The future is this way
The 3rd annual NY Games conference will, as always, be a great place for executives to connect with each other and network. However, this year it will also be an opportunity for critical discussions on the direction of the industry, how to get ahead of the economy and implement strategies for the coming changes.
I have watched the industry closely for almost twenty years. However, I’m a perpetual optimist so I asked for input from a few individuals that are also watching the trends and have different opinions and perspectives. I asked about their current thoughts on the industry and what they hope and expect to achieve at the upcoming event.
Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer, Turbine: "The games industry is on the cusp of a huge paradigm shift in how users expect to try, buy, play and pay for games. Everything is going digital and players have more options than ever before. As developers we need to evolve our designs, find new ways to monetize the players and relentlessly push for quality or we risk being left behind."
Jonathan Epstein, CEO, Double Fusion: "NY is both an emerging center of gaming publisher and development, across all genres and gaming forms, and the leading center of consumer advertising, making the NY Games Conference a particularly relevant venue for discussing the changing business models for games and how advertising can expand both the industry’s audience and revenue streams. I look forward to the dialogue and debate with the great array of participants."
Dan Jansen, CEO & Co-Founder, Virtual Greats: "We will see significant growth in terms of users, engagement and price points for virtual goods. Important strategies for facing upcoming changes include diversifying revenue streams to include multiple sources, including advertising, subscriptions, virtual goods and marketing services. Getting ahead of the economy will involve maintaining an array of price points starting at free and going to very high prices for avid users. While at the conference I expect to do a lot of networking and explore new deals."
Wade Tinney, CEO & Co-Founder, Large Animal Games: "With social networking becoming the dominant paradigm for our online lives, games have greater potential than ever to weave themselves into the lives of players, to reach completely new groups of players, and to connect people."
Michael Cai, Vice President, Video Games, Interpret: "Industry trends: two words summarizing the megatrends in the industry – online and digital. It's a gradual transition but the economic downturn might be accelerating the process. Incumbent publishers need to give their online ventures more support and autonomy to carry out digital strategies and encourage internal cannibalization. What do I plan to bring to the conference? Knowledge, controversy and fun."
Andrew Sheppard, Executive Producer of Interactive Media, hi5 Networks: "This is an exciting year to be in the business of games. The industry as a whole is on the cusp of a radical change in the way publishers, developers and gamers participate in the gaming experience. Keep a close eye on the innovation that is about to erupt from social and mobile gaming."
Martyn Brown, Studio Director, Team17 Software: "I’m hoping to hear ongoing discussions, theories and case studies surrounding what is the inevitable move toward completely digital publishing models."
Kyu Lee, President, Gamevil: "Games are becoming more casual and social, platforms are expanding, business models are becoming more virtual and distribution is becoming more digital. Games have to become more innovative and target a larger audience in order to survive these days."
Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors: "I expect we will hear a lot at this conference about all the new modes of gaming – particularly social gaming (on social networks) and iPhone games. These are truly the new bright shiny objects of gaming!"
As an optimist and a geek, “The future is this way,” from Doctor Who has always been one of my favorite quotes. On September 30th in New York, the leaders of the industry will be pointing the way to the future.
(My personal thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts so generously! M&M Walker)
