mbs
09-11-2004, 04:30 PM
I noted an interesting editorial in today's <i>Business Day</i>, originally published in the UK's <i>The Guardian</i> (with due acknowledgements):
<b><i>Second Take</b>
When the latest UK releases of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings pulled in £10M to £12m each at the box office during their first few days, it was headline news. But the latest version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is reckoned to have grossed over £24m over the weekend without attracting such huge publicity. The explanation is quite simple: Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a computer game, not a film (though the two genres are converging so fast that it will soon be dificult to tell them apart).
Computer games are still regarded as a subart, not to be taken too seriously, even though the global takings of the industry have been bigger than Hollywoood's for years. Most of the publicity around the 18-plus rated GTA is directed at its violent content, though there was an animated conversation on the Guardian's gamesblog last week about the junk-food habits of the lead character who has to eat to stay alive.
GTA's sales achievement is all the more remarkable because the game plays on only one of the various consoles (PlayStation 2) available. It is as if Lord of the Rings could not be shown in all cinemas. It is likely to repeat its success all over the world. Like another impressive though violent game, The Getaway: Black Monday (set in realistic reproductions of London streets), GTA is a UK success story, developed by the Edinburgh-based Rockstar. The UK has a thriving development industry, but most of the games publishers (with exceptions) are foreign.
If there is a moral to all this, it is that it is time the highly successful industry matured with people who buy its products. If gaming were judged like ice dancing, then these two releases would get 10 out of 10 for technical merit but barely seven for artistic impression. If the industry is to fulfil its huge potential, it ought to take more risks with mature games that break out of the role-playing/first person shooters mould that has proved such a daunting formula. It is time to grow up.</i>
I found the editorial interesting because of the alleged revenue levels the gaming industry generates, and the fact that the author bemoans the foreign sourcing of games. Points to ponder:
1.) Do game developers actually exist in SA, or is it just a user community?
2.) If developers do exist, have they organised themselves to promote local game development, or do they just compete in the marketplace?
3.) How big is the gaming community in SA (all platforms)?
4.) What role do game suppliers play in the gaming community, other than just as suppliers?
5.) Could the gaming community justifiably form a pressure group focussed on the provision of suitable connectivity from the providers, through the framing of appropriate package offerings?
6.) Could the gaming community not be seen as the catalyst for the promotion of wireless mesh networks throughout SA?
7.) Anybody got any thoughts about starting an SA gaming site devoted to the promotion and growth of the gaming community in SA, where all gamers could register, if it does not already exist? (Would be absolutely hell to moderate, I'm sure![:)])
8.) What are the chances of some of the big game suppliers/developers pumping funds and technology transfer into the development of a local gaming industry?
9.) Gaming is closely tied to education - perhaps the education sector would be interested in getting involved?
Responses would be interesting, I'm sure...
<b><i>Second Take</b>
When the latest UK releases of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings pulled in £10M to £12m each at the box office during their first few days, it was headline news. But the latest version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is reckoned to have grossed over £24m over the weekend without attracting such huge publicity. The explanation is quite simple: Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a computer game, not a film (though the two genres are converging so fast that it will soon be dificult to tell them apart).
Computer games are still regarded as a subart, not to be taken too seriously, even though the global takings of the industry have been bigger than Hollywoood's for years. Most of the publicity around the 18-plus rated GTA is directed at its violent content, though there was an animated conversation on the Guardian's gamesblog last week about the junk-food habits of the lead character who has to eat to stay alive.
GTA's sales achievement is all the more remarkable because the game plays on only one of the various consoles (PlayStation 2) available. It is as if Lord of the Rings could not be shown in all cinemas. It is likely to repeat its success all over the world. Like another impressive though violent game, The Getaway: Black Monday (set in realistic reproductions of London streets), GTA is a UK success story, developed by the Edinburgh-based Rockstar. The UK has a thriving development industry, but most of the games publishers (with exceptions) are foreign.
If there is a moral to all this, it is that it is time the highly successful industry matured with people who buy its products. If gaming were judged like ice dancing, then these two releases would get 10 out of 10 for technical merit but barely seven for artistic impression. If the industry is to fulfil its huge potential, it ought to take more risks with mature games that break out of the role-playing/first person shooters mould that has proved such a daunting formula. It is time to grow up.</i>
I found the editorial interesting because of the alleged revenue levels the gaming industry generates, and the fact that the author bemoans the foreign sourcing of games. Points to ponder:
1.) Do game developers actually exist in SA, or is it just a user community?
2.) If developers do exist, have they organised themselves to promote local game development, or do they just compete in the marketplace?
3.) How big is the gaming community in SA (all platforms)?
4.) What role do game suppliers play in the gaming community, other than just as suppliers?
5.) Could the gaming community justifiably form a pressure group focussed on the provision of suitable connectivity from the providers, through the framing of appropriate package offerings?
6.) Could the gaming community not be seen as the catalyst for the promotion of wireless mesh networks throughout SA?
7.) Anybody got any thoughts about starting an SA gaming site devoted to the promotion and growth of the gaming community in SA, where all gamers could register, if it does not already exist? (Would be absolutely hell to moderate, I'm sure![:)])
8.) What are the chances of some of the big game suppliers/developers pumping funds and technology transfer into the development of a local gaming industry?
9.) Gaming is closely tied to education - perhaps the education sector would be interested in getting involved?
Responses would be interesting, I'm sure...