What impact have recent developments in technology had on the production, distribution, marketing and exchange of videogames?

Production:
With the technological advancement within the video games industry, games have become more complex in the way they are made. Prior to game engines, games were typically written as singular entities. A game engine is a software system designed for the creative and development of video games. As developments in technology have evolved, so have the game engines. With this break through in technology, game engines such as the ones used on GTA IV called Euphoria and RAGE are capable of HD graphics, real simulated physics and vast amounts of content. RAGE is Rockstar's home game engine that they created from scratch.


Distribution:
In the early days of video games, people used to be able to get codes for their games in magazines and mail order. But now due to the new technological age, more and more people are getting there games online. This makes it a lot more convenient for the consumer, minimizing the time spent on looking for that one product. And also means the consumers consumers can compare product prices and features to make a better decision with minimum effort required. On the other hand, many people dislike the idea of online shopping because of privacy. It is the number one reason that non-online shoppers do not shop online. since online shopping has been introduced, many different situations have occurred, where people have been scammed and robbed, when using their credit/debit cards online. With new programmes such as Steam and Onlive, the distribution of video games has completely changed. With OnLive, the idea is that you can stream games off the internet with no worrys for download times or installations. Steam is also a piece of software but unlike OnLive, you download not stream.


Marketing:
Marketing has become a key feature in selling a video game. The use of new technologies has meant it is easier to advertise online and on TV. With the internet and TV, video games can now reach a global audience at a much faster rate than ever before. Also advertisements have become more creative in the way in which they address certain target groups. However the main disadvantage of advertising online is the cost. Company pay both mainstream, and specialist websites to house a banner, or piece of their website to advertise their product/game. for example GTA IV payed millions of dollars to advertise their new game. This advertising caused a lot of controversy giving Rockstar lots of media attention.


Exchange of Video Games:
Video games can now also be; exchanged, traded or swapped in several different new stores such as 'Game' and 'Gamestation' people trade in their older games, and in return they get money of the latest games out. Also 'Ebay' has been a very regular place for people to buy and sell their video games. this is because, the price of the games are pretty much always cheaper, than what you would pay in the shops, also very quick delivery rates.

GTA 4 Gameplay Review

Game-play seems to be easier accessible to everyone. Just pick up the controller and play.
Graphics are a lot more realistic, especially when compared to previous rockstar games. The game is specially fun, i think simply because you can break the law. in fact most of the game is breaking the law, which makes people really want to play it, and almost get a sense of what it feels like to break the law. based on the marketing, it is pretty much exactly what i expected, however because i have played the grand theft auto games before, i kinda new what was coming. The only thing which i didnt expect was the high levels of violence, with newer weapons and newer moves, the game seemed ruthless. When we entered cheat codes into the game, the game seemed to add a lot more fun and enjoyable. We were basically playing to enjoy ourselves, and not concentrating on the story or missions. It is just a living, breathing city, that is used as a playground of destruction and chaos, all in the means of having fun. If your a serious type of gamer, the storyline will be more interesting without having to use cheat codes, whereas if you've got a few mates round and just want to have a laugh, cheats codes are defiantly worth using.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 Wii

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010. What was called just the PGA Tour series in 1990, it was then renamed to Tiger Woods PGA Tour in 1999.

Developer: EA Games
Publisher: EA Sports

According to NPD for the month of June, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for Wii sold 272,400 units in North America, outselling Wii Fit in its debut month. Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA) is an international developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers responsible for its games.

EA Games—Home to the largest number of studio and development teams, this label is responsible for action-adventure, role playing, racing and combat games, marketed under the EA brand. In addition to traditional packaged-goods games, EA Games also develops massively-multiplayer online role-playing games. It owns other companies such as:
-EA Sports
-EA Play
-Maxis
-Bioware
Another subsidiary of EA Sports is EA Sports BIG.

EA Sports is a brand name used by Electronic Arts since 1989 to distribute games based on sports. It is responsible for such game series as BA Live, FIFA, NHL, Madden NFL, and NASCAR. In 2008 EA Sports revenue was $4.02 billion.

Research :)

Zynga

Zynga is a casual game developer located in San Francisco, California, United States. The company develops browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace.

Capcom

Capcom Co., Ltd is an international developer and publisher of video games headquartered in Osaka, Japan. It was founded in 1979 as Japan Capsule Computers, a company devoted to the manufacturing and distribution of electronic game machines.

X Box Live Marketplace

The Xbox Live Marketplace (XBLM) is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content. The service offers movie and game trailers, Video Store, game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Live Indie Games (Previously Community Games), Games on Demand (Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals), downloadable content such as map packs, gamer pictures, and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes.

BRAID
Braid is a platform and puzzle video game developed by independent software developer Jonathan Blow. The game was released on August 6, 2008 for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service.

Ipod developer Program

Apple offers many resources for developers. All components including hardware, the operating systems, and the developer tools are designed by one company, and they’re all designed to work together seamlessly, this creates an easier, more intuitive experience so developers can focus on making great applications.

SDR

An SDR, meaning a Special Drawing Right is the monetary unit of the reserve assets of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Wideload games

Wideload Games, an American game developer, is located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2003 by Alexander Seropian (the co-founder of Bungie and head behind the games Halo: Combat Evolved, Myth, and Marathon) and 6 other former Bungie Studios employees 3 years after Bungie's acquisition by Microsoft Corporation.

Open Source

Open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology. Before the term open source became widely adopted, developers and producers used a variety of phrases to describe the concept; open source gained hold with the rise of the Internet, and the attendant need for massive retooling of the computing source code.

Euphoria Games Animation

Euphoria is a game animation engine created by Naturalmotion. Based on a fiull simulation of full 3D characters including body, musles and motor nervous systems. Characters actions and reactions are always different every time even when playing the same scene.
Euphoria runs on the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC and is compatible with all commercial physics engines

http://www.naturalmotion.com/euphoria.htm