| Building A Successful Game Business: The People
Common perception is that designing a game is glamorous but running business is robotic, inherently unethical and soul numbing. Common perception is wrong. Successful companies encourage their business side to flourish with the same creativity and passion seen in their games. This is the first in a series of articles outlining the steps to build a successful game business. These steps provide business guidance for companies either at start-up or in transition. Though aimed at management, they encompass basic business principals that informed developers at all levels need to understand so they can make the best decisions for a company. Part One: The People The game industry has a higher than normal set of the right people in the wrong places. Creative people start game studios, often just out of college.
Pop goes the music
Today's Livewire cover story examines the impact that video games are having on the music business, with comparisons made between the influence of gaming today with music videos in the 80s. Games are now one of the most effective ways that musicians can establish and grow their audience, igniting the careers of many now-famous artists, and its only a matter of time before integrated online marketplaces on the consoles allow us to purchase music instantly. Research suggests that licensed music soundtracks are not only introducing huge audiences to new bands, but they are also already influencing music purchasing decisions. Screen Play is interested to hear whether you think your music tastes have been broadened by gaming soundtracks. And what do you think of Harmonix's view that games like Rock Band will become "more than just a game, but rather a new platform for consuming and experiencing music"? Game designer Dan Teasdale says: "I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that at some point in the future, artists might factor in how fun a song is to play in a game like Rock Band in addition to radio playability when deciding which songs to release as singles." Click below for an interview with Sergio Pimentel, Music Licensing and A&R Manager at Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio, about the impact of gaming on music.
Webkinz toys the must-have toy of the summer
Or you could say they're the Tamagotchis of the new millennium. Here in the Cedar Valley, though, kids have one word to describe the Ganz line of Webkinz pets --- fun!The cuddly creatures have become the must-have toy of the summer, and retailers are trying to keep pace with demand."When I get a shipment in, let me tell you they are gone," says Penny Franke, owner of Bead Happy in Waterloo. "It's just nuts. A little girl came in and when she saw we were sold out of the black lab, her eyes welled up with tears."Webkinz typically retail for about $13 and come in a variety of plush animals, ranging from the hard-to-find pink pony to panda bears and pigs. The toys also come in a miniature version, Lil'Kinz, which go for about $10.While kids have always gone for the cuddle factor of a stuffed animal, it's the Webkinz' cyber gadget factor that has them going gaga.Webkinz pets come with a unique code that gains their owners access to the online Webkinz World.
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