect – and unlike most of Ubisoft’s recent work, it doesn’t take a month to get to the PC shelves.
But would you want to make it your shop of choice?
At the moment, there’s not much to separate it from Steam – some prices are lower, but browsing around, most seem to be about the same. Uplay is integrated into the games themselves. The most notable part is that while Steam and Origin are both primarily desktop based, Ubisoft is going for a wider service – ‘rewards’ and ‘actions’ combining across games and devices.
It's
true: I have no friends.
Ubisoft officially launched Uplay PC on Thursday during Gamescom 2012, its own digital distribution and social platform for PC gamers.
According to Ubisoft, Uplay PC replaces individual game launchers and lets players access all their Uplay-enabled PC games and Uplay services in the same place. But like Steam, users must download a desktop app which enables friend chat and enhances shopping right from the desktop. Game saves and serial keys are stored in the cloud, allowing users to install their favorite titles anywhere and resume where they left off.
“Uplay PC is a great way for customers to discover Ubisoft’s games, connect with their friends and gaming communities, and win achievements and content that’s not available anywhere else.” said Stephanie Perotti, Worldwide Director for Online Games, Ubisoft. “For PC gamers that are already fans of Ubisoft’s titles or have been considering trying some of our classics, this promotion is a great deal, and our way of saying thank you for their support.”
To celebrate the launch of Uplay PC, the company is offering PC versions of Driver: San Francisco, From Dust, Silent Hunter 5 and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 for just $1 USD for a limited time. Other popular titles -- including Anno 2070, Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Might & Magic: Heroes VI, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction -- are discounted up to 75-percent, also for a limited time.
Ultimately through the PC client, Ubisoft customers can browse and re-download their games (without having to worry about OS-crashing DRM), redeem rewards for all platforms, play supported titles offline, browse through the integrated shop, and discover free-to-play games and demos. Sound familiar? It should -- that's similar to what Steam and EA's Origin offers. What this new platform launch means for Ubisoft's support on Valve's Steam service is unknown at this point, and we've reached out for a comment.
Ubisoft Wants Uplay Open to All
Ubisoft hopes to someday offer games from
other publishers through its Uplay digital distribution
service.
Ubisoft recently became the latest major publisher to launch a home-grown digital distribution platform, adding its Uplay service to a field that already includes Steam and Origin, plus independent distributors like GOG, Desura, Green Man Gaming and others. For the moment, Uplay offers only Ubisoft titles, but that could, and likely will, change in the future.
"We remain open to opportunities," Ubisoft's Stephanie Perotti told MCV. "Right now, we're starting the service with our own games, but as we go forward, we plan to potentially add other titles."
Uplay actually launched back in late 2009 in conjunction with Assassin's Creed II, but at the time was primarily a DRM and DLC system. Ubisoft then rolled out the "Uplay Passport," its version of the "online pass," with the 2011 launch of Driver: San Francisco, and Perotti said the publisher's plans go beyond turning Uplay into a mere digital distribution platform.
"We continue to evolve the service across all platforms, including PC, console and mobile," she said. "The more Ubisoft games you play, the more rewards you can get, as well as several online services that players would expect."
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but an awful lot of PC gamers resented EA's intrusion into the Steam-space with Origin. Will they be willing to make room for yet another player - especially one who's been so disdainful of their platform in the past?
Source: MCV
Ubisoft looking to join digital distribution battle with third-party game sales on Uplay
Richard Cobbett at 03:30pm September 12 2012
In an interview with MCV, Ubisoft’s Stephanie Perotti discusses the potential to sell more than just Ubisoft games on the newly relaunched Uplay store. The new store includes social features, the ability to purchase DLC content by completing Achievements, and everything else you’d expect – and unlike most of Ubisoft’s recent work, it doesn’t take a month to get to the PC shelves.
But would you want to make it your shop of choice?
At the moment, there’s not much to separate it from Steam – some prices are lower, but browsing around, most seem to be about the same. Uplay is integrated into the games themselves. The most notable part is that while Steam and Origin are both primarily desktop based, Ubisoft is going for a wider service – ‘rewards’ and ‘actions’ combining across games and devices.
Ubisoft Launches Uplay PC Distribution & Social Platform
It's
true: I have no friends.Ubisoft officially launched Uplay PC on Thursday during Gamescom 2012, its own digital distribution and social platform for PC gamers.
According to Ubisoft, Uplay PC replaces individual game launchers and lets players access all their Uplay-enabled PC games and Uplay services in the same place. But like Steam, users must download a desktop app which enables friend chat and enhances shopping right from the desktop. Game saves and serial keys are stored in the cloud, allowing users to install their favorite titles anywhere and resume where they left off.
“Uplay PC is a great way for customers to discover Ubisoft’s games, connect with their friends and gaming communities, and win achievements and content that’s not available anywhere else.” said Stephanie Perotti, Worldwide Director for Online Games, Ubisoft. “For PC gamers that are already fans of Ubisoft’s titles or have been considering trying some of our classics, this promotion is a great deal, and our way of saying thank you for their support.”
To celebrate the launch of Uplay PC, the company is offering PC versions of Driver: San Francisco, From Dust, Silent Hunter 5 and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 for just $1 USD for a limited time. Other popular titles -- including Anno 2070, Assassin's Creed II, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Might & Magic: Heroes VI, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction -- are discounted up to 75-percent, also for a limited time.
Ultimately through the PC client, Ubisoft customers can browse and re-download their games (without having to worry about OS-crashing DRM), redeem rewards for all platforms, play supported titles offline, browse through the integrated shop, and discover free-to-play games and demos. Sound familiar? It should -- that's similar to what Steam and EA's Origin offers. What this new platform launch means for Ubisoft's support on Valve's Steam service is unknown at this point, and we've reached out for a comment.
Ubisoft Wants Uplay Open to All
Ubisoft recently became the latest major publisher to launch a home-grown digital distribution platform, adding its Uplay service to a field that already includes Steam and Origin, plus independent distributors like GOG, Desura, Green Man Gaming and others. For the moment, Uplay offers only Ubisoft titles, but that could, and likely will, change in the future.
"We remain open to opportunities," Ubisoft's Stephanie Perotti told MCV. "Right now, we're starting the service with our own games, but as we go forward, we plan to potentially add other titles."
Uplay actually launched back in late 2009 in conjunction with Assassin's Creed II, but at the time was primarily a DRM and DLC system. Ubisoft then rolled out the "Uplay Passport," its version of the "online pass," with the 2011 launch of Driver: San Francisco, and Perotti said the publisher's plans go beyond turning Uplay into a mere digital distribution platform.
"We continue to evolve the service across all platforms, including PC, console and mobile," she said. "The more Ubisoft games you play, the more rewards you can get, as well as several online services that players would expect."
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but an awful lot of PC gamers resented EA's intrusion into the Steam-space with Origin. Will they be willing to make room for yet another player - especially one who's been so disdainful of their platform in the past?
Source: MCV
RETAILERS:
Amazon
HMV
Sainsburys
Tesco Asda
Whsmiths
Game
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
How do franchises establish and develop continuing sales figures?
Assassins Creed 3
Wikipedia
Assassin's Creed III is a historical action-adventure open world stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreall and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Microsoft Windows. It is the fifth major installment and the third numbered title in the Assassin's Creed series.
Wikipedia
Assassin's Creed III is a historical action-adventure open world stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreall and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Microsoft Windows. It is the fifth major installment and the third numbered title in the Assassin's Creed series.
Target audience - Boys from around 12 to older people around 40 even though the certification is an 18. Still the same as in the other Assassins creed games but trying to attract new people aswell.
Target the audience through the new Native American main character protaganist (Connor) who is noble and stronger than in the others. It has to be specific in character design for the target audience.
Also through the setting, in the American revolution where no other game has been set before but also featuring the present day.
Narrative - follows the same narrative direction as the series' previous titles, containing both present day and historical plot arcs but the latest plot is significantly more epic in tone. With the worlds end set to occur in months, the game follows the same split narrative direction as previous Assassin's Creed titles, seeing Miles use the Animus, a machine capable of making its users relive the lives of their ancestors, to try to find the information he needs to save the world.
Gameplay:
The game follows the series' standard open world gameplay in the Desmond and Haytham/Connor Sequences, where the game's main story takes place. New gameplay additions include muskets and rifles, which can be fired at a considerable reload time, or used as a melee weapon. Hiding places can now be mobile, such as haystacks in wagons or moving carts, which can be used to sneak up closer to targets. Disguises can also be worn, fooling normal troops and only risking investigation by officers.
Free running has been modified to allow for more fluid, parkour-like movement over certain obstacles. Exploration has also been modified, allowing for map areas to be revealed without requiring a viewpoint synchronization.
Close combat has been modified, slowing during blocks to allow for more options in attack and defense. Human shields can be taken against firing lines of enemies.
Assassin's Creed III features new weather simulations such as snow, fog, and rain. Depending on the seasons, weather determines how the Templars and soldiers will move around with heavy winter snows making it more difficult to move swiftly.
Connor is able to hunt animals for skins in the wilderness while at the same time Connor himself might find that he is being hunted by other animals (bear, wolf, cougars, etc.). The value of an animal's hide is determined by how, where, and with what weapon you kill the animal. Muskets, flintlock pistols, and multiple attacks will make the pelt less valuable while a single stab or shot with a bow will increase the value.
Another major change is the Homestead. Starting with a single house and a few outbuildings, Connor can perform missions for people in order to convince them to settle near the Homestead, which provides raw materials and simple craftsmen (such as a barrelmaker). Raw goods and crafts can then be used as part of a local economy, selling them at market by caravan. Depending on the goods in the caravan and the level of threat nearby, these goods can be attacked and stolen or sold at a profit.
Assassin's Creed III also features a naval aspect. The entire eastern seaboard is a playable area, and will have its own missions, action, side events, and map. In the area, Connor will captain a ship, where the player can attack enemy ships. The controls of the ship rely heavily on environmental factors, such as wind direction and speed, and local presence of waves or rocks. The sails can be reefed or full open, providing more speed but slowing turning speed and control. Engagements are by cannon, with broadsides covering both flanks of the ship, and swivel guns that can be used as a sort of sniper weapon, damaging small ships, but also being able to destroy frigates by firing into open magazines. Other ships can also be rammed, damaging both ships. As naval missions are completed, the risk of capture of trade sent overseas is lessened.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin's_Creed_III
Gameplay:
The game follows the series' standard open world gameplay in the Desmond and Haytham/Connor Sequences, where the game's main story takes place. New gameplay additions include muskets and rifles, which can be fired at a considerable reload time, or used as a melee weapon. Hiding places can now be mobile, such as haystacks in wagons or moving carts, which can be used to sneak up closer to targets. Disguises can also be worn, fooling normal troops and only risking investigation by officers.
Free running has been modified to allow for more fluid, parkour-like movement over certain obstacles. Exploration has also been modified, allowing for map areas to be revealed without requiring a viewpoint synchronization.
Close combat has been modified, slowing during blocks to allow for more options in attack and defense. Human shields can be taken against firing lines of enemies.
Assassin's Creed III features new weather simulations such as snow, fog, and rain. Depending on the seasons, weather determines how the Templars and soldiers will move around with heavy winter snows making it more difficult to move swiftly.
Connor is able to hunt animals for skins in the wilderness while at the same time Connor himself might find that he is being hunted by other animals (bear, wolf, cougars, etc.). The value of an animal's hide is determined by how, where, and with what weapon you kill the animal. Muskets, flintlock pistols, and multiple attacks will make the pelt less valuable while a single stab or shot with a bow will increase the value.
Another major change is the Homestead. Starting with a single house and a few outbuildings, Connor can perform missions for people in order to convince them to settle near the Homestead, which provides raw materials and simple craftsmen (such as a barrelmaker). Raw goods and crafts can then be used as part of a local economy, selling them at market by caravan. Depending on the goods in the caravan and the level of threat nearby, these goods can be attacked and stolen or sold at a profit.
Assassin's Creed III also features a naval aspect. The entire eastern seaboard is a playable area, and will have its own missions, action, side events, and map. In the area, Connor will captain a ship, where the player can attack enemy ships. The controls of the ship rely heavily on environmental factors, such as wind direction and speed, and local presence of waves or rocks. The sails can be reefed or full open, providing more speed but slowing turning speed and control. Engagements are by cannon, with broadsides covering both flanks of the ship, and swivel guns that can be used as a sort of sniper weapon, damaging small ships, but also being able to destroy frigates by firing into open magazines. Other ships can also be rammed, damaging both ships. As naval missions are completed, the risk of capture of trade sent overseas is lessened.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin's_Creed_III
Genre - Multi- genre:
- Action- adventure - combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres.
- open world/ sandbox- where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how or when to approach objectives. Generally open world games still enforce some restrictions in the game environment, either due to absolute technical limitations or in-game limitations (such as locked areas) imposed by a game's linearity.
- stealth - rewards the player for using stealth to overcome antagonists. Typically allow the player to remain undetected by hiding, using disguises, and/or avoiding noise. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, perhaps rewarding the player for greater levels of stealth.
sandbox but also set missions and challenges to complete. It is also a fantasy genre which attracts boys who have always wanted to live like that because they can now be part of the fantasy world they have always dreamt of.
Marketing
Ubisoft advertise across a variety of formats to attract a bigger audience.
Ubisoft advertise across a variety of formats to attract a bigger audience.
Assassin's Creed 3 has the most expensive Ubisoft marketing campaign ever, with a three month campaign rivaling big-hitters such as EA's FIFA and Activision's Call of Duty. It will have TV and on-demand adverts, online takeovers and a presence on the London Underground. There are also written adverts with features in magazines and newspapers.
Ubisoft tweet to adverttise Assassins Creed 3
TV advert for Assassins Creed 3
Wikipedia
Ubisoft's senior vice president of sales and marketing, Tony Key, said the game would enjoy the biggest marketing commitment in company history. Ubisoft UK MD Rob Cooper has said that Assassin's Creed III is a good entry point for newcomers to the series, and that he thinks Assassin's Creed III will hold its own against this year's biggest releases. In March 2012, the Assassin's Creed: Double Pack was released both as a retail purchase for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and digital download on PSN, which brings together the first Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II in a virtual compilation box.
Advert
Ubisoft has collaborated with several retail outlets on pre-order bonuses available through several store chains throughout the world. Which of the pre-order bonuses the player received depended upon where they pre-ordered the game. A free SteelBook collectible featuring artwork by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross is available as a pre-order incentive. The "Captain of the Aquila" DLC pack includes a single player weapon (The Pirate Boarding Axe) and a single player skin (The Captain of the Aquila's uniform). The "Colonial Assassin" DLC pack includes a single player weapon (The Scottish Flintlock) and a single player skin (the Traditional Colonial Assassins outfit). "Redcoat Multiplayer" DLC pack includes redcoat costume, a snake emblem, and a "doctor doll" relic. In the US, Gamestop is offering the single-player mission Lost Mayan Ruins and the Sawtooth Sword, Best Buy is offering the single-player mission Ghost of War and the Pontiac's War Club, while Amazon is offering the Steelbook Case.
SCEE offers a digital version of Assassin's Creed III via the PlayStation Store. Dubbed the "Gold Edition", the download includes the game, PlayStation Vita title Assassin's Creed III: Liberation and a Season Pass (a first for the series). Another version of the "Gold Edition" features the game and the Season Pass, but not Liberation. Third version comes with liberation, but without the Season Pass. All versions include A Dangerous Secret, the extra mission available with the Special Edition.
They pre-announced the game to let people know when it would be released.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that a new "major" Assassins Creed game will be released in 2012. Guillemot refused to go into any further detail on the title beyond its confirmation. Speaking to MCV, Guillemot dismissed the notion that annual Assassin's Creed installments are diluting the brands, stating instead that they're necessary to "satisfy the demand". Guillemot also claimed in the same interview that this year's Assassin's Creed will be the series' "biggest to date."
In February 2012, Ubisoft officially confirmed the existence of Assassin's Creed III. Guillemot described Assassin's Creed III as "the true next generation of both the Assassin's Creed brand and interactive entertainment/storytelling in general. We will push the title a lot because it's a fantastic product that the team has been working on for three years. What we have seen is just fabulous." Guillemot went on to say the publisher's investing more heavily in the game than in any other title in the series.
Assassins Creed 3 Trailer
Facts and Figures
- The game's main section, featuring Connor, takes place from around 1753-1783.
- The game's major cities are New York and Boston.
- By the time it is released, ACIII will have been in development for 2 1/2 years.
- 3.5 million copies sold in 1st week.
- The new game is supposed to be the franchise's largest.
- The developers estimate that 80% of the named characters in AC III were real people.
- You'll be killing real historical figures.
Monday, 5 November 2012
Assassins creed
Assassins Creed brotherhood
Formats:
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010, Microsoft Windows in March 2011 and Mac OS X in May 2011.
Amount of games sold:
- The game passed the one million sales mark in less than a week after its release.
- As of May 2011, Ubisoft announced the game had shipped 8 million copies.
Assassins Creed
Assassin's Creed is a historical fiction action-adventure open world stealth video game series that as of 2012 consists of five main games and a number of supporting materials. The games have appeared on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, iOS, HP webOS,[2] Android, Nokia Symbian and Windows Phone platforms, and will be coming to the Wii U and the PlayStation Vita. The main games in the franchise were developed by Ubisoft Montreal, with the handheld titles developed by Gameloft and Gryptonite Studios, with additional development by Ubisoft Montreal. All games in the franchise are published by Ubisoft. The series has been a success and won a number of awards. The series took inspiration from the novel Alamut by the Slovenian writer Vladimir Bartol.
First Release: 13 Novemeber 2007
Formats:
PS3
X360
Win
And
Narrative:
Desmond Miles i a bartender who is kidnapped by a powerful corporation called Abstergo. While captive, Desmond is informed that he can use a machine called the Animus created by Abstergo to relive his ancestors' memories. He consents to use the machine and relives the memories of his ancestor Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad.
Altaïr, Desmond's ancestor, is a disgraced assassin because he broke the three tenets of the Assassin's Creed:
Back in 2012, Abstergo sends a team to recover as many Pieces as possible. Deciding they do not need him anymore, they give orders to kill Desmond. Lucy Stillman, an Abstergo employee who revealed to Desmond that she is an undercover Assassin, convinces them not to kill Desmond until they recover the Pieces, buying him time. Desmond is left alone in the Animus room, and by the use of Altaïr's Eagle Vision inherited from the "Bleeding Effect" caused by the Animus, he sees many symbols drawn in blood on the wall in his room and on the floors of the lab. These symbols contain references to the end of the world in many different languages and in the left side of his room, the player sees "I Entered the Animus and never returned".
Reception:
The Assassin's Creed games have received overwhelming popularity with the general public and much acclaim from critics. The series has also been financially successful, with the first and second games both selling over 8 million copies to date. In February 2011, Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has shipped 6.5 million copies.[85] As of May 2011, the first three main games have sold over 28 million copies worldwide.[86] As of November 2011, sales for Brotherhood were "in line" with Assassin's Creed II, which sold close to 9 million copies worldwide through March 2010. Brotherhood has sold 3.14 million copies in the US through the end of September. As of February 15, 2012, the franchise as a whole has sold over 38 million copies since November 2007.[87]
Assassins Creed 29 million units sold.
Ubisoft's full-year sales for its 2007-2008 fiscal year totaled �928 million, or roughly $1.45 billion, a 36.4% increase over last year's figure of �680 million / $1.02 billion. Fourth quarter sales were up 10% also, clocking in at �217 million / $340.5 million.
Following these sales figures, Ubisoft has raised its 2008-2009 operating profit forecast by 1 percent, to at least 12% from 11%, which means that fiscal year sales forecasts remain at around �1 billion. Ubisoft declared that the profit guidance increase is related to savings on royalties after the publisher acquired Tom Clancy's name for videogames and spin-off products: "Ubisoft's games line-up is particularly strong, with no fewer than seven existing franchises, five new releases and new brands in the casual segment," said CEO Yves Guillemot.
Sales of 1.93 billion in 2011 made the gaming industry the country's biggest entertainment sector.
ERA article
First Release: 13 Novemeber 2007
| GameRankings | Metacritic | |
|---|---|---|
| (X360) 82.51%[47] (PC) 79.17%[48] (PS3) 78.82%[49] | (X360) 81[50] (PS3) 81[51] (PC) 79[52] |
Formats:
PS3
X360
Win
And
Narrative:
Desmond Miles i a bartender who is kidnapped by a powerful corporation called Abstergo. While captive, Desmond is informed that he can use a machine called the Animus created by Abstergo to relive his ancestors' memories. He consents to use the machine and relives the memories of his ancestor Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad.
Altaïr, Desmond's ancestor, is a disgraced assassin because he broke the three tenets of the Assassin's Creed:
- Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent.
- Hide in plain sight.
- Never compromise the brotherhood.
Back in 2012, Abstergo sends a team to recover as many Pieces as possible. Deciding they do not need him anymore, they give orders to kill Desmond. Lucy Stillman, an Abstergo employee who revealed to Desmond that she is an undercover Assassin, convinces them not to kill Desmond until they recover the Pieces, buying him time. Desmond is left alone in the Animus room, and by the use of Altaïr's Eagle Vision inherited from the "Bleeding Effect" caused by the Animus, he sees many symbols drawn in blood on the wall in his room and on the floors of the lab. These symbols contain references to the end of the world in many different languages and in the left side of his room, the player sees "I Entered the Animus and never returned".
Reception:
The Assassin's Creed games have received overwhelming popularity with the general public and much acclaim from critics. The series has also been financially successful, with the first and second games both selling over 8 million copies to date. In February 2011, Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has shipped 6.5 million copies.[85] As of May 2011, the first three main games have sold over 28 million copies worldwide.[86] As of November 2011, sales for Brotherhood were "in line" with Assassin's Creed II, which sold close to 9 million copies worldwide through March 2010. Brotherhood has sold 3.14 million copies in the US through the end of September. As of February 15, 2012, the franchise as a whole has sold over 38 million copies since November 2007.[87]
Assassins Creed 29 million units sold.
Ubisoft's full-year sales for its 2007-2008 fiscal year totaled �928 million, or roughly $1.45 billion, a 36.4% increase over last year's figure of �680 million / $1.02 billion. Fourth quarter sales were up 10% also, clocking in at �217 million / $340.5 million.
Following these sales figures, Ubisoft has raised its 2008-2009 operating profit forecast by 1 percent, to at least 12% from 11%, which means that fiscal year sales forecasts remain at around �1 billion. Ubisoft declared that the profit guidance increase is related to savings on royalties after the publisher acquired Tom Clancy's name for videogames and spin-off products: "Ubisoft's games line-up is particularly strong, with no fewer than seven existing franchises, five new releases and new brands in the casual segment," said CEO Yves Guillemot.
Sales of 1.93 billion in 2011 made the gaming industry the country's biggest entertainment sector.
ERA article
Thursday, 18 October 2012
changing technology
The effect that changing technology is having on the computer game industry
The Games industry continuously innovates and makes use of new technologies to gain market share. Players include digital entertainment & graphics design companies that have revolutionized the way people play games. Most recently, there are news reports covering the beta launch of Cloud-based Online Gaming Platform called OnLive that brings games on-demand, anytime, anywhere to gamers all over the world.
With the advent of the Internet, the video games industry captured the lost revenue (of traditional consoles & PC games to piracy) by capitalizing on consumers preferences of callobarative play and the multi-user environment in the online gaming market. Although with technology advances to deter piracy (e.g. server-side security firewalls, game protection technologies and password protected logins for users), it did shift the distribution control back to the game provider, pirated PC games still continued to be sold.
More info:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23765445/Analysis-of-Technological-Change-Effects-on-the-Games-Industry
upcoming game release
Upcoming computer game release
Just Dance: Disney Party is released on October 23rd for the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect.
Players are required to perform specific dance moves in time with the
music, following a routine indicated on-screen and performed by live
dancers. If the player performs well, by dancing accurately and in-time,
their score will build and a rating out of 5 stars is obtained upon
completion of the track.
It is developed and published by Ubisoft and has live action dancers, the game modes (Team High Scores, Freeze
& Shake, Balloon Pop), and the animated score icons and it
includes a duet mode. In addition, all the songs are the original
versions, not covers.
Just Dance and Disney are working together to create the
greatest dance game for the whole Family.
Dance like a star to 25 songs from both the beloved classic Disney
Movies and Disney Channel’s shows. Play with up to 4-players to
experience the ultimate in family fun. With an amazing selection of
family favorite songs, fun dances and kid-friendly gameplay, children of
all ages can Just Dance along with family and friends.
The game is marketed using TV adverts with language and pictures that would engage the games target audience, which is children, and appeal to them so they will want to buy it. The adverts will usually be in between childrens programmes and especially disney ones because the audience watching them is the audience that is most likely to buy the game so it can appeal to a larger audience.
5 most important games
The 5 most important video games ever
Space Invaders
Released in 1978. This simple blast the alien invader
games is the most responsible game for the rise of the 
arcade game
industry in the late 1970’s and early 1980s than any other game. Over
60,000 machines were sold in the U.S. It became the first “must have”
game on the Atari 2600 and quadrupled sales of that console in 1980.
The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto who would later go on to
design classic games like Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda,
Star Fox, and F-Zero.
Released in 1985. Super Mario
Bros revived the video- game industry. It was released at the launch of the
original Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Mario is also largely
responsible for the Nintendo's initial success. It was the best-selling game
of all time for over two decades with over 40 million units sold. Mario has gone on to
become Nintendo’s flagship character with each new system they release.
Released in 1988. The
block dropping puzzle game Tetris has a history of intrigue that rival
any James Bond film. It was created by Russian computer
engineer Alexey Pajitnov. Immediately the game began to be knocked off
and rights sold without Pajitnov’s approval. Tengen, a division of
Atari, produced the first and best version of the game on the Nintendo entertainment system.
Nintendo quickly sued claiming they alone had the rights. The courts
sided with Nintendo and Tengen’s version was pulled after only four
weeks on the market making it a hot collectible today. It is one of the most
popular puzzle games of all-time, more that 70 million copies have been
sold worldwide in its various incarnations and console platforms, and
over 100 million cell phone copies have been sold as well.
arcade game
industry in the late 1970’s and early 1980s than any other game. Over
60,000 machines were sold in the U.S. It became the first “must have”
game on the Atari 2600 and quadrupled sales of that console in 1980.
The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto who would later go on to
design classic games like Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda,
Star Fox, and F-Zero.
Super-Mario Bros
Tetris
Released in 1988. The
block dropping puzzle game Tetris has a history of intrigue that rival
any James Bond film. It was created by Russian computer
engineer Alexey Pajitnov. Immediately the game began to be knocked off
and rights sold without Pajitnov’s approval. Tengen, a division of
Atari, produced the first and best version of the game on the Nintendo entertainment system.
Nintendo quickly sued claiming they alone had the rights. The courts
sided with Nintendo and Tengen’s version was pulled after only four
weeks on the market making it a hot collectible today. It is one of the most
popular puzzle games of all-time, more that 70 million copies have been
sold worldwide in its various incarnations and console platforms, and
over 100 million cell phone copies have been sold as well.
The Sims
Released in 2000. The Sims was unlike any other game before it, there were no enemies to defeat, no game to win, and no high score to achieve. It was a life simulator where you controlled the lives of your simulated humans. And who would have ever thought that waking up, taking a shower, and getting dressed could be so addictively fun! You could grow relationships with Sims of the opposite sex, get a job, and even start a family. The
Sims became the best-selling PC game of all time in 2002 and has seen
numerous expansions and sequels released that allow you to take your
Sims on vacation, become an entertainment superstar, and even cast magic
spells.
Wii Sports
Released in 2006. Wii
Sports came packed with the Nintendo Wii console when it was released
and because of that it is the best-selling video
game of all time with over 75 million copies sold. But
more importantly, Wii Sports became the greatest social videogame,
allowing friends and families to compete in sports like tennis,
baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing. Wii Sports has bridged generations becoming the game to have a strong following among senior citizens. Wii Sports has thrived in retirement communities where golf and bowling leagues started. It also became the game that resulted in the most player injuries due to its physical gameplay.
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