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Video Games in Video Games in 20052005

The State of the ArtThe State of the ArtJohn SalwitzJohn Salwitz

Senior Development DirectorSenior Development DirectorElectronic Arts, Inc.Electronic Arts, Inc.

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OverviewOverview

Quick history of the video game Quick history of the video game business!business!

Key technologies and creative Key technologies and creative initiatives today.initiatives today.

What’s next in video games?What’s next in video games? Where will young kids be playing Where will young kids be playing

games in 2 years?games in 2 years?

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DefinitionsDefinitions

Arcade Game – Coin Operated Arcade Game – Coin Operated Standup GameStandup Game

Hand Held Game – Portable, Battery Hand Held Game – Portable, Battery OperatedOperated

PC Game – Played on your “Dell”PC Game – Played on your “Dell” Console Game – Played on your T.V.Console Game – Played on your T.V.

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Golden Age of Arcade Golden Age of Arcade Games Games

The dawn of video games!The dawn of video games! Games are played in local arcades, college campuses, Games are played in local arcades, college campuses,

bowling alleys, 7-11s, movie theaters…bowling alleys, 7-11s, movie theaters… Players pay about $.25 for each game and play for about 3-Players pay about $.25 for each game and play for about 3-

5 minutes.5 minutes. Hit games sell 75,000 units at about $2,500 each.Hit games sell 75,000 units at about $2,500 each. Hits include…Hits include…

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72 - 80Early Arcade

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Sunset on the Arcades Sunset on the Arcades Arcade game hardware grows substantially in complexity and Arcade game hardware grows substantially in complexity and

capability.capability. Arcades dominate the video-game business in 1980-1981.Arcades dominate the video-game business in 1980-1981. Console game titles are created largely as derivatives of Console game titles are created largely as derivatives of

arcade games.arcade games. In 1985 things begin to change…In 1985 things begin to change… In 1985 Nintendo launches the NES (Nintendo Entertainment In 1985 Nintendo launches the NES (Nintendo Entertainment

System)…System)…

The end of the arcade has begun…The end of the arcade has begun…

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72 - 80Early Arcade

81 - 86Early Console

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Console Games Arrive!Console Games Arrive! At-home video game play has taken over the industry!At-home video game play has taken over the industry! Nintendo entertainment system dominates the Nintendo entertainment system dominates the

market.market. 22ndnd party software publishers (non-hardware makers) party software publishers (non-hardware makers)

begin to sell lots of games for “standard platforms”.begin to sell lots of games for “standard platforms”. Most games are being played on 5 year old Most games are being played on 5 year old

technology.technology.

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72 - 80Early Arcade

81 - 86Early Console

86 - 90Console II

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Console Explosion! Console Explosion! In 1990 Sega introduces the “Genesis”… 16-bit Video Games!In 1990 Sega introduces the “Genesis”… 16-bit Video Games! Shortly thereafter Nintendo releases the “SNES” (Super Shortly thereafter Nintendo releases the “SNES” (Super

NES).NES). By the end of this period, video games are stored on CDROM. By the end of this period, video games are stored on CDROM. Sony ends Nintendo and Sega’s reign in 1995 with the Sony ends Nintendo and Sega’s reign in 1995 with the

introduction of the introduction of the Sony PlayStationSony PlayStation (PS1). (PS1). With the With the PlayStationPlayStation home video games become 3- home video games become 3-

Dimensional!Dimensional!

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72 - 80Early Arcade

81 - 86Early Console

86 - 90Console II

90 - 97Console Explosion!

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Console Explosion! Console Explosion!

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Modern Era of Video Modern Era of Video Games !Games !

Sony’s dominance over the video game Sony’s dominance over the video game business increases with the introduction business increases with the introduction of the PlayStation II in 2000.of the PlayStation II in 2000.

Nintendo follows with the “Game Cube”Nintendo follows with the “Game Cube” Microsoft follows with the “Xbox”Microsoft follows with the “Xbox” Most video games are created by software Most video games are created by software

publishers. publishers.

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72 - 80Early Arcade

81 - 86Early Console

86 - 90Console II

90 - 97Console Explosion!

97 - 04Modern Era

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Modern Era of Video Modern Era of Video Games !Games !

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Computational PowerComputational Power

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100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

MHZ

NESGENESISPS-1PS-IIXBOX

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Key Technologies and Key Technologies and Features in Today’s Games.Features in Today’s Games.

Multiplayer – Many people sharing Multiplayer – Many people sharing

same game.same game. Open Worlds – Interactive Playgrounds.Open Worlds – Interactive Playgrounds. Story Telling Through Game-play.Story Telling Through Game-play. Incredible Environmental Realism.Incredible Environmental Realism. Convergence: Video Games and Convergence: Video Games and

Movies!Movies!

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What video games will What video games will young kids be playing in 2 young kids be playing in 2

years…years…

I have absolutely no idea!I have absolutely no idea!

However… I have some idea However… I have some idea wherewhere they they will be playing!will be playing!

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Last Year’s Top Video Last Year’s Top Video GamesGames

1.1. Crash Team RacingCrash Team Racing 2.2. Spongebob Spongebob

SuperspongeSupersponge 3.3. Spyro: Year Of DragonSpyro: Year Of Dragon 4.4. Shrek: Treasure Hunt Shrek: Treasure Hunt 5.5. Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft Auto 6.6. Disney Collectors Edtn Disney Collectors Edtn 7.7. Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy VIII 8.8. Crash Bash Crash Bash 9.9. Namco Museum Namco Museum 10.10. Final Fantasy AnthologyFinal Fantasy Anthology

Top PS-II Games 2004Top PS-II Games 2004 Top PS-I Games Top PS-I Games 20042004

1.1. Grand Theft: Andreas Grand Theft: Andreas 2.2. Madden NFL 2005 Madden NFL 2005 3.3. NFS Underground 2 NFS Underground 2 4.4. Spider-Man: The MovieSpider-Man: The Movie5.5. NCAA Football NCAA Football 6.6. NBA Live NBA Live 7.7. MVP Baseball MVP Baseball 8.8. Metal Gear3:Snake Metal Gear3:Snake 9.9. Tony Hawk Tony Hawk

Underground Underground 10.10. NFL Fight NightNFL Fight Night

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Where will young kids be Where will young kids be playing games in 2 years?playing games in 2 years?

ANSWER:ANSWER:They will be playing games on PS II and on They will be playing games on PS II and on the XBOX in their living rooms.the XBOX in their living rooms.

By the way… there are over 45 Million of these By the way… there are over 45 Million of these consoles (world wide).consoles (world wide).

Maybe… older siblings give their game Maybe… older siblings give their game systems to younger siblings?systems to younger siblings?

They will be doing so because next year…They will be doing so because next year…

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What’s Next?What’s Next?

XBOX II and PlayStation III!XBOX II and PlayStation III! In the fall of 2005 Microsoft will introduce XBOX II.In the fall of 2005 Microsoft will introduce XBOX II. In the fall of 2006 Sony will introduce PlayStation III.In the fall of 2006 Sony will introduce PlayStation III. Lets compare…Lets compare…

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Computation… Next GenComputation… Next Gen

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5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

MHZ

PS-IIXBOXXBOX-IIPS-III

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Finally…Finally…

Video game development happens in Video game development happens in cycles.cycles.

We are just about to end one phase We are just about to end one phase and enter another.and enter another.

Each cycle brings a 10x improvement Each cycle brings a 10x improvement in hardware capability and wonderful in hardware capability and wonderful jumps in quality.jumps in quality.

Younger players play older platforms.Younger players play older platforms.

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Care to play?Care to play?