In Business Week Mag this week, there's an article about changing video games into movies. See the full article here.
They talk about the usual formula for a video game: take a popular movie or sports figure, make it a video game, and sell updated versions every few years.
With flagging sales, video game company Electronic Arts is trying a new approach. They are encouraging employees to think big. Create a video game that can later be converted into comics, books, movies, cartoons, TV shows, etc. "The next Batman or X-men franchise in reverse," says the article.
This is an interesting way to get inspiration for new ideas. Take a formula that works, and reverse it.
How could you reverse your current processes?
How could you reverse the processes of your competitors to gain an advantage?
1 comment:
I've been standing on street corners for decades preaching to the blind that video games will one day be the World's most dominating industry. This is a prime example of my quickly materializing prophecy.
As much as I like to see senior citizens, a population normally allergic to electronics, pick up a Wii remote, I'm a bit concerned with game developer's increasing efforts to cater to "casual gamers". Using Hollywood as a vehicle to promote gaming will, and in many cases, already has proven itself to be an incredibly effective means of increasing IP revenue. If used responsibly, this method could work wonders for the gaming world. Furthermore, I believe that there will always be amazing games being distributed, fully worthy of a wide range of recreation.
However, I'm also fairly certain that folks interested in decent gameplay will eventually have to dig through an inflated market layer of games infected with a Hollywood fame bug...perhaps similar to the rarity of finding a good tune on a perfume sales driven Top 40 chart.
If developers produce their games with the enjoyment of the gamers in mind, the hardcore fans will naturally drag their "casual gaming" friends to see the movie remake.
Nice blog by the way.
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