Business & Games: The Blog

Harvard Researchers say: video games don't make your child violent. Politicians all over the world hold emergency meeting in order to identify a new scapegoat.
UK software piracy rates drop slightly, BSA claims. In the same article: Armenia software piracy rate estimated at 93%.
Advertising networks rates decline. On a related note, ads on social networks don't really hit the spot with about 87% of the users.  And, finally, it seems like Playboy is facing a pretty common brand problem in Second Life.

Happy Thursday y'all.

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 15, 2008 1:13 AM

The title comes from the excellent Harvard Business Review article, Leadership's Online Labs. The article gives an in-depth view of the similarities between leadership in business and in games.  While this is not the first time the subject is approached, the HBR article gives it the treatment it needs. And of course, gives the theory some weight...

Continue reading "Leadership in Games Is a Task, Not an Identity" »

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 13, 2008 10:08 PM

More numbers for the file. According to the NPD Group,  subscriptions for games/games portals reach and even exceed $1B, based on their estimates.

Continue reading "Online Subscriptions Generate One Billion USD Yearly" »

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 12, 2008 4:39 PM

via DMW Media

"China’s online video game market is expanding rapidly, with sales forecasted to grow from $1.7 billion in 2007 to $6 billion in 2012, according to a survey released by Niko Partners today."

It's pretty common knowledge that in China and such, everyone and their mothers can beat you at any video game you pick and they're only expanding! However, as with all forecasts, take this with a grain of salt.

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 9, 2008 1:08 AM

Over at casualgaming.biz, a playful look at what people did during office hours throughout history.  The same website has a 101 on what casual games are about, with references to everyone's favorite work-dodgers.

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 9, 2008 12:42 AM

"This untapped potential of games upsets the very foundation of advertising as we know it. Instead of surrounding us with images that reflect lives unlived, games can allow us to try out hypothetical lives with new products, people and ideas. To realise this potential, advertisers of both goods and viewpoints must stop blindly inserting their billboards into games or creating feeble copies of the cornerstones of videogame pop culture. Instead, they must start simulating the products, public policy positions, charitable interventions and other worldly ideas in new games – games worthy of our attention."

Ian Bogost in The Guardian

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 9, 2008 12:39 AM

While mainly aimed at people with disabilities, I gotta say this'd be quite a fun way of playing MMOs in the future. Via Wonderland.

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Alex Eperjessy on May 7, 2008 1:11 PM

Is Apple prepping a 3D shopping interface? A Second Life resident thinks it might (via Brand Flakes) if the new patent is any indication. The patent was filed in September 2006 and published a couple of weeks ago. (Follow a lengthier discussion.)

Continue reading "Apple Eyeing Virtual Store?" »

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Ilya Vedrashko on May 5, 2008 6:28 PM

Guest post by Heather Johnson

If gaming and toy conferences have taught us anything lately, it's that 2008 is going to be riddled with new virtual worlds. However, most of us could do without another Habbo or Second Life clone.

One of the most interesting startups that are slated to launch this year is Konstruction Zone, a "virtual playground" that is geared toward both children and their parents.

Continue reading "Innovative Virtual World For Future Engineers " »

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Futurelab on May 3, 2008 7:36 PM

Serious Games challenging us to play a better future

FUTURE-MAKING SERIOUS GAMES has launched a "dot com" website at http://futuremakingseriousgames.com/.

Continue reading "FUTURE-MAKING SERIOUS GAMES New Website" »

digg this| del.icio.us| Stumble It! | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this article to a friend | Posted by Eliane Alhadeff on May 2, 2008 12:05 AM