LO4: Task 1 - Analysis Of Current Market Trends

Looking at the gaming industry its popularity is growing day by day at a rapid rate with new children getting into video games while keeping its maturer audiences and people like games developers.

Recently since the rival of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 we have entered the age of competitive online multiplayer which is apparent with franchises like the Battlefield franchise with new installments to the franchise every year.

Popular trends recently is when a player commits themselves to a dedicated franchise where the developer can develop games on a yearly basis and keep the same fan base guaranteeing sales, see franchises like Assassins Creed and Call Of Duty. 

Out of all these franchises the most popular are the ones of the FPS genre and that are multiplatform the most recent been Battlefield and Call Of Duty, which as mentioned before can put together quickly a game annually that hardly changes from the previous installment. However as their fan bases become more self aware of this daily the franchise loses a percentage of its fan bases annually with the majority of players buying the latest installment regardless of whether they wish to play it or not due to peer pressure from other gamers as they are already dedicated to the franchise and feel the compulsion to buy the latest title. 

As game developers are also aware of this since the end of that generation and the start of the rivalry between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One these franchise are trying to dramatically change their franchises by adding new features and way of gameplay, see Battlefield Hardline incomparison to the previous Battlefield titles.

As this intresting development happens it is hard to see the future of these franchises despite their dedicated fan bases, though since the launch of 'Next gen' lots of Indie game developers are appearing on the scene and arguably are keeping most gamers (casual) in the gaming scene as they are adding newer and more original concepts to games they are also cheap and not at the standard triple A titles of £50. Indie games are also growing in size especially open world indie games which have increased in popularity since the launch of Minecraft. Which is apparent from games like No Man's Sky.

So overall current market trends are changing rapidly towards to open world market of co-operative multiplayer and away from competitive and with the consistent push of indie developers its hard to see Triple A titles been the most sold. It is hard to see the future for gaming in trends as we are currently in a transition period, however FPS's and competitive multiplayer are still the most popular but as gamers move on and mature co-operative and open world titles are taking the high ground in market trends, see Destiny.

LO4: Task 1 - Pitch Presention - All Slides [Concept Idea, Budgeting, Visual Representations]

LO4: Task 1 - Planning Documentation - Progress [2/5/14]

World design and various characters are designed. The presentation is near completion, all that needs adding is the final concept art as all other details are filled in. 

All art work will be completed by Monday and the final pieces of the presentation should be completed next friday.

LO4: Task 1 - Planning Documentation - Most Successful Competitors

Game                        Developer                          Publisher                                     Current Sales

Fallout: New Vegas     Obsidian                           Bethesda Soft works                     5 Million Units (2010)
The Last Of Us           Naughty Dog                     Sony Computer Entertainment       6 Million Units (2014)

Markets Entered                  Successful Audience Groups

Worldwide                            Fans of franchise, Fans of RPGs & Bethesda titles                         
Worldwide                            Fans of survival shooter & Naughty Dog titles

LO4: Task 1 - Pitch Presenation - Presentation Order & Individual Participation

Team Members: Matt Poole, Bill Collett

In this pitch we decided to present the sections we INDIVIUDALLY WORKED ON. Bill doing story, budgeting and other planning, and me presenting all concept art and simulation.

Introduction - Bill Collett
Plot - Bill Collett
Target Audience - Bill Collett

World Design - Matt Poole
Character Design - Matt Poole
Vehicle Design - Matt Poole
Weapon Design - Matt Poole
HUD/Gameplay Simulation - Matt Poole

Pre-research data - Bill Collett
Production Schedules - Bill Collett
Budgeting - Bill Collett

LO4: Task 1 - Planning Doucmentation - Progress 11/4/14

Progress Made:

All legal and ethical documentation has been filled out.

LO4: Task 1 - Planning Doucmentation - Legal & Ethical

Copyright issues

·    Music & Sound effects:

Resolution: We are able to compose the music ourselves, or hire a musical team to do it for us, which may well be cheaper than a copyright license. Sound Effects can also be recorded by ourselves.

·      Game Engine:

Resolution: Develop a new game engine

Ethical Issue Resolution:

Visceral Combat, Violence, Expletive and Religious Symbolism:  we rate the game for an appropriate audience. The option to purchase this for someone under aged is purely the consumer’s.

Obscene Publication Act:

I would avoid this by making sure any explicit content is avoided in character design. Making sure characters are not sexualised in any way. Also the game shall be rated 18, so consumers shouldn't be affended. 

Liable/Slander:

The game does not feature anybody of this world, that would change someones view on a particular person because all character used are FICTIONAL.

How To Avoid Ethical Questioning

The game would be rated 18 so only mature viewers should play the game as they know what they are in for. Therefore no question should be raised.

Legal Issues

• -       Music/Sound Licensing
• -       Using Premade Game Engine
• -      Development Kit License

Ethical Issues

• -       Visceral Combat
• -       Violence
• -       Expletive
• -       Religious Symbolism