The Top 10 2007 GDC Business News
The 2007 Game Developers Conference has ended and once again we have a whole bunch of news to analyze and digest. Well, since we’re such swell guys, we’ve narrowed down the top 10 business related news pieces from this years GDC into, oddly enough, a numbered list. Ok, enough jabber, let’s take a look at the top 10 business moves of the 2007 GDC.
#10 Aquaria
Developer Bit Blot took home the Seamus McNally Grand Prize of $20,000 for Aquaria, their underwater adventure game. After the award, our own Alex Handy spoke with Bit Blot and introduced them around, including an introduction to Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo. As always, we wish the winner good luck and hope to see Aquaria picked up.
#9 Emotiv
It’s not every day that a company announces that they’ve developed a controller that harnesses the power of the human mind to control Harry Potter, and that’s what makes this Emotiv announcement special. Using a technology that reads changes in your body, Emotiv’s new controller can theoretically control certain game functions depending on your mood or thoughts. I guess there goes the “I hit the wrong button” argument.
#8 Simutronics HeroEngine Licenses
Simutronics, the company behind successful text-based online games GemStone and DragonRealms, has licensed its MMO development platform, HeroEngine, to three more companies. Virgin UK, Stray Bullet and Colony Studios have all announced licensing deals with Simutronics. Bioware also has licensed the engine for use in a game that has yet to be announced.
#7 Force Unleashed
LucasArts gave an in-depth talk about their focus on characterization and story development in their upcoming, next-generation games. The new Star Wars title currently in production, Force Unleashed, is being developed with the help of Industrial Light and Magic, George Lucas’ own special effects company. Force Unleashed could be interesting and possibly return some life to their stale franchises.
#6 Unreal Tournamet III Engine
Mark Rein of Epic Games, creator of Unreal Tournament and Gears of War, gave a talk about the possibilities of the Unreal Tournament III Engine and what it could do for smaller developers as well as the mod community. Rein also mentioned a desire to get the Unreal modding tools working for consoles as well as the possibility of selling some of the better mod content over XBox Live.
#5 EA Publishing Harmonix
The developer behind the wildly popular Guitar Hero series, Harmonix, was purchased by MTV last year after RedOctane, Guitar Hero publisher, was bought by Activision. Not being one for being caught unaware, Electronic Arts is trying to get in on the Guitar Hero action and has signed a deal with Harmonix to publish their next game. Ukulele Hero here I come!
#4 Microsoft Japan
Microsoft doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to Japan, but they’re hoping to change that. Other than mentioning that the creator of Pac-Man, Toru Iwatani, is very interested in XNA Game Studio Express, Microsoft noted that they’re trying to appeal more to the Japanese people, even if they can’t win the market.
#3 Episodic Halo
At a breakfast hosted by Microsoft, executives from the company spoke to press about several different upcoming projects, one of which is episodic content based in the Halo universe. Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings movie series, is collaborating with Bungie on the new Halo content. Straight episodic content for a console should be interesting.
#2 GameTap Indie
GameTap, a service that allows offers the option of playing hundreds of games via the PC, is now featuring independent games. For fans of indie development, which many of us are, this is great news. It’s always good to see new talent and new life being breathed into a sometimes dull industry.
#1 PS3 Home
Of course, how could I not mention the new Playstation 3 Liv… I mean Home. With the addition of avatars, achievements and a virtual world interface, Sony is hoping to bring some of that XBox Live and Nintendo Wii likability to the Playstation 3. Will it work? No one can say for sure, but it’s at least a step in the right direction.
With all of the new and interesting developments announced and presented at this years GDC, we all have a good bit to look forward to. The games industry is growing at a very quick pace, and GDC 2007 was the perfect example of why. Keep an eye on Giga Gamez for further analysis.
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