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The Phenomenon of Online Social Gaming
September 24, 2010No commentsOnline social gaming is not merely a combination of three hip words. But it is a hip phenomenon, all right, especially when you take into account that 100 million people play online social games on a daily basis. Last March, to kick-start its social games department, MySpace acquired top gaming portal MindJolt. Not to be outdone, Disney recently bought social game developer Playdom for $563 million, while Google is having ongoing negotiations with game companies for its pet project called Google Games (reportedly designed to counter Facebook’s social game dominance). So what exactly is the reason why online social games are so popular?
First off, these games are usually played for free, though Facebook gives its users an option to purchase credits to buy items for their games. Secondly, online social games combine entertainment and socialization. While there are massively multiplayer types, social games being made these days are predominantly casual in nature. Social games, thus, cut across genders and age groups as they can be played in short bursts and do not require complicated instructions to learn. Facebook, with 500 million members, is the most popular platform for online social games. Around 40% of Facebook users regularly play social games such as Mafia Wars, Restaurant City, Scrabble and Farmville. That’s 200 million players. What contributed to the accumulation of such a large number of people hooked on these games?
One major reason is that the games themselves require building a network of individuals to be able to reach new and higher levels. Games like Pet Society and Restaurant City have items that can only be collected through the help of friends. In Farm Town and Mafia Wars, players succeed to the next level faster only if there’s assistance from friends. Some games like Sorority Sisters and Hotel City mimic real-life scenarios and so the intuitive skills of players are tested against their friends. These networked individuals are often very serious in their game play and some even have offline meetings to formulate strategies. Some eventually become friends or get into romantic relationships.
Because casual games can easily become ‘old’ due to the dynamic nature of the social network platform, it is a challenge among developers to keep their social game fresh for existing players. This can be achieved by adding new content and features regularly.
Based on sheer numbers, online social gaming is already a phenomenon. But its popularity, as of the moment, is yet to reach its peak. In fact, according to the recent research from The Nielsen Company, social networking and online gaming are the two most popular online activities among Americans, young and old. And this trend is not showing the slightest sign of letting up.
The Stars and What They’re Worth
August 20, 2010No commentsYou’re searching for a game that’s worth your money and time; something that’s both entertaining and technically great. Game review sites are probably the first place you go to, and not the stores. You do a bit of research if the game you like to buy is worth buying, or you probably search for the highest rated game.
While consumer behavior does generally follow that pattern, we must remember that a 5-star rating doesn’t necessarily translate to an objective rating of a game. A 5-star or 4-star rating is usually based on the accumulated reviews on the game. This means that it’s mostly based on what the consumers have to say about the game and their own ratings of how great the game is. This generally works, but then, since people have different tastes. So what if the majority of those who had the time to give a review said the game is bad, just because it didn’t suit them?
Certain factors make a game more attractive to a certain segment of the population. Take for example the latest game from National Geographic, Contraband Mystery. Of course, it would be more appealing to the geeky and nerdy types who watch the Nat Geo Channel everyday when they get home. Those who didn’t want to be challenged would find it sluggish and too challenging.
Game reviews and ratings give consumers an idea of what the game is about and how other people, who have played the game, find the game. Was it exciting? Was it entertaining? Was it worth the cost? A lot of answers on questions about a certain game are found on game review sites. Most of the time, it influences the consumers decision making whether to purchase a game or not.
But word of mouth can only go so far. The best way to actually tell how good a game is to play the demo or trial version. That way, you would know if the game suits your tastes. Most game portals offer this for free. So go ahead, play. Sometimes a game’s worth is not written in the stars.
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