GDC Canada 09: You Might Be Getting A New Console If…
Does Don Daglow know when the next game consoles are coming out?
In his talk on the first day of GDC Canada 2009 speaking to an audience of students and developers, Don Daglow, former president and CEO of Stormfront Studios, spoke about how game developers and gamers will know when a next-generation console will be released. When industry analyst Micheal Pachter for Wedbush Morgan Securities announced in Edge Magazine last month that this generation’s console will be in about 2013, Daglow said that many people won’t believe him.
Daglow continued saying that many on Wall Street disagree because the last two consoles’ cycles have gone through five year lifecycles. Therefore, a game system will be created by 2010. Gamers also disagreed with Pachter says Daglow, as gamers are always looking for the newest hardware. Daglow, with over 30 years of experience, has seen it all and commented to the audience what he found are the six factors to the creation of a new game system:
One of the players is losing dominant market share.
Wall Street is always asking for growth. If a company starts to lose market share, Daglow says, they might be starting to release a new console.
They have a lot of cash to pay for the ramp up.
A company must have a ton of cash to do the research, marketing, creation costs, etc. They also need to tear down the whole notion to its customers that the console that they bought, (and was told was best on the market) isn’t the best and will start promoting the new one. If you see a company holding tons of cash, they might be starting to release a new console.
Developers must have something that “wows” a non-player.
Daglow commented that the Wii brought a new way of game play into games that brought interest to the casual and non-gamer. If a company produces some “wow-like” things in their new console, then they might be starting to release a new console.
You need to get the cost of the system under $500 at first and quickly to $300 and later $200.
The hardcore gamer will pick up the system at $500, but if you can’t get your costs down fast, then you won’t be able to saturate the gamer community or make money. If a company can create a game system for distribution at $500 or less, then they might be starting to release a new console
The press calls your brand “next generation.”
When the press starts to talk about what your next generation gaming system will do and what it should have, then the company might be starting to release a new console.
Big publishers start to support the new system.
When EA, Capcom, Ubisoft, and other big publishers see what the company has for the next generation system and begin to support it, then the company might be starting to release a new console.
Game sales peek one year before the next generation console is created.
Daglow commented that all new consoles are released when the games for the earlier system peek the year before the console is released. So if a company’s games sales are starting to peek for the current console, then they might be making a new console.
Editied by Nary Pung
GDC Canada 09: Out with the old and in with the new
Don Daglow has some wise words for you young developers. As one of the oldest game developers still in the business, he has seen it all. During his talk at GDC Canada 2009 for the future play summit, a group of sessions focusing on future game development, Daglow conveyed to the crowd about what game developers of today should look for in this new age.
“If only the machine could stop holding us back. Now, we only have ourselves to blame,” Says Daglow speaking about how far we have come from his first games to what is available today. Daglow continued by saying that the old ways of creating games to fit a certain genre, ESRB rating, or whatever your competitors are doing. Game developers need to change the way that they think and leave the old ways for newer, better ideas.
Speculating on the future, Daglow said that developers no longer have to worry about technology and must instead develop for the fun of the gamer instead. He discussed the importance of finding what gamers think is fun. Daglow’s ideas include not thinking about whether gamers are either online or offline, but how to merge them together. He also felt that developers should look into what age group would like this game, how the gamer interfaces the game, and making better puzzles and bosses that gamers want to beat.
Daglow’s talk ended with a question for the developers. What do gamers spend the majority of their time doing? If a gamer is doing a certain task more than you thought they would, then you need to either change the game to what the player enjoys, or scrap the idea entirely. An example Daglow gave was games that allows you to be a hero for five minutes with 40 minutes of grinding and item trading. Gamers may not like the grind and may in give you more negative opinions about you game than you expected.
Edited by Nary Pung.
Game Addict Hotline - Episode 112
Podcast: Download (Duration: 13:51 — 12.8MB)
Making this short and sweet. Going to GDC Canada this week. Maybe another conference this week. Hope to blog from both. Definetly twittering. Have a great week.
Game Trivia:
- Trivia of the Week
- Konami Code
- Three most played Wii games (according to Stephen Totilo)
Top Anticipated Games in the US at GameFly
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
You can read our show notes here.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle.
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
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Game Addict Hotline - Episode 111
Podcast: Download (Duration: 15:05 — 13.9MB)
Well, this is a late one. Hope you are all having a great spring. Things are getting very interesting in the gaming world and the world around us. From numbers I read, seems this year will be a carbon copy of last year. Hopefully things may get better, but I doubt it very much. Anyway, lets get to the show and what was on it.
Game Trivia:
- Trivia of the Week
- Top Selling Original Games of 2008 in Japan
- Famitsu’s Game Awards
(This isn’t a repeat. These are the best original games. Sorry for not saying it in the show)
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
You can read our show notes here.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle.
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
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Game Review - Peggle Dual Shot
One of the biggest games for the Nintendo DS has come out this year and we have a review for the game. With over 100 levels, new bonus levels and all the things you love about Peggle, you really should check out this game. But read on to find out my full feelings on the game.
Read the full review on Peggle Dual Shot…
Game Addict Hotline - Episode 110
Podcast: Download (Duration: 14:36 — 10.1MB)
Well, getting regular I guess needs a kick start. though now I’m weekly, we need to get the day earlier and earlier now. Anyway, no big news last week. It was the week after GDC so I can expect that. This week is different so the next episode will have bigger and funner questions. Anyway, thanks for the support from all of you and I’m still here.
Game Trivia:
- Trivia of the Week
- Top Selling Games of 2008 in Japan
- Kojima’s Favorite Games
Top Anticipated Games in the US at GameFly
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
You can read our show notes here.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle.
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
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Sorry for the issues
If you see some weird things on the site, it’s because I’m doing some things differently. I’m no longer hand coding my podcasts after many screw ups on my part. I’m going to try out Blubrry’s Powerpress and see if it works. This means, I need a new podcast feed for all of my interviews. So I’m going to make one soon so that all archived interviews are all on one feed. Thanks for keeping up with me and hope to hear from you on the phone, email or in person.
Game Addict Hotline - Episode 109
Podcast: Download (14.3MB)
I’m back and hopefully for a very long time. GDC was last week and it was a solemn one especially with the economy crashing around games. I wasn’t able to go this year due to journalism issues, but I’m super hoping to go to GDC China and/or Canada this year to make up for that. Hope you all are well. Lets see what was in today’s show:
Game Trivia:
- News of the Week
- GDC Anouncments
- Game Developers Choice Award Show
Top Anticipated Games in the US at GameFly
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
- Game Developers Conference News
- What I’ve been playing these few weeks
You can read our show notes here.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
Game Addict Hotline - Episode 108
Podcast: Download (11.1MB)
Sorry for the Boxing day release. I’m a little behind when family is around. I love the season just for that. I’m also loving Fallout 3. If you have stories about it, tell me. I am so fascinated in the level design. It’s interesting to explore the city and what things you’ll find. Also bought the orange box and got to play Portal and Team Fortress 2. I’m so still in 2006. I hope to try the best in PC this next year.
Game Trivia:
- Top Gaming Stories
- November’s Top Games
- 2008’s Most Disapointing Games
Top Anticipated Games in the US at GameFly
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
- Phone Calls
- Pew Research on Adult Gaming
You can read our show notes here.
We also played music from Dr. Octoroc. Check it out.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle and please digg us at digg.com
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
Game of the Week
Game Addict Hotline 107
Podcast: Download (10.1MB)
Well, it’s back. I sound really bad this time, but give me some time, I’ll be back once I get into the swing of things. I really need some help though. Please comment on this podcast and on the voice line about what you want to hear on the show. This will really help me out. I really want to hear what game issues you are interested about. I want to get better at my commentary. Thanks a ton.
Game Trivia:
- Top Gaming Stories
- Black Friday
- August 2004 EGM
Top Anticipated Games in the US at GameFly
Top Games in Japan
Top Games in UK
Top PC Games
My Game Addiction:
- Black Friday
You can read our show notes here.
You can vote for us at Podcast Alley or make us your favorites at Podcast Pickle and please digg us at digg.com
Please leave a comment or email me at
gameaddicthotline@gmail.com
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