Marketing 101: It only does everything...

The original brand of Playstation has applied exclusively to video game consoles, throughout the life of its brand. However, when Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi in June of 2006 publicly stated "we never said we will release a game console", in regards to the upcoming PS3, this message confused both consumers and developers alike (Edge Staff). Those who were familiar with Playstation felt that despite the campaign of with PS3 being “a computer, [which] can interact with anything”; video game software will ultimately drive hardware sales (Edge Staff). With this as their initial marketing goal, the Playstation 3 would have a difficult launch, rolling out 8 different iterations over the next 3 years, dropping console prices and continuing to adjust its firmware. Now, we will examine the launch of the PS3 and the strategies behind pricing, advertising and executive structure. Then, look into the future of the console, with the most recent re-launch of the PS3 brand.

Knowledge came about of the PS3 early in 2005, it only made sense from Sony’s previous success with the PS2, that they would develop another generation of console to stay competitive in the market. Like anything a consumer can purchase, price is an important factor in the decision making process. Consumer fear would be sparked in a controversial statement made by Ken Kutaragi to Japanese reporters in 2005, saying consumers should feel they “will work more hours to buy one. We want people to feel that they want it, irrespective of anything else,” leading many consumers to wonder how much the PS3 would cost (Johnb). Then, a month later on a French radio station, the President of Sony France would leak pricing information for Europe “around €500 [$613], in the range of €499 to 599 [$612 to 734]” (Jenkins). Later in the year, this pricing would be confirmed at E3 and entertainment exposition in the U.S. The US dollars would appear the same as Euros, at 499 and 599. This would obviously be an issue in some consumer’s eyes as the European and Japanese versions were more expensive than the American version. Sony’s UK managing director tried to explain this variability and wanted to stress that the decision was made “dealing with Euros and Yen - it's about the relationship between those currencies", not having to do with US currency. Combine this with the fact that the PS3 is launching in both America and Japan in November of 2006, while Europe won’t get a PS3 until March of 2007 and you have a few very explosive markets being affected negatively in this launch.

Now we already understand from the initial launch of the PS3 Kutaragi was trying to sell us a computer, but Sony needed to convince consumers that this idea was more fact than fallacy. Looking back at one of the initial selling points, may have been more problematic than progressive in terms of thinking and that was pitching the Cell Processor. The Cell is a design where the processor can divide itself 8 times and distribute its power equally to 8 different components within the PS3. But Sony felt that this much processing power could achieve more and developed the cell (with IBM) to work harmoniously with other cells. There intent is “to use the Cell processor across a wide variety of home applications”, so your toaster could sync with your TV, which would sync with your PS3 to improve your gaming experience, but appliance-makers would be a hurdle. It seems highly unlikely that any sort of kitchen appliance is going to require the power of the cell process to facilitate its daily function. Sony Computer Entertainment chief executive Ken Kutaragi told Japan’s PC Impress Watch earlier this year, “...People making those everyday-life electronic devices are still not thinking their product will one day turn into computers. I believe this is some kind of pride that electronic makers hold against the computer world” (Edge Staff). Whether or not the consumer electronics industry is holding a grudge against the computer industry; its 3 years later and there is no future in sight for the cell processor to be used in such a way.



There was trouble at the top during the launch of the PS3, executives were squabbling and making decisions without consulting their peers. “In September, Mr. Kutaragi announced Sony was halving shipments of the new PlayStation to the U.S. and Japan and was pushing back its European launch. At a news conference, Mr. Kutaragi blamed Sony's electronics group for failing to produce enough of a critical component, exposing his tense relationship with the division. ‘If we're asked whether Sony's quality of manufacturing has declined, I would have to say 'yes,' Mr. Kutaragi told reporters” (Kane). There are times and places for people to share these emotions, this was not either of those. By publicly announcing his displeasure with the electronics division, Kutaragi was isolating himself within the business, simultaneously loosing corporate confidence. Eventually, the father of Playstation would become too much of a liability for Sony and “After completing the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 worldwide, Mr. Kutaragi has decided to pursue his dreams beyond PlayStation and to accelerate his network vision” (SCEI Press Release). The President of Sony Corporate, Howard Stringer “persuaded Mr. Kutaragi to give up day-to-day control of the division in December…Mr. Stringer replaced him with the U.S. head of the videogame unit,” Kazuo Hirai (Kane). With this change, Jack Tretton would assume the role of the President of the North American division.




As Sony moves into its new future, Kazuo and SCE have decided to launch the 7th and 8th iterations of the PS3 under new branding. The New Playstation 3 is much slimmer than its 6 predecessor’s and sports one of the largest hard drives, at a $300 price point. The 8th version has also been confirmed recently, and will double the Hard Drive size of the 7th generation, for $350. The newest models are also painted a flat black and have an etched PS3 symbol on the face, as opposed to previous models (being gloss black with chrome “Playstation 3” written on the face). Their marketing campaign has come full circle with; “Playstation 3, it only does everything,” being a more media centered, video game console and offering a competitive bang for your buck, over the Xbox360 or Wii. The commercial side of the campaign has also been met with positive results, and the box art on games have also received the new logo. After one month of the new brand being available on the market, NPD reports show that PS3 sold twice as many units over September 2008 and Microsoft (who also had a price drop), only increased 2% from last year. I personally am excited about the recent re-branding and can’t wait to see what Sony’s future holds for the Playstation 3.



Citations:

• All images are a result of Google Image Search
• SCEI Press Releases can be found on the SCEI website here: http://www.scei.co.jp/index_e.html
• NPD Numbers can be found here: http://www.gamegrep.com/industry_news/26282-september_2009_npd_ps3_slim_makes_ps3_console_hardware_leader_halo_3_odst_leads_software/
• Edge Staff “Cell-Powered Appliances by Early '08”, 12/11/2006 http://www.next-gen.biz/news/cell-powered-appliances-early-08
• Johnb “PS3 launch price is no fun for UK gamers”, 02/01/2007 http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/playstation/ps3-to-be-really-spensive-111266.php
• Edge Staff “Kutaragi Details PS3 'Computer' Claim”, 06/07/2006 http://www.next-gen.biz/news/kutaragi-details-ps3-computer-claim
• Yukari Iwatani Kane - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117285593145024927.html?mod=home_we_banner_left&mg=com-wsj

Blog Report: October 7th

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/10/it-only-does-uncharted-2-among-thieves/

It Only Does UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves from PlayStation.Blog
by Peter Dille
Oct 2, 2009

Sony has been on a holiday blitz lately, with the recent price drop of the PS3 and release of the PSPgo. To accompany these hardware releases, the will be pushing new marketing campaigns and the PS3 campaign “It only does everything” seems to be successful. This article is a post of the third commercial (to my knowledge) in that campaign and it is doing things a little differently. Most advertisements for the PS3 have been either relevant directly to the hardware (display features, price, style, etc.) or a mash-up of both first party / third party software titles. This new commercial however features only one first party software title, Uncharted 2. Within the past few days reviews have surfaced in anticipation of launch. Luckily, it is slowly ramping up to becoming one of the highest rated games of this generation, if not all time. With that in mind it seems like Sony may actually be on track to salvaging this console generation, simply by acknowledging that the hardware is not the only thing you need to consider when developing a console. The games people play are equally, if not, more important than the hardware it is developed on. For Sony, having an exclusive title like Uncharted 2 should help generate sales this holiday season. The humorous tone of this marketing campaign has been apparent from its onset and the new commercial is trying hard to keep the laughs rolling. It starts with a gamer requesting help from Sony, because his girlfriend has been watching the game as if it were a movie, for two days and she still does not realize it is a game. Watch the full video on the blog to see how it plays out.

http://setonstun.com/2009/10/gamers-doing-good-games-that-give/

Gamers Doing Good: Games That Give
JP Sherman
Oct 2 2009

Here is an interesting promotion, a flash based, casual gaming website that operates as a portal for charitable donations. Basically, registered users and guests alike are able to experience a number of browser based games, and by doing so, 70% of the ad revenue is donated to a number of different charities. I myself gave it a try and if you’re looking to spend an afternoon playing some Solitaire, Blackjack, Sudoku, etc; then you can do it and generate some funds for charity. It reminds me of a Stride Gum promotion that was going on last month, where a number of struggling arcades were in a competition to score the most points in a flash based game. Doing so would result in a $25,000 stipend for the winning arcade. You can find more information on that at http://savethearcades.stridegum.com/. Games that Give may not be the first of its kind, but it certainly is an ambitious venture, with over 5,000 registered users so far and $2,500 in ad generated charity. I wonder if any of these major gaming developers had considered an option like this for some of their games. Essentially, Pop Cap games have made the flash based platform into a viable industry with games like Peggle and Plants vs. Zombies. Could they too utilize a similar business model as Games that Give, maybe on some of their older titles? If they did, would they experience a stronger sense of loyalty from the community by giving back? From a PR perspective, this may be a good model for certain developers, but for now, if you have any free time, stop by and play some games.

Gaming Outdoors: The Rise of Arcade UFO

While I was in town for GDC, I had to go by Arcade UFO and pay homage to the shrine of my youth. This time, I brought some friends from town with me in a hope to stir up that little bit of nostalgia I myself experienced last time. Immediately, one new cabinet that really caught my eye was DJ Max Technika, a touch screen based rhythm game, which was as addicting as it was complex. It basically plays much like Elite Beat Agents, except the touch screen is left to right on top and right to left on bottom. So as the "notes" appear on one row as you are interacting with the other row and you continue to circle around the touch screen as JPOP/JRock jams out on the digital display above you. There were also a couple new white "candy" cabinets, featuring the highly competitive Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Daemon Bride. For more information you can check there website out http://www.arcadeufo.com and see if anything peaks your interests. Also, not more than a few weeks later, it was revealed that UFO won the on-line competition with Stride Gum to Save the Arcades. You can check out the report here; http://savethearcades.stridegum.com/. This is fantastic for the city of Austin, because not only does it help to keep the arcade culture alive, but it helps to "Keep Austin Weird". How many other cities can say they have an authentic Japanese arcade? I am sure that $25,000 is going to go a long way in paying for some of the new cabinets they had recently purchased. My friends and I had a great time, especially because we could make that the last stop of the evening (Sushi and Drinks came first).Walking out from the arcade around 1 am, I felt a calming satisfaction being back in Austin for the weekend. I am sure I will come back and the next time will be even better.

The Art of Gaming: October

Stanley Lau a.k.a Artgerm, you can find him @ http://artgerm.deviantart.com/

Blog Report: September 30th

Blog: Gamasutra (substitute for ‘Set on Stun’)
Blogger: Leigh Alexander
Post Title: Sony: No UMD-To-Digital Conversion For PSP Upgraders
Date: September 25, 2009
Link: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25407

Set to Stun has not updated in over a week, show I chose a post recently from Gamasutra, an industry blog that is the equivalent of a trade magazine to video games. The PSP is trying to move out of last place and its success seems more and more uncertain as Sony continues to handle PR/Marketing for the device so poorly. Since its inception, the PSP has never been a success in the portable market. Limited capabilities, lack of software support, rampant piracy and all coming with a hefty price tag has placed the device lagging behind the Nintendo DS or even iPhones. Moving into the future Sony now intends to release a 4th update to the current hardware, a re-design called the PSPgo, which has forsaken its “software on disc” days (via the UMD drive) to utilize the growing popularity of digital download. So now much like the iphone, you can log onto the internet (via Wifi) and download your titles directly onto the PSPgo, no disc required. But if you currently have a PSP (which can also download), but additionally still utilize the disc drive, do you even want to upgrade? When Sony was first addressed about the concern of UMD drives becoming obsolete, they felt confident in saying that they were looking into a program to allow existing PSP owners to convert some of the UMD games they already own to digital versions playable on the PSPgo, though declined to say how many games will be convertible. Well, that’s because it now looks like that will not be an option at all, making the PSPgo a poor investment for anyone that has UMDs. Not only is this a huge turn off to the consumer, the price point is as well, selling for $250! Now, a PS3 is $299, which can do a whole lot for the price, and a PSP3000 is $170, which can do everything a PSPgo can, plus play UMDs. Starting to get the picture? Compare this with a Nintendo DSi going for $170 or even and iPhone 3G being $100, I think this is a serious mistake on Sony’s part. The business model for this device is all sorts of wacky and until it release, Sony seems oblivious to the magnitude of the situation. Hopefully, it won’t cost them much more than they put in.

Blog: Official Sony U.S. Playstation Blog
Blogger: Mark Valledor // Marketing Manager, SCEA
Post Title: LittleBigPlanet: Sack it to Me – The “Lots of Videos, Corrections, and FREE DLC” Edition
Date: September 25th , 2009
Link: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/littlebigplanet-sack-it-to-me-the-lots-of-videos-corrections-and-free-dlc-edition/

Little Big Planet is an exclusive IP (intellectual property) for the Sony Playstation 3, who after its release in 2008 was met with critical acclaim and currently holds second place for the highest rated game on the PS3 (according to Metacritic). One reason why this title has met with so much success is its ability to generate content for free, via an online community and the tools provided in game. The idea is, the developer (Media Molecule) could make a traditional platforming game (a la Mario Brothers) and develop a creation kit in game, so that once you play through the story, you could download other user levels. Combine that with strong support from Media Molecule for new designs, costumes and abilities; the game comes complete with a never end stream of new stuff to play and see. There have been so many user generated levels, that the game is getting a Game of the Year Edition re-release, which will not only include all the on-line content, but have new content created specifically by the top 18 level designers in the community! In this post they show of some new downloadable content, levels, and an up and coming designer. This is an excellent example of PR 2.0, since Sony is going into the community and seeking out its most passionate consumers to advocate for this game. These advocates bridge the gap in communication between Sony and its consumers, making the conversation a “two-way street”. In doing so, it creates an impression that you too can play, create, and share.

State of the Industry: The "New" Black

Prices are being rolled back across all major platforms in an attempt to reach as many households as possible this holiday season. The most prominent of these being the release of the new PS3. But don't call it a slim yet, Sony is hanging onto that subtitle for a later date. Instead; the PS3 has been rebranded, bringing in a new piece of hardware, logo and firmwire at a price point which is more stomachable. For me this means nothing, since I have a backwards compatible 60 gb and would rather dive on a grenade than watch it die. But hey, thats me. My brother on the other hand was out a PS3 when I moved out, and after a sleepless couple months, the new PS3 was released and he too is a Sony fanboy again. With the new PS3 you can get the same functionality as everyone else, plus a 120 gb Hard Drive, at a $300 price point.

Microsoft decided that this was as good as time as any to drop the Xbox 360 Pro completely. Going forward it seems the Elite is going to be the primary 360, while the Arcade is still available for some reason and with the Elite, Microsoft will match the PS3 price point at $300. So, right now it is a pretty equal value between these two consoles, but lets see what we really get. Graphics, sound, game controllers; are not going to be that different besides the case of 1st party titles. The PS3 has Blu-ray and WiFi built in, which bumps it up if either of those things are important to you. While, the Xbox 360 Elite has backwards compatibility with older games and a wired headset. Which compared to the PS3 features, are kind meh. If you wanted to get a PS3 headset, you can get a wireless one bundled with a game for 50 dollars or less, where as a WiFi kit on the 360 is around $80 or more. Seems to me the PS3 is the best buy this holiday. Xbox 360 will release a bundle with 2 games (Lego Batman and Pure), but if your interested in the Elite, act soon, because Microsoft is also offering a $50 rebate, if you purchase by October 5th. Come to think of it, I am on my fourth 20 gb Pro now. Maybe its time to UPGRADE!

And what the hell is wrong with Nintendo?? They drop the Wii to a $200 price point, but the price was not holding Wii sales back. Its the value of the Wii. Maybe if they could freshen up the bundle for the holiday, by say releasing the same Black edition they released in Japan this past summer or even bundling the motion plus with the console. Oh wait, you would have to have more than 2 games for the motion plus to actually matter (and don't tell me Grand Slam Tennis uses motion plus, it DOESN'T! First time I have had buyers regret in years). The fact is, the Wii is missing that "killer App" that can move hardware. Maybe if they were releasing a new Zelda or Metroid other M before Christmas, they could move some consoles. Instead, we get Wii fit plus and New Super Mario Brothers, which lets face it, is not going to grab my attention.

As you can see black is back and consoles are more affordable than ever. If you are missing out on something, this holiday season may be the best time to buy.

Blog Report: September 22nd

Blog: Official Sony U.S. Playstation Blog
Blogger: Posted by Jeff Rubenstein // Social Media Manager
Post Title: PlayStation Around the Web: What We Read
Date: September 20, 2009
Link: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/playstation-around-the-web-what-we-read-67/

The main topic at hand since the first day of class has been about social media, and how web 2.0 is changing PR. Here I felt was a perfect example of how a company is using Web 2.0 to not only promote the product or brand which they are selling, but to open a dialog, weekly, with their customers. Basically, Sony rounds up a number of articles from a number of blogs around the internet and recommends them to Sony Playstation Blog readers. I decided to run some metrics on the blogs they recommended to look for trends. The first and most obvious trend was that, although all these blogs tend to remain unbiased, all the articles recommended were regarding something involving Sony or the Playstation brand in some capacity. This is not unexpected as this is the official Playstation blog, but where Sony was reading their articles of choice also interested me. So, I broke the blogs down into the following categories:
• Focused Industry Publication – examine one specific sub-culture of gaming
• Game Review Publication – a critic of video games and the culture surrounding it
• Non-industry Publication – a publication outside the video game industry
• Personal/Company Publication – a publication with emotional or corporate biases
• VG Industry Web Aggregator – a publication which collects information from all the previously mentioned publication and present that, with editorial style interpretation.

From the data we can see a few things; first, the majority of the articles come from VG review websites, which are the more traditional professional journalist outlet. Second, the only recommend one Personal/Corporate blog, which is good because these blogs tend to be biased simply due to the blog being written from a more “personal” perspective. Speaking of biases, the Focused publications only exist in half the space Review Publications do. Probably due to the fact that many focused publications may not include Sony content. Lastly, the Web Aggregators are hot on the heels of Game Review sites. Not only because they have editorials, but the web aggregators pool news from all the other sites on the web, making getting industry information that much easier. Non-industry publications tend to be National News Networks or Technology Driven Publications, which examine some aspects of gaming, not the largest group by far. Lastly, If only to appease myself, I wanted to see if there was a trend in which console Sony was promoting through recommendations.

The results yielded a 60/40 split with the PS3 taking center stage. At the current price points though, the PSP is the one more likely to suffer, as its latest iteration, the PSPgo, is only $50 (at $250) less than a PS3. It will take much more convincing marketing from Sony to justify that price point. Especially, since the PS3 has Blu-ray and can compete in multiple markets. The other refers to an article on Playstation Branded shoes, which are so limited (24 pairs), it almost seems like Sony wanted us to see something cool we can’t buy.

Blog: Set on Stun
Blogger: Shawn Deena
Post Title: Veruca Salt Alert — I WANT IT NOW — Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Console
Date: September 16, 2009
Link: http://setonstun.com/2009/09/veruca-salt-alert-i-want-it-now-modern-warfare-2-limited-edition-console/

The reason why this post is significant from a marketing stand point, is that this is relatively uncommon of Microsoft to not only create a limited edition, but to also make it available to the public. Most limited edition consoles are of already existing skus, which have been modified aesthetically for the release of a specific game, and is limited to less than 10 units. Instead, Modern Warfare 2 is getting a worldwide release, on a new sku of the 360 which contains a larger hard drive; as well as, an extra controller and a copy of the game at no extra cost. For Activision, the publisher and Infinity Ward the developer, it really displays the level of commitment from Microsoft, as they are developing the console for a Third-Party game. Not only will this hopefully result in a direct increase in sales for the console manufacturer, but it may even spark more sales of such custom Modern Warfare 2 accessories, which include; controllers, headsets, keyboards, mice, faceplates, and even night vision goggles?! Just when you thought a video game brand only applied to video games. There certainly is value there, by bundling the extra controller and game with the console, not only is the aesthetic appealing, but so is the price point. I have to think that this process would still be complicated for the marketing team at Microsoft, as the number of parties involved increases, over say, using a Microsoft licensed game, like the Halo 3 Edition 360. Not only are you working with a publisher and developer, but many times there are arrangements between retailers on who will actually distribute the product. A perfect example is how HMV and GameStop have exclusive rights to distribute the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition (not the console bundle) in Ireland and the UK, respectively. As for the bundle, it will be out November 10th, if you want to take advantage of this limited time offer.

Gaming Outdoors: GDC Austin 2009

Living in DFW is not exactly what one would consider the epicenter of video game culture. Hell, we can barely keep the businesses alive up here, but Austin on the other hand is thriving. Mostly due to the rising popularity of MMO's, Austin has become home to 46 Developers, Publishers and industry related businesses. For a guy looking to get a job in gaming, I figured I could take a quick trip down to the Austin Game Developers Conference. *Note, that figure above came from http://www.gamedevmap.com/, a must stop on the internets if your looking to get a job in gaming. How was the conference though? Not so great honestly. First off, I am not looking for a job in design and I know that this conference is specifically about design (oops!). It is a place where various artists, programmers, and companies come together and share ideas for the benefit of the industry. So going into this, a Graduate student looking for a job in Marketing or PR is a little out of place. Still I paid my $100 and was gonna hit some panels and the show floor, try to take advantage of the opportunity. Altogether the panels were interesting, I went to the Friday morning keynote, took in a panel on building a resume and website for getting a job in gaming, along with a few others. So far everything was going well, but the show floor kind of killed it for me. No one was taking resumes, especially for my position. It seems everyone has wised up and taken the online route, rather than trying to roll out of a convention with 20 lbs. of paper. Then, there were only 2 Publishers there, Bethesda and Sony. So, I threw a few business cards around, made a few contacts, but little progress. I think that if I was in design, it may have been a more fruitful experience, but I probably won't do it again. One thing I learned in the resume panel, I have a much better chance at getting a job in the industry if I can make this blog successful, so everybody follow me!

Play it NOW!: Batman Arkham Asylum

Lets face facts, superheroes and video games don't make for a tasty sunday (wordplay). Take the recent Wolverine game from Raven, sure its a movie licensed game so the constraints are different, but regardless, it ultimately is a shallow, misguided God of War clone. I liked it but I didn't love it. Batman on the other hand, LOVED IT! Here, let me count the ways:

• The new art style is fab. Sure, it isn't my favorite, but it is different. Which is great because after so many iterations of the same character, it is good to have a fresh look. The unreal engine is not without its quirks though, since everyone in that game looks like they have been doing steroids.
• Ambiance. Because there was nothing better than strolling through the cell blocks of Arkham, crushing inmates bones and ruining the Jokers night. Sound effects are spot on and voice acting is astonishing, with both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles from the animated series.

Villians, Villians, Villians are everywhere. And at no time did it ever feel contrived or simply just thrown in. Some villians made the cut as actual enemies, others you may see pacing in their cells cursing your existence as you run onto the next task and even others are just part of the database provided in game. The Scarecrow is fucking awesome!!

Speaking of the database, the Riddler challenges add a feel of investigation to the whole game, as you scour the rooms for answers to riddles, riddler trophys, audio files and the ever amusing joker teeth. Much of this time is spent in detective vision, a kind of x-ray/nightvision which will help by providing clues. In completing these challenges, it unlocks more information on enemies, art and of course Achievements/Trophies.

I know I am rambling so to wrap it up, gameplay. Much like the Riddler challenges, combat tends to be room by room. Clear that room out, and move onto the next one, a la Metroid. Now there are two true combat modes: Free Flow and Predator. Free Flow is a simple hand to hand combat mode where; one button punches, another counters and another dodges. The more attacks you string together without being damaged, the more opportunities to inflict copius amounts of pain to your enemies.

But when those enemies have guns, Batman has to stick to the shadows, after all he isn't bullet proof. So gameplay changes to a more stealthy "Predator" mode, where you swing between gargoyles, hide in grates and use your various gadgets to eliminate your opponents one at a time. Also, as you eliminate these thugs, the Joker will taunt the remaining ones until the last guy is pissing in his pants in a corner.

Long story, short answer: It makes you feel like Batman and if thats what your about, go play it now.

*All images are the result of a Google image search

Blog Report: September 15th

In my PR course, I have the pleasure of reviewing a number of blogs and since I want to do PR for a gaming company, I chose some blogs related to the industry. Just thought, since these are already written, I might as well post them for all to see.

Blog: Official Sony U.S. Playstation Blog
Blogger: Asad Qizilbash // Marketing Manager, SCEA
Post Title: UNCHARTED 2 Officially Goes Gold, Plus Sneak-Peek Cinema Events!
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009
Link: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/09/uncharted-2-officially-goes-gold-plus-sneak-peek-cinema-events/

For a video game, “going gold” is as important as getting a concept together for creation. Basically the game has achieved it ‘final state’ (excluding downloadable content or updates) and is ready to be pressed to discs and ship to the consumer. Drake’s Fortune 2 is easily one of the most anticipated titles for the Playstation 3 in 2009 and to a PR representative it is one of the best things you will have to announce on a given title all year. Now with only 31 days left until launch, the marketing campaign and PR responsibilities will be in full swing, as preparations are being made for its release. There have been many trade show panels, a closed beta test (which I was a part of) and trailers helping to campaign for this game, but they have released two new campaigns in the past week. On this blog post, Sony has revealed that at a number of locations, there will be a pre-screening of some in game cinemas, free to the public, “powered by Sony Electronics 4K digital cinema technology, which provides image resolution four times greater than any high-definition consumer television out there.” A new technology, not adopted by many US theaters. Not only that, but there will be Naughty Dog (development studio) employees on site for some food/drink, multiplayer competitions and the chance to win the other campaign I was referring to; a Limited Edition copy of the game, which will not be for sale retail (unlike most “limited” editions these days). The entrance requires VIP access, which will most likely require you to register with Sony to attend. But otherwise the only cost for me or you would be a plane ticket to any of the cities below. Too bad that cost is already too high…
Chicago Area – Rosemont, IL, Muvico Theater
LA Area – Thousand Oaks, CA, Muvico Theater
Seattle Area – Bellevue, WA, Lincoln Square Theater
San Francisco – Landmark Embarcadero

Blog: Set on Stun
Blogger: JP Sherman
Post Title: 5 Keys to Successful Video Game Marketing from Ayzenberg Group’s Steve Fowler
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Link: http://setonstun.com/2009/09/5-keys-to-successful-video-game-marketing/

The topic of this post was a citation/summary from an article pertaining to practices which will enhance a marketer’s ability to relate to their consumers. It was posted by Steve Fowler of the Ayzenberg Group, a Ad Agency with some well known clients like Turbine, Konami, Lucas Arts, Ubisoft and Microsoft. Steve offered the following insight:

Identifying Emerging Trends

Understand that the community in which a majority of your marketing prowess will be geared towards what many consider the ‘early adopters’’. Many of your consumers are equally if not more informed about your product than you may be, and it is important when communicating, this is recognized.

Utilizing Social Media

Know that your consumers will be receiving information from many unconventional channels, IE: blogs, twitter, Facebook or MySpace. Even word of mouth has become easier through social media. Some things to consider when using these channels include:

• Be authentic
• Be a part of the conversation
• Add value
• Crave criticism and feedback
• Be Active

Think Beyond the Click

Work with agencies under a common scope. Understand that not every ad campaign is measurable in the number of hits and there may be some times where a campaign should be allowed to fail. Also, know that the communication between an agency, yourself and the client is vital to the success of the campaign.

Activate Your TV Spots

Engage your consumers in actively becoming part of the campaign. TV is and will always be a successful medium for advertising, as long as it is used effectively. One way to do this is by referencing a continuation of the commercial after its completion by directing them to something on-line, where the consumer has a way to keep that communication channel open at their discretion.

Trailers are Important

These are the viewing panes in which you convey the games mechanics and narrative over a 60 to 90 sec interval. Things like these are extremely important in building a foundation on which the game can say “this is what I am all about”. If done correctly will peak consumer interest in the idea.

• Adding Value to the Marketing Message.
• It’s no longer true that just being talked about is successful marketing.
• Embrace the Mobile Platform

The last 3 are repetitious or added by Sherman, but the core is explored here and it seemingly points to the fact that a marketer’s greatest aspect is the passion he/she has for the product they market. People are much more informed than they were in the past and if they are lead to believe that they are somehow being manipulated, they will be turned off by anything you have to offer. It is important to leave your consumers with the feeling that they have a voice and a 2 way communication channel exists for the product that peaks their interest.

The Art of Gaming: Mundo

Known on DevianArt.com as *chilin, this artist out of El Salvador has a taste for fighting game fan art and if you haven't figured out yet, I am a huge fighting game fan. Not only that, but as you can see from his profile above, his style is very pulp anime, which makes for some pretty awesome pieces. His fanservice is fantastic, but his original works are also inspiring. Check out the Fenrir piece, it was less game related and NSFW so I didn't include it in the slide show, But it is EPIC! Please stop by his space @ http://chilin.deviantart.com/

State of the Industry: You Killed It!

Oh Sega, remember way back when you used to make hardware and there came this little white hope that would usher you in a new generation of on-line home video game consoles? And then you killed it before it had a chance to blossom?!! Well, I have not forgotten and with the 10 year anniversary coming up for the Dreamcast (9/9/09), I felt it would be appropriate to pay homage to the under appreciated genius of it.




From its quirky logo and ridiculous controller cord, the Dreamcast had all the potential in the world of becoming the next big thing, until Sony stole its thunder and sent Sega running to the software industry like no tomorrow. Sure, you still make arcade games Sega, but the idea of a home console designed by you seems like a distant memory. Speaking of arcade games, that is why I fell in love with the Dreamcast in the first place, because of how many of Sega's best arcade titles were so easily ported. I could go into an endless list of fighting games that made the system great, but rather, have chosen to explore some of the other unique games which made the console great. This is not a list of the best games the system had to offer. Its more of a list of the games that I remember fondly. Enjoy!



Sonic Adventure - has to be the last Sonic game that I not only played all the way through, but enjoyed at the same time! Think about it, when was the last time anyone could say that about a Sonic game? The characters were fantastic and the 3D models really got me excited about the Dreamcast's potential. Despite a unique take on traditional platforming of the series, the sense of speed was still fantastic. Don't forget the portable memory mini-game involving the Chao, probably not Sega's greatest idea, but ambitious. Sadly, Sonic would only begin to age worse as time went on and until they go to a 2.5D High Definition Sonic game, I wish this mascot the long sleep he deserves. If only to keep them from making another Wii game...




Jet Grind Radio - looking into how games have changed over the past 10 years, cel-shading has become almost common place. There are even new designs types to the genre of cel-shading as Gearbox Studios tries to interpret it differently (Coined "Concept Art Style") or Mad World, who did it all black on white with a red motif. Though anyway you slice it, Jet Grind was the first to do it in my memory and it fit perfectly into the DJ/Raver generation in which it was released. Racing around the shopping district of Shibuya, tagging, picking fights with rival gangs and the police were the staple of Jet Grind. And Beat with his iconic goggles, gigantic headphones and personalized t-shirt earned him a place in Sega's history.

Seaman - where do I begin with this monstrosity. Seaman was like a bad acid trip where somebody took the business model of a tamagotchi, the face of a Japanese salary-man and the personality of Oscar the Grouch, then slapped all this on a fish. Finish by having Leonard Nemoy narrate, now you have one of the most interesting games to date. The objective of Seaman was raise this little guy from a tadpole like state to a full amphibian, legs and all. But the charm came from your interaction with Seaman, where through a microphone you could teach your seaman to talk, respond and eventually critique your personal flaws. Ignore the game long enough and you would be greeted by one pissed off fish. Tell him to "eat shit" and he would defecate on your TV. Like I said, charming...





Soul Calibur - Fall in love with 3D fighters all over again. That is how this game came to the marketplace and sucked a couple hundred hours out of my life and and the lives of my friends. Sure, it is probably the easiest 3D fighter out there or at least the most approachable for the masses. But that only made it more entertaining, since anyone gun shy was immediately won over. The hardcore had to love it anyway, since it offered a ton of content ranging from a plethora of diverse characters, alternate costumes, unlockable art, multiple fight modes and lets face it, Ivy's breast. Stop looking at me like that... I mean, you played this game too, right? Nuff said.







Power Stone 2 - For round 2 on Capcom's 3D fighter, they added support for one of the best multiplayer functions to date, up to four challengers. This made the replay value on versus battle extremely high, packed with frantic multiplayer and some ridiculous brawling. Plus, adding new level designs, character models and weapons that dropped, helped to make the game feel fresh over its predecessor. I enjoyed this game much more than Smash Bros at the time, not only cause of the 3D environment, but I felt the graphics put Nintendo to shame. 10 years later Smash Bros has become Nintendo's competitive fighting game, while Power Stone is subjected to becoming a collection on UMD, for shame.

Marketing 101: Wolfenstein

Trying something new again. After the last State of the Industry, I figure the concept of analyzing how publishers market their games would be a good monthly post for a marketing student to have. Lets get started with Wolfenstein, a spiritual successor to the classic FPS.

An Unusual Proposal
At 7:51 AM on Aug 11th a tweet from Lead Designer at Raven (the studio who developed the game), Manveer Heir, bought the game some free marketing; "Here's the deal folks: if Wolfenstein outsells Madden 10 in August I will personally pay for your copy (keep your receipt) - SPREAD THE WORD". Sounds crazy right? Not only does Madden have a cult following and massive marketing budget, but last year alone the 3rd quarter sales nearly reached 3 Million units! But looking at the release date of this game and the ad campaign leading up to it, crazy may have been the only option.

Airtime
Going to the official website, you can see that the game has been featured on the cover of 7 magazines worldwide, and offered a slew of contests to promote a strong community and drive pre sale numbers, but how come many people seem oblivious to its existence? Many of my friends seemed unaware of the release date. And with so many opportunities to reach the consumer, I felt that despite the effort made, there were some missed opportunities. take for example the re-release of Wolfenstein 3D on both PSN and Xbox Live. Why was this not a vehicle to increase consumer awareness for the sequel coming out in 2 months? I understand it was not published by Activision, but Id Software would probably have given their blessing with just a few phone calls. And why have I still not seen ONE commercial on TV? Sure, Hulu is running the ad, but it is a 30 second clip that really does nothing except display it as another generic shooter. This does nothing to differentiate it in the marketplace, nor provide "core" gamers a reason to pay attention. Did Activision fear that boosting sales of this game would some how affect their sure bet that is Modern Warefare 2? No one can say for certain, although many have opinions and more than anything, I wish there was a driving force out to try and make this game a success.

What's in a Name?
Maybe its just me, but I think the hardest sell on this game comes from it's generic name. Through playing the game, it does alot of things right, brings some fresh elements to the universe that is Wolfenstein and takes chances in expanding on the commonality of an FPS. It has a version of bullet time or magic called "the veil", there are open world elements combined with linear level design and even some leveling mechanics with your weapons. But, just seeing that title makes me think of the early 90's, where I am running through grey hallways looking for mecha-hitler and I have to wonder if the average joe walking in to the local game store to buy the next Call of Duty is going to look at that game and share that sentiment. Maybe they could have put some creativity into the title by using the ever popular colon, example: Wolfenstein: Journey through Isenstadt or Wolfenstein: Crossing the Veil, heck I personally would have enjoyed Wolfenstein: Kill More Nazis, at least that would catch some extra attention. But just Wolfenstein? Like its a new IP and that is supposed to excite gamers? Even the 2nd iteration used this, going from Wolfenstein 3-D t0 Wolfenstein 3-D: Spear of Destiny.

Did it break a studio?

Recently, a press release coming from Activision confirmed Raven, laid of 30+ employees. Kotaku received news from an insider who claimed this lay off may have been due to lack luster sales. Others say that like many studios, after releasing two games, they have to shed some excess employees and then staff up again once they start the next IP. You can view the article here @http://kotaku.com/5346302/raven-hit-by-layoffs-some-point-to-lackluster-wolfenstein-sales, and make your own speculation. Regardless, I feel that the IP and the studio are not going to be as successful, as their potential warranted, without a much more robust marketing campaign.

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*The following pictures are a result of a Google image search

Play it NOW!: Shadow Complex

I am not going into the details on this one, its really a no brainer (despite the political controversy). Do you like the idea of a 2.5D Metroid, with fantastic level design, interesting game mechanics and golden guns; Hell, do you like the idea of getting the content of a disc based game for $15 from the convenience of your couch?! BUY IT NOW!!!

Sorry for the lack of activity

Just moved into a new place with the GF and haven't had much time for the blog. But now that we are somewhat settled in, I can turn my attention back here some more. Expect some new posts over the next week.

The Art of Gaming: Justin Buonvino

That is right, its time for another iteration of The Art of Gaming, and today we're looking at an artist who seems to fit right in with the 8-Bit Vigilante's style. Justin Buonvino, long time resident of "Urf", has been using his talent to twist Nintendo classics, making them fit a reality much like our own. The slideshow is full of familiar faces and there are even some showing up in places that you may not expect. Justin also has a series of Perler beaded characters which you can view on his devianART page @ http://nes--still-the-best.deviantart.com/. Enjoy!

State of the Industry: Marketing 101

1st quarter financials have been burning up the net and the big three are feeling the squeeze of the economy. This post is less concerned with the financial facts of the first quarter numbers, you can find all those at http://www.kotaku.com/, instead lets look at ways developers & publishers can curb the economic lows and deliver quality content.

The Game/Film Vehicle

Most consumers are interested in getting the most for their money. Whether it’s waiting to purchase a game until it is on sale or trading in your old games to buy that new one. With the recession taking grip across the United States, companies are starting to recognize this and they are reacting by trying to offer more than just a game. One strategy is to take advantage of the potential for more content on the disc besides the game, an added bonus for your purchase. The concept of integrating movies with video games is being driven by Sony Playstation 3 for the most part, due to the increased size on Blu-ray discs. Some examples of this include Midways Hard Boiled or the new Watchmen: The End is Nigh Complete Experience. With as many video games being built around movie licenses and Sony possessing its own film studio, there would seem to be a lot of potential for this to exist in future launch titles.

Fan Service

Why stop at movies though? As sequels continue to come after each successful installment of an IP, some games have crossed multiple generations of consoles. One such example is the God of War franchise. With the 3rd iteration debuting on PS3 in the fourth quarter of 2009, Sony has been conducting surveys to see what type of extra content consumers would want with the special edition of GOW 3 to contain. The most interesting of options was the idea that they could include the two previous installments from the Playstation 2. And lets not forget the recent release of Starbreeze studios Chronicles of Riddick sequel, Assault on Dark Athena, where Starbreeze included a full high definition remake of the original The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

Episodic Content

One way to eliminate risk in a risky IP is to release it in portions, otherwise known as episodic content. It gives the developers flexibility to make the games they want to make and encourage more innovation. Valve software was one of the pioneers in this field with Half Life 2. Instead of making a direct sequel, they chose to release more content as chapters. So, once the original game of Half Life 2 is complete, you could then download episodes 1 & 2 and continue enjoying the same great game with an extended story arc and new game play functions. Episode 3 though has taken quite some time to complete and brings us to a downside of episodic content. Telltale games have really been the leading example when it comes to releasing games episodically and consistently.With such releases as Sam & Max, Strong Bad and many others, expect more great Telltale games in the future.

Additional Downloadable Content

To further explore the concept of downloading games; let’s look at how some developers hope to release new content for already existing titles via downloadable content. By taking existing games and expanding upon the content, we can invest in the success of a brand, without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a sequel. Instead, a developer can improve upon a specific aspect, such as the story or multiplayer experience and for a low price to the consumer; they offer the opportunity to continue enjoying the experience. Recently, Rockstar games released an expansion for the immensely popular Grand Theft Auto 4. It seemed almost unnecessary that a game of this scale would require much more, but Rockstar may have recognized this as well, by designing a completely new story arc, with different characters, missions, and in game items, while still retaining the feel. Rockstar is not the only company to find fruition through DLC, as the long time digital distribution advocates at Valve have now upgraded their PC browser Steam, so that developers can add downloadable content to any game on Steam--regardless of where the gamer purchased the game from, as long as they have the game they can download the extra content from Steam and it'll work.

Play it NOW!: Battlefield 1943

There is a new shooter on the block and it aims to break records with over 100 million kills in the first week and counting. That game is Battlefield 1943, and it fulfills DICE's expectations in making Battlefield even more accessible, by bringing the PC original to the consoles, through digital download.

In taking one of the first hardcore FPS Multiplayer games and simplifying the mechanics to play on all the strengths of the original, while maintaining its scope and vision, has lead to an overwhelming success. Day one, EA was actually unprepared for such a positive reception, causing their servers to fail and making the process of getting on-line arguous. But after a few days everything has seemed to even out and I am a happy to have made the investment. Honestly, I believe this looks better than its predecessor, being built on the Bad Company engine, which features destructible enviroments and brighter explosions. Making those pesky sniper towers and bridges the concentration of some of my most destructive urges.

By making it more accessible, the class structure has been reduced to 3 major classes: Rifleman, Infantryman or Sniper and each of these classes has a sub-class like engineer or demolitions. All seem very balanced and it makes the challenging decision of which class to choose that much easier. Also the maps have focused on the Pacific front of WW II with; Wake Island, Guadacanal, and Iwo Jima coming day one. As I mentioned before about breaking records, a 4th map was added to each console respectively, after the users racked up 43 million kills. Xbox360 reaching that in 4 days and PS3 getting there on day 8, bringing the air combat focused map Coral Sea.

This is where all you Aces can earn your wings, letting everyone continue to jump into planes over and over, without having to worry about being left standing on the aircraft carrier. The dog fighting is extremely visceral, where defeating one opponent leads to 3 more nearby. The vehicle mechanics, though taking some getting used to (plane controls felt foreign), do work much better that any mouse and keyboard combo. In fact, Battlefield was one of those games where I used to have a flight stick standing by, because there was no way I could fly a plane with a mouse. Note: there is a tutorial for the air mechanics if you find yourself crashing into things more than you'd like.

By doing all these things; class structure, maps, the new engine, and even keeping the player cap to 12 players on each side, it has made the adaptation to consoles seemless and enjoyable. At a price point of only $15, it is pretty much a no brainer for anyone that plays FPS Multiplayer games.

One thing I should note, this is still Battlefield, maps are large and teammates assholes. So when you are on a aircraft carrier and someone steals your plane or you try to right shotgun in a jeep and are left in the dust, it will make you appreciate playing with friends all the more. It is really the best way to enjoy a game such as this and I think you should play it now.

*all screenshots are a result of Google Image search and http://www.penny-arcade.com/

Retro Gaming Round Up: Final Fantasy VII

Remember in my last post, where I stated that the nostalgia will always be better than the real thing? Well, I am happy to report I have been proven wrong. Final Fantasy VII was recently released after Sony's E3 Press Conference and I was happy to shell out the cost of a movie ticket ($10) to experience 70+ Hours of classic J-RPG action. For me, this was the game that lit the fire. Sure, I had an SNES for my first system and played my share of every console since the inception of the Nintendo, but the Sony Playstation and Final Fantasy 7 are where my addiction began. Although it was my first RPG and I was only 13 at the time, its story stays with me and after over a decade of RPGs since then, I was unsure it would still meet my expectations. I was surprisingly mistaken, it seems my years of experience have only made the game better.



Right now, I am over 25 hours in and have spent a ton of time tearing through the main story. Side Quests will become a little more important in like 10 hours or so. The narrative is one of the most impressive aspects; even with the limited technology, its characters, enviroments and overall ambience is still better than many RPGs being made today (see Infinite Undiscovery or the latest Star Ocean). There is alot of chemistry in the group once everyone joins the party, whether its Yuffie obsessing over materia or Barrett causing a ruckus, these 3D sprites come with alot of personality. Speaking of materia, this is why years of playing RPGs pays off, because now I am paying attention to all the complexities of the battle system. For example how materia affects your stats or how specific weapons will affect the growth of materia, these are things I had not considered when I was a kid. The process of getting through the game seems much easier as well, especially when taking advanatge of the Enemy Skill materia during the lower levels. Even materias like Deathblow and Destruct, which in the past I remembered ignoring, have become a important components in my arsenal.

A few complaints though; the graphic backgrounds can be difficult to interact with because you have to face the object. Just to be knit picky this could easily have been solved by integrating the analog stick in... I'm looking at you SquEnix. Also, the mini-games in specific stages still drive me crazy. Like trying to sneak past the guards in the Shinra building or cracking the safe to get Vincent's key, I tend to wish they weren't there at all. Lots left for me to do and I am probably going to be a completionist about this so it could be 80 more hours before I omnislash Sephiroth's face. Guess I should get back to the game, but in the meantime Cid Highwind recommends you "Shut up! Sit your ass down in that chair and DRINK YOUR GODDAMN TEA!"

The Art of Gaming: Assim Heetun

New post coming in! Which I hope will take advantage of the slideshow viewer at the top of the page, by featuring an artist each month that is inspired by different aspects of gaming culture. Hopefully, bringing together the culture we all know and love with that artists own perspective and style.

This months artist is Assim Heetun, who was also featured on Kotaku recently. As you can see above, his work with zombies and video game characters comes with some interesting results. You can see all his work @ http://www.agentmelon.co.uk/blog/

Screw Attack Wrap Up!

Ahh, that fresh convention odor, there really is nothing like it.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the ScrewAttack Gaming Convention in Dallas, TX. I had attended conventions like Akon or AllCon in the past, but this was to be a first for me and video game conventions. I was stoked. Getting there was easy, since it was only about 30 minutes from my house and I already knew the hotel since I attended a beer festival there last year. First thing I did once I got there was walk straight into the 7,000 square foot gaming room and played some Capcom Vs. SNK 2. It was perfect.Too bad I couldn't get a pic inside the room, my iPhone does not respond well to the dark. Anyway, scanning the room there were about 40 or so consoles out and most were rocking a cornucopia of fighting games, competitive FPS’, retro games and even some Beatmania (think Japanese DJ game). I was fairly impressed, but in retrospect, I had wished for too much.I was a little disappointed not to see more rare games; maybe a review copy of KOF12 or the FF13 demo. But there is probably a bunch of red tape for something like that. Although… they did have some Blaz Blue, which was nice. Also, spent a fair amount of time in the Gameworks sponsored arcade room. Gameworks has been on my shit list for years, having pulled almost every "classic" (featuring a joystick and buttons) arcade game out, and replacing it with generic racing games and rail shooters. But ScrewAttack did bring some nostalgia to the convention with a Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 cabinet, X-men the arcade game, Killer Instinct and even a Rainbow Edition of Street Fighter 2 just to name a few.




Of course conventions aren't all about playing games; they are a celebration of all things gaming. There were panels and discussions all throughout the weekend and I personally enjoyed the one hosted by Matthew White on “How to Get a job in Gaming, Without Being a Developer”.You should check out previous posts regarding the Jack Thompson Debate as well. Don’t forget a movie room showing all sorts of gaming in films, including some episodes of the old Mario Brothers TV show!! Man I loved that show... Then you had the Dealer’s Room, which was a bit of a disappointment, with only three major dealers, the ECA and some Japanese foodstuffs. I would have liked more venders to have come from the local gaming community, maybe some developers showing off what they are doing, selling some t-shirts, etc. There was a lot of Table Top gaming and many tournaments like the Iron Man of Gaming and numerous speedruns. All of which I am not competent enough in to be competitive. >_< OH! And let’s not forget those crazy cosplay kids, which really bring a lot of personality to conventions such as these. Here are just a few pics of the many cosplayers that attended.
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All in all, weekend well spent! I really want to give huge praise to ScrewAttack and everyone that made this convention a success. Best wishes to all for a repeat next year, and with Austin GDC coming up in September, expect much more in the vein of conventions coming to TwoCanPlay blog

Thanks for reading!

Something I Picked Up the Other Day

Yeah... its real. Now when does Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 come out again? :-D

I am the Internets

Thanks to Gamepolitics.com, my Twitter was referenced for the live blog of the Jack Thompson, Mike Methenitis Debate. Final impressions of SGC are coming soon, with a special unboxing of a little gift I picked up this weekend. Click the link below for the roundup.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/07/06/jack-thompson-puts-best-foot-forward-sgc09-debate

Jack Thompson Debate

Going to be running a live blog of the Jack Thompson debate. I guess I will use Twitter and then post it here after the fact. Get excited!

Update 6:15 PM CT: EPIC FAIL! Should have not thought I could do this with twitter. Cannot get it to import in blogger and the timestamps disappear after the hour (doh!) But for the un edited live blog you can go to http://twitter.com/speedracerUNT. It will probably be up for a little while, because I honestly don't tweet too often.
-- Post From My iPhone

Gaming Outdoors: SGC 2009

Here in Dallas, on this fine holiday weekend, I am at the Westin Hotel, taking in some gaming, as Screw Attack games holds a convention. Sat down at Capcom vs. SNK 2 almost seconds after walking in the door and I feel right at home. It's early in the start of this event, but there is a keynote coming from Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari) @ 5, a panel with the infamous Jack Thompson and much more to come. So stay tuned. Oh yeah, Sonic is here too. Guess those video game royalties are starting to run out...


-- Post From My iPhone