the intersection of hollywood film and the video game industry randy nichols department of english...
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The Intersection of Hollywood Film and the Video Game Industry
Randy NicholsDepartment of English
Bentley University
[email protected]: r_j_nichols
Video Game Myths
Video games are only played by kids Video games are played mostly by males Violent video games are the biggest sellers
Game Technologies Historically…
1972 First EpochGames and consoles are linked
ExamplesPong (1972)
1976 Second EpochGames and hardware separate
ExamplesAtari 2600 (1976)Nintendo NES (1985)
2000 Third EpochGames and hardware separate,Ability to use other media
ExamplesSony PS2 (2000)Xbox (2001)
2010 Fourth EpochGames and hardware separateAbility to use other mediaAbility to make other media?Ability to download content?
ExamplesXbox 360 (2005)Wii (2006)Sony PS3 (2006)
Location, location, location…
Arcades Home
Pay-to-play minimizes the need for story, characters, etc
The move to home play – and to continued play – places an emphasis on story and character, making games work more like Hollywood film
Video Game Software Profits, 1979-2003
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
Historic Software Sales for the Video Game Industry In Millions of U.S. Dollars
Source: TheESA.com and industry reports
Software Sales VS. Hollywood Box Office, 1995-2001
0123456789
10
1995 1997 1999 2001
Video GameSoftwareU.S. Film BoxOffice
REVENUE COMPARISON IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Source: TheESA.com, the Motion Picture Association of America
Logics of Video Game Production
Mainstream video games are designed to make a profit Games must be engaging (though not necessarily entertaining) Planned obsolescence keeps the industry profitable Long-term audiences mean long-term profitability Typical production centers around major shopping events Self-regulation is preferable to government regulation
Video Game Market Structure
Software Developers
Hardware Software
Developers Publishers
Retailers
Contracts Initiated from
Both Sides
Exclusive Contracts
Individual Contracts
Market Leaders, 2000
Game Sales Internationally
Video Game Audiences
Average Age of Video Game Players
Source: TheESA.com
Video Games and Gender
Profitability of Games Based on Films…
Profitability of Films Based on Games…
Challenges…
From Hollywood to Video Games: Unionization
From Video Games to Hollywood: Loss of audience Expectation of Interactivity CGI as a replacement?
The Intersection of Hollywood Film and the Video Game Industry
Randy NicholsDepartment of English
Bentley University
[email protected]: r_j_nichols