Reflections on the 8th ArtReflections on the 8th Art

Denis DyackDenis Dyack

Who am I? Who am I?

History

Related TalksRelated Talks

Engagement Theory

The 8th Art

The Medium is the Massage

One Console Future

Musing about Clouds

Engagement Theory

The 8th Art

The Medium is the Massage

One Console Future

Musing about Clouds

Engagement TheoryEngagement Theory

Engagement >= Story + Art + Audio + Technology + Gameplay

Reflection on Legacy of Kain

Flow

Engagement >= Story + Art + Audio + Technology + Gameplay

Reflection on Legacy of Kain

Flow

The 8th ArtThe 8th Art

Video games as art

Parallels to film history

Eight

Video games as art

Parallels to film history

Eight

Medium is the MassageMedium is the Massage

Understanding the medium of video games

Understanding the medium of video games

A One Console futureA One Console future

Technology and Commoditization

Economics will force us to one console

Technology and Commoditization

Economics will force us to one console

“Commodification can be the desired outcome of an entity in the market, or it can be an unintentional outcome that no party actively sought to achieve.”

- wikipedia

Musing About CloudsMusing About Clouds

Why they are the future:• Economic• IP Protection• Everyone wins: cost effective, lower

cost, better access, bigger market place

Why they are the future:• Economic• IP Protection• Everyone wins: cost effective, lower

cost, better access, bigger market place

Fundamentals of the 8th ArtFundamentals of the 8th Art

Tradition Entertainment vs Video Games• Books, films, tv, music are all linear• Video Games are non-linear and

interactive

Tradition Entertainment vs Video Games• Books, films, tv, music are all linear• Video Games are non-linear and

interactive

Video Recorder AnalogyVideo Recorder Analogy

Star Wars vs Call of DutyStar Wars vs Call of Duty

Why the Recorder Analogy Matters

Why the Recorder Analogy Matters

Broadcasting linear content allows for the capture of the entire experience

Broadcasting interactive content only captures part of the experience

• Thus Star Wars vs Call of Duty = Call of Duty wins from an IP integrity perspective

Broadcasting linear content allows for the capture of the entire experience

Broadcasting interactive content only captures part of the experience

• Thus Star Wars vs Call of Duty = Call of Duty wins from an IP integrity perspective

>

CloudsClouds

Stops the commoditization of softwareStops the commoditization of software

Consoles Display Screens

Retinal Displays

Neural Implants

Golden Age of Video GamesGolden Age of Video Games

1st Parties, 2nd Parties, 3rd Parties

Games cheap

Fast to make

Profitable

Not many games

1st Parties, 2nd Parties, 3rd Parties

Games cheap

Fast to make

Profitable

Not many games

This is now…Gamers

This is now…Gamers

Requires more investment then traditional linear mediums

With investment comes loyalty

Language of games is still primitive

Requires more investment then traditional linear mediums

With investment comes loyalty

Language of games is still primitive

High Pressure SystemHigh Pressure System

More difficult to be successful

360, PS3 and Wii, iOS, Mobile, F2P,

MMO, Social• Less Penetration with

each SKU

Fewer games making most of the sales

A Hit Driven Industry

Rising Costs of Development• 30M+ budgets are here to

stay• 30M+ Marketing Budgets

SuccessSuccess

AAA games are now defined by their Marketing budgets – Don Daglow (2007)

EEDAR:Marketing,

Perception

AAA games are now defined by their Marketing budgets – Don Daglow (2007)

EEDAR:Marketing,

Perception

Coming StormComing Storm

Event Horizon

Commoditization

Performance oversupply

Walls coming down

End of Retail

iOS, F2P, Mobile, MMOs,Clouds

Event Horizon

Commoditization

Performance oversupply

Walls coming down

End of Retail

iOS, F2P, Mobile, MMOs,Clouds

Massive DisruptionMassive Disruption

Who will survive?Hardware will not matter

Economics in question

Sandcastle walls will wash away

Who will survive?Hardware will not matter

Economics in question

Sandcastle walls will wash away

What will survive?What will survive?

Good games will survive

The rest is just a sideshow

Good games will survive

The rest is just a sideshow

Reflections on the 7th ArtReflections on the 7th Art

Cinema will thereby prove to the supreme artistic means of representing and expression of milieus and peoples. It will cease being “individual,” copying the theatre, which in turn copies itself.

- Canudo

Cinema will thereby prove to the supreme artistic means of representing and expression of milieus and peoples. It will cease being “individual,” copying the theatre, which in turn copies itself.

- Canudo

Immateriality in GamesImmateriality in Games

Exclusive domains

Its in its infancy

Universal language that will entertain in ways we cannot yet imagine

Exclusive domains

Its in its infancy

Universal language that will entertain in ways we cannot yet imagine