As a young attorney, I kind of feel this weird sense of duty to bring law practice into the 21st Century. It's actually a bit more difficult than it sounds; not only do you have a rift between the "young" attorneys and "older" attorneys. It's not really an age thing, it's more of a way of practicing. As a young attorney, I want to be flexible with billing (hence our flat-fee based model at New Leaf), I want to really interact and build a relationship with my clients, and I want to promote what they're doing because I'm genuinely excited about it! However, this has not been the traditional way of legal practice, which is traditionally tight-lipped.
Thus, in the spirit of creating a new legal landscape; one that is tied to its fellow entrepreneurs and artists, I would like to share a list of my favorite sites for entertainment-related (business) content.
A Snippet of the Bestest Websites & Blogs for Artists:
lawyers4musicians.com
In a nutshell, this website totally rules. Not only is it a great resource for artists to learn about their rights, options and the law, it's also a great place for entertainment lawyers to stay up-to-date on the latest rule-world developments in this area of law. It's a perfect mix of cases, news and events.
The Hollywood Reporter's Law Blog
The Hollywood Reporter can be a very overwhelming website, especially for folks that focus more on the creative side of the industry and keep up on the business side because they have to (and that's ok!!). But Matt Belloni artfully manages a blog through the site that focuses on interesting legal happenin's in the industry. While it may seem at first only a resource for "boring lawyers" and copyright nerds like me, its content is interspersed with valuable lessons any musician, filmmaker or artist should find valuable. For example, today's blog highlights a film that is about to debut at Sundance this year - and it's FULL of unlicensed corporate logos and mascots, an issue that, as Matt points out, would make any entertainment lawyer faint. However, this is an issue that is often overlooked by many filmmakers because they have 50,000 other things to be (rightfully) concerned about. You scan this blog, and you'll be even more the wiser to the legalities you should make sure your lawyer takes care of.
arstechnica.com
Ars Technica is the go-to resource for all geeky entertainment industry peeps - whether you're a web developer, marketing/viral guy, game developers (!!), you need to hit this site on a daily basis. Though it's content is VERY rich, it's easy navigation system makes scanning through it and finding relevant, valuable information a cinch. I highly recommend the "Gaming" section for developers, industry professionals and consumers alike.
Best Twitter Content:
Gaming news: @arstechnica (for obvious reasons), @goodgaming
Entertainment law: @musiclaw09, @entlawupdate
Entertainment/Industry news: @hypebot (who also has an amazing website for musicians), @fightpiracy
A couple of other invaluable resources for Artists:
- Your local film bureau or Chamber of Commerce
In Massachusetts specifically, the Film Bureau is an amazing resource for understanding laws right regard to filmmaking, tax credits, and a myriad of other issues. There are similar organizations for other areas of entertainment as well.
- Your local arts lawyers organization
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts has a presence in most jurisdictions, especially ones where the area is thick with entertainment and art. I actually worked at the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts and am now a member attorney. Most of these attorneys will take artist cases pro-bono if you qualify.
How, this clearly isn't an exhaustive list; these just happen to be some of the sites I like, for various reasons. I would invite everyone to contribute their favorites as well. The bottom line at the end of the day, though, is that it is more important than ever that entertainment industry folks understand the latest news and legal developments in their industry. Not only is it (slightly?) interesting, it is most likely relevant to something you're working on, and simply being aware can save you loads of time and money on the back end. Enjoy!
www.newleaflegal.com
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Friday, January 22, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Beyoncé to Promote Nintendo's "Style Savvy" Game
In the latest development of what appears to be the gaming industry's attempt to lure in more female gamers (as creepy as that sounds), Nintendo has paid top dollars to Beyoncé to be the new spokeswoman for "Style Savvy." "Style Savvy" is a fashion-focused game that lets players build and run their own fashion boutiques; an opportunity that, according to Beyoncé, is not only fun and stimulating for young minds, but also educational.
My initial impression upon reading this will blip was "well, it seems Nintendo did a bit better than Playstation." I'd take a crack at Style Savvy for shits and giggles, although I'm not sure Beyoncé would be my motivating factor. On the other hand, you would have to strap me into a chair and staple my eyes open and FORCE me to play Hanna Montana. But I digress; clearly I am not the aim of these ad campaigns. The way I see it, the target are young girls interested in fashion, or women interested (or in) fashion that will use the game as a time killer during commutes.
So what are these women saying about the game? Well, the few comments on the article weren't exactly rousing. One commenter pointed out the (fatal?) issue of initial investment in a DS, which run $129. I certainly wouldn't invest in one for the sake of a casual game or two (although, people do pay $299 for Kindles for the exact same commuting purpose...). On top of that, you're competing with investments in actual fashion (i.e. the pair of shoes the same commentor pointed out she would rather purchase). So... maybe the game isn't such a slam dunk for "adults." But what about kids?
The game reviewed well for tweens/teens interested in fashion, and noted the entrepreneurial value of building a virtual store and helping a variety of customers with different needs. Also, given it's over 10,000 lockable garments, the game could provide a depth that both casual and more loyal gamers can appreciate.
Overall, I'd say hiring Beyoncé was a good move for Nintendo, as long as expectations are realistic and Nintendo is looking to recruit female (casual) gamers for the long-tail. Will this add send women out in droves to buy a DS just for this game? Probably not. But, it may motivate young women that already HAVE a DS. Likewise, if this campaign continues on a Nintendo or industry-wide scale, the industry will likely garner a larger portion of female gamers over time. If that is the aim - which is likely given the magnitude of female-focused games out there now - this crazy plan may work.
My initial impression upon reading this will blip was "well, it seems Nintendo did a bit better than Playstation." I'd take a crack at Style Savvy for shits and giggles, although I'm not sure Beyoncé would be my motivating factor. On the other hand, you would have to strap me into a chair and staple my eyes open and FORCE me to play Hanna Montana. But I digress; clearly I am not the aim of these ad campaigns. The way I see it, the target are young girls interested in fashion, or women interested (or in) fashion that will use the game as a time killer during commutes.
So what are these women saying about the game? Well, the few comments on the article weren't exactly rousing. One commenter pointed out the (fatal?) issue of initial investment in a DS, which run $129. I certainly wouldn't invest in one for the sake of a casual game or two (although, people do pay $299 for Kindles for the exact same commuting purpose...). On top of that, you're competing with investments in actual fashion (i.e. the pair of shoes the same commentor pointed out she would rather purchase). So... maybe the game isn't such a slam dunk for "adults." But what about kids?
The game reviewed well for tweens/teens interested in fashion, and noted the entrepreneurial value of building a virtual store and helping a variety of customers with different needs. Also, given it's over 10,000 lockable garments, the game could provide a depth that both casual and more loyal gamers can appreciate.
Overall, I'd say hiring Beyoncé was a good move for Nintendo, as long as expectations are realistic and Nintendo is looking to recruit female (casual) gamers for the long-tail. Will this add send women out in droves to buy a DS just for this game? Probably not. But, it may motivate young women that already HAVE a DS. Likewise, if this campaign continues on a Nintendo or industry-wide scale, the industry will likely garner a larger portion of female gamers over time. If that is the aim - which is likely given the magnitude of female-focused games out there now - this crazy plan may work.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Gaming Industry is Doing Well. I mean Badly. I mean... Crap.
I absolutely LOVE reading my daily Google alerts on the "video game industry." Its like reading a paper written by someone with multiple personality disorder. Or an identity crisis. One headline reads "EA forcasts another tough year for gaming..." while the next reads "video games are starting 2010 strong." This a hilarious daily occurrence for me.
What does this mean for gaming? Personally, I think folks are just freaking out that the bubble is going to burst, a la internet companies of the 90's. I can understand that trepidation; video games aren't cheap to make, and spend years in development surrounded by uncertainty as to whether that investment will ever be recouped (much less whether there will be a profit). However, I don't think the industry is even CLOSE to experiencing the cataclysmic shift that occurred in the music and film industry... because geeks are smarter than you and me. I mean that lovingly!
People are still craving video games, and a recession is the time for them to shine! People are not going out and spending money; they want to invest in something that will have lasting entertainment over days and months, and not merely hours. So you know what? Maybe 2010 won't be as great as 2007-2009 for video games. But the industry needs to keep in mind that it's doing substantial better than most other entertainment industries AND in a recession. As long as games continue to be innovative and push the envelope, there's no reason to panic. Be cautious? Yes. But you don't need to push the red button yet.
What does this mean for gaming? Personally, I think folks are just freaking out that the bubble is going to burst, a la internet companies of the 90's. I can understand that trepidation; video games aren't cheap to make, and spend years in development surrounded by uncertainty as to whether that investment will ever be recouped (much less whether there will be a profit). However, I don't think the industry is even CLOSE to experiencing the cataclysmic shift that occurred in the music and film industry... because geeks are smarter than you and me. I mean that lovingly!
People are still craving video games, and a recession is the time for them to shine! People are not going out and spending money; they want to invest in something that will have lasting entertainment over days and months, and not merely hours. So you know what? Maybe 2010 won't be as great as 2007-2009 for video games. But the industry needs to keep in mind that it's doing substantial better than most other entertainment industries AND in a recession. As long as games continue to be innovative and push the envelope, there's no reason to panic. Be cautious? Yes. But you don't need to push the red button yet.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
An Addendum to Yesterday's Blog
As if to prove my point about the mature "themes" in COD being a contributing factor to it's "M" rating, this article was published in The Boston Herald this morning.
Nina Huntemann, the article's feature, is a professor at my alum, Suffolk University (well, it's where I attended law school). Not only does she bring up the point that there are potentially harmful attitudes and themes in COD 2 (such as Americans being on the "right" side of the fight, and reinforcing war as an effective way to solve global conflict), but also that, when choosing a game for their children, the ESRB rating is a "good place to start." She goes on to say: '“Parents should learn what these games are about by reading reviews beforehand and then asking to see games demonstrated on store kiosks,” Huntemann added. If they do buy a game, she said, parents should be prepared to learn how to play it, even if in a rudimentary way.'
I won't elaborate any more because I do like readers to give traffic to the source site, but I would highly encourage you to read both the article and her work "Joystick Soldiers." I'm going to see if I can track down an email address for Ms. Huntemann and find out more about her work.
Nina Huntemann, the article's feature, is a professor at my alum, Suffolk University (well, it's where I attended law school). Not only does she bring up the point that there are potentially harmful attitudes and themes in COD 2 (such as Americans being on the "right" side of the fight, and reinforcing war as an effective way to solve global conflict), but also that, when choosing a game for their children, the ESRB rating is a "good place to start." She goes on to say: '“Parents should learn what these games are about by reading reviews beforehand and then asking to see games demonstrated on store kiosks,” Huntemann added. If they do buy a game, she said, parents should be prepared to learn how to play it, even if in a rudimentary way.'
I won't elaborate any more because I do like readers to give traffic to the source site, but I would highly encourage you to read both the article and her work "Joystick Soldiers." I'm going to see if I can track down an email address for Ms. Huntemann and find out more about her work.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Re: Dante's Inferno Proves Corrupt ESRB
I am writing this blog in response to this article, which was posted on PS3center.net on 12/19. I would highly encourage you to read that article first, and for your own opinions and conclusions about the ESRB. I had a few thoughts on both the article and the ESRB that I would like to address.
First of all, Dustin (the author of the article), you do make a good point - complaints, potential lawsuits and all kinds of other PC shit (and I mean "politically correct, not PC game/games. Please don't strangle me with your LAN cords. Yes, I stole that from The Guild) muddle the standards by which games are judged. Nowadays, it seems that you have to be between the ages of 2 and 4 to enjoy an "E" rated game, when even a few years ago there were plenty of "E"-rated games that were "fun for the whole family," if you will. For example, look at one of my favorite SIM-type games of all time: Viva Piñata. It was rated "E," but the majority of gameplay was spent trying to get the animals to do the nasty and make tiny piñata babies. Granted, it all revolved around a mini-game where you collected hearts, but anyone over 4 would understand what the unicorns were doing when they went into their magical tent.
My point? It's all about perception. In ratings, it matters how you present sex and violence. And on top of that, the ESRB appears to "prioritize" sex and violence; i.e., I would argue sex and nudity are more likely to get you and "M" or the dreaded "AO" than violence alone. I mean, it's kind of tough to play ANY adventure, platformer or RPG without killing everything in sight. What matters is whether they just disappear when you kill them (ala Final Fantasy), or end up in a bloody messy at your feet with your character covered in blood (ala Dragon Age... which I love, btw. I want to WEAR my victories!! MUHAHAHAHAH!). In contrast, because six isn't considered "necessary" to most video game story lines or gameplay, I (personally) believe if it judged more harshly.
To that same end, any "combination" of language, sex & violence can get you an "M" rating. Dustin pointed out that while he may let his younger brother play COD, he probably wouldn't let him near Dante's Inferno. COD has plenty of violence, but there are other more "practical" adult themes at play her - namely, war. In COD, you theoretically are killing your fellow man; another human being who feels differently than you do. That theme is arguably much more controversial than killing demons from hell. In contrast, the sheer VOLUME of violence and sex in Dante's Inferno won it it's "M" rating. I think people operate under the false assumption that all "M" games are created equal, and that is simply not the case. You can't just say, across the board, all "M" games are fine for my kid (or younger brother). There are a myraid of factors that got that game there, and there's not substitute to doing a little research.
Is it a pain in the ass? Yes. But it works the same way with movies and parental advisory stickers - there's a committee, somewhere, that (for better or worse) is trying to tell you something. They can't write a novel on the back of the game giving a play by play of each bit of questionable content. But I believe that, at the end of the day, the ESRB is a "warning" system, not a babysitter. If someone has personal morals that forbid their kids from exposure to certain kinds of adult content, it's up to that person to find out which games are offensive in that manner. And I think that overall, the ESRB does that better than any other entertainment rating system out there.
Please don't get me wrong; I'm not bagging on Dustin or holding up my flag for the ESRB. I'm simply pointing out that all "M"s are not created equal, and it's dangerous to operate under that assumption.
For more information on the ESRB and it's rating system, please visit esrb.org.
First of all, Dustin (the author of the article), you do make a good point - complaints, potential lawsuits and all kinds of other PC shit (and I mean "politically correct, not PC game/games. Please don't strangle me with your LAN cords. Yes, I stole that from The Guild) muddle the standards by which games are judged. Nowadays, it seems that you have to be between the ages of 2 and 4 to enjoy an "E" rated game, when even a few years ago there were plenty of "E"-rated games that were "fun for the whole family," if you will. For example, look at one of my favorite SIM-type games of all time: Viva Piñata. It was rated "E," but the majority of gameplay was spent trying to get the animals to do the nasty and make tiny piñata babies. Granted, it all revolved around a mini-game where you collected hearts, but anyone over 4 would understand what the unicorns were doing when they went into their magical tent.
My point? It's all about perception. In ratings, it matters how you present sex and violence. And on top of that, the ESRB appears to "prioritize" sex and violence; i.e., I would argue sex and nudity are more likely to get you and "M" or the dreaded "AO" than violence alone. I mean, it's kind of tough to play ANY adventure, platformer or RPG without killing everything in sight. What matters is whether they just disappear when you kill them (ala Final Fantasy), or end up in a bloody messy at your feet with your character covered in blood (ala Dragon Age... which I love, btw. I want to WEAR my victories!! MUHAHAHAHAH!). In contrast, because six isn't considered "necessary" to most video game story lines or gameplay, I (personally) believe if it judged more harshly.
To that same end, any "combination" of language, sex & violence can get you an "M" rating. Dustin pointed out that while he may let his younger brother play COD, he probably wouldn't let him near Dante's Inferno. COD has plenty of violence, but there are other more "practical" adult themes at play her - namely, war. In COD, you theoretically are killing your fellow man; another human being who feels differently than you do. That theme is arguably much more controversial than killing demons from hell. In contrast, the sheer VOLUME of violence and sex in Dante's Inferno won it it's "M" rating. I think people operate under the false assumption that all "M" games are created equal, and that is simply not the case. You can't just say, across the board, all "M" games are fine for my kid (or younger brother). There are a myraid of factors that got that game there, and there's not substitute to doing a little research.
Is it a pain in the ass? Yes. But it works the same way with movies and parental advisory stickers - there's a committee, somewhere, that (for better or worse) is trying to tell you something. They can't write a novel on the back of the game giving a play by play of each bit of questionable content. But I believe that, at the end of the day, the ESRB is a "warning" system, not a babysitter. If someone has personal morals that forbid their kids from exposure to certain kinds of adult content, it's up to that person to find out which games are offensive in that manner. And I think that overall, the ESRB does that better than any other entertainment rating system out there.
Please don't get me wrong; I'm not bagging on Dustin or holding up my flag for the ESRB. I'm simply pointing out that all "M"s are not created equal, and it's dangerous to operate under that assumption.
For more information on the ESRB and it's rating system, please visit esrb.org.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Buy Your Tix Now! Vid Game Exhibit in Smithsonian in... Wait... 2012?
In what can politely be called an "early announcement," the Smithsonian American Art Museum recently published an announcement that it will host a 6-month exhibit on the evolution of video games, beginning in March 2012.
First of all, this is sure to be a completely bad-ass exhibit. I honestly wish I had kids just so I could take them and show them just how far video games have come since "War Games." (Do you remember that? Ah, nerd memories...) Alas, it will likely be just me and my fiancé nerding out with all the other adults that proudly wear their gamertags on their sleeves. But no matter.
The exhibit is sure to have its high and low points. For example, not only will the exhibit take a comprehensive look at every console system (big positive there and yes, I'm bias to consoles), but there will even be a demonstration room where visitors can play games.
Wait, a demo room? Cool in concept? Yes. Execution? Hmm... I'm afraid that the Smithsonian Directors may underestimate the power of a gamer, especially under the influence of an energy drink or one too many cups of coffee. And I know I would fuel up before taking on that exhibit. In mean, the line to play Wii at Best Buy is annoying enough... can you imagine the hoarding when there's thousands of game enthusiasts in one place, scrambling to get their moments of reminiscence with an Atari system? I shudder to think. You know people that live in the DC area will visit that exhibit multiple times just to hang out in the that room. And the adults are sure to be worse than the kids (aren't they always?)
Either way, I know I'll be heading down to DC sometime during 2012. In other news, I've recently discovered The Guild. How the hell did I miss this??
First of all, this is sure to be a completely bad-ass exhibit. I honestly wish I had kids just so I could take them and show them just how far video games have come since "War Games." (Do you remember that? Ah, nerd memories...) Alas, it will likely be just me and my fiancé nerding out with all the other adults that proudly wear their gamertags on their sleeves. But no matter.
The exhibit is sure to have its high and low points. For example, not only will the exhibit take a comprehensive look at every console system (big positive there and yes, I'm bias to consoles), but there will even be a demonstration room where visitors can play games.
Wait, a demo room? Cool in concept? Yes. Execution? Hmm... I'm afraid that the Smithsonian Directors may underestimate the power of a gamer, especially under the influence of an energy drink or one too many cups of coffee. And I know I would fuel up before taking on that exhibit. In mean, the line to play Wii at Best Buy is annoying enough... can you imagine the hoarding when there's thousands of game enthusiasts in one place, scrambling to get their moments of reminiscence with an Atari system? I shudder to think. You know people that live in the DC area will visit that exhibit multiple times just to hang out in the that room. And the adults are sure to be worse than the kids (aren't they always?)
Either way, I know I'll be heading down to DC sometime during 2012. In other news, I've recently discovered The Guild. How the hell did I miss this??
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Report Says Vid Game Industry Best for Empowering Parents
Apparently I've got a theme going this week. I'll admit, sometimes I tend to get on my high-horse about video game content because I know the educational tools are there for parents to understand what they're kids are playing, and that the Video Game Industry gets a bad rap for no reasona. And I'm not the only one that thinks that, so HA!
Unlike movie rating systems, the ESRB ratings systems is optional. But how many games do you see without ratings? Um, a whole lot of NONE. Even "E" (for Everyone) gets plastered on the most family-friendly games. The article I cited earlier states in part:
"The computer and video game industry leads all others in ensuring its products are marketed appropriately and is the gold standard for others to follow," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. "Today's FTC report is a strong acknowledgement and validation that industry-led self-regulation efforts are the best way to provide parents and retailers with the resources and support they need to keep our kids' entertainment experiences suitable."
There are some other fabulous nuggets and hard facts about how well the gaming industry and its retailers self-regulate. You know that, I'm not going to elaborate.. I've only got two words. BOO. YAH.
Unlike movie rating systems, the ESRB ratings systems is optional. But how many games do you see without ratings? Um, a whole lot of NONE. Even "E" (for Everyone) gets plastered on the most family-friendly games. The article I cited earlier states in part:
"The computer and video game industry leads all others in ensuring its products are marketed appropriately and is the gold standard for others to follow," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. "Today's FTC report is a strong acknowledgement and validation that industry-led self-regulation efforts are the best way to provide parents and retailers with the resources and support they need to keep our kids' entertainment experiences suitable."
There are some other fabulous nuggets and hard facts about how well the gaming industry and its retailers self-regulate. You know that, I'm not going to elaborate.. I've only got two words. BOO. YAH.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Where the Heck Has Shannon Been, and Easter Eggs in Dragon Age. Yeah, THAT Easter Egg.
Well, apparently it's socially acceptable for me to say "Happy Holidays" to everybody now - and simply because "Happy Holidays" is PC. Little known fact about the Shanster...I am obsessed with Christmas. Although I haven't been blogging lately, I have been fanatical about listening to Christmas carols and secretly counting down the days until I can decorate.
I know lots of people hate people like me, and admitting this to me readers may cause me to read a few of you (i.e. 3-5 of you)... which would mean I would lose all of you. Shit, I've got to get better at math. Either way, it's out now - a scrooge, I am not.
But that's not the only "news" I have! What's mostly kept me away from my blogging is that I have been adjusting my job situation, and have started a firm with two of my colleagues (one of whom, Steven Shapiro, has a wonderful brand licensing blog here). Our name is still TBA, but the firm will still have the goal of serving "baby businesses," entrepreneurs and start ups, particularly in the areas of entertainment, brand and IP licensing, and complex corporate matters. So, lots of planning has been going on, but rest assured there are VERY exciting things to come!
Alright, enough about me. Let's talk about sex, baby. Namely, homosexual sex in Dragon Age: Origin. That's one hell of an Easter egg if I've ever heard of one. Now, this little "secret" has been circulating the interwebs for some time now, but I haven't read a whole lot of substantive commentary. It's almost like no one wants to say "that's what I'm talking about!" Well, perhaps that's not the way they feel, given that's it's two magical dudes going at it. Either way, this is my blog, so I'm going to share MY opinion on it (funny how that works out so nicely...).
Thanks to Mrs. Gore, all video games bear cover-ruining stamp telling parents the overall "level" of content in the game. Dragon Age is rated "T" for teen, which, in this day and age, parents are usually cool with purchasing this game for their ten-year olds. They may not, however, have gotten around to explaining homosexuality to their kids. Not cool (on two levels), however, a parent's choice. My guess is that the ESRB was not away of Bioware's hidden "extra content," in which case I think it's a little out of line. That being said, is your average 10-13 year old going to find this Easter egg? Probably not. But they could, to me, that possibility alone takes it up to "M," which doesn't stand for "Moms, buy this game for your ten year old."
Now, please don't get me wrong; this isn't about homosexuality - I would be saying the same thing if it was a hot female black mage and a muscle-rippling male warrior (woah, I got a little carried away on that one...). And I like to consider myself as socially "liberal" (dare I use the term) as they come. However, I believe that the ratings system is designed to educate parents - although, in my personal opinion, parents also need to engage in independent research before purchasing a game. Parents should be making educated choices about the content they expose their children to, and hidden sexual content makes that very difficult.
I completely respect developers and the hard work they put into making a visual masterpiece like Dragon Age. However, make sure you know your audience, or the focus will be on one tiny part of your masterpiece, and that should never be the case.
Editor's Note: My lovely fiance pointed out to me that Dragon Age is actually rated "M," not "T." I was looking at the PC version online when I was doing my research for this blog. Luckily, this serves simply to bolster my argument that parents should find out what's in games, and, in the case of Dragon Age, this SHOULD involve simply looking at the cover (which is a dragon made out of blood spatter) and the big "M" slapped on the front.
I know lots of people hate people like me, and admitting this to me readers may cause me to read a few of you (i.e. 3-5 of you)... which would mean I would lose all of you. Shit, I've got to get better at math. Either way, it's out now - a scrooge, I am not.
But that's not the only "news" I have! What's mostly kept me away from my blogging is that I have been adjusting my job situation, and have started a firm with two of my colleagues (one of whom, Steven Shapiro, has a wonderful brand licensing blog here). Our name is still TBA, but the firm will still have the goal of serving "baby businesses," entrepreneurs and start ups, particularly in the areas of entertainment, brand and IP licensing, and complex corporate matters. So, lots of planning has been going on, but rest assured there are VERY exciting things to come!
Alright, enough about me. Let's talk about sex, baby. Namely, homosexual sex in Dragon Age: Origin. That's one hell of an Easter egg if I've ever heard of one. Now, this little "secret" has been circulating the interwebs for some time now, but I haven't read a whole lot of substantive commentary. It's almost like no one wants to say "that's what I'm talking about!" Well, perhaps that's not the way they feel, given that's it's two magical dudes going at it. Either way, this is my blog, so I'm going to share MY opinion on it (funny how that works out so nicely...).
Thanks to Mrs. Gore, all video games bear cover-ruining stamp telling parents the overall "level" of content in the game. Dragon Age is rated "T" for teen, which, in this day and age, parents are usually cool with purchasing this game for their ten-year olds. They may not, however, have gotten around to explaining homosexuality to their kids. Not cool (on two levels), however, a parent's choice. My guess is that the ESRB was not away of Bioware's hidden "extra content," in which case I think it's a little out of line. That being said, is your average 10-13 year old going to find this Easter egg? Probably not. But they could, to me, that possibility alone takes it up to "M," which doesn't stand for "Moms, buy this game for your ten year old."
Now, please don't get me wrong; this isn't about homosexuality - I would be saying the same thing if it was a hot female black mage and a muscle-rippling male warrior (woah, I got a little carried away on that one...). And I like to consider myself as socially "liberal" (dare I use the term) as they come. However, I believe that the ratings system is designed to educate parents - although, in my personal opinion, parents also need to engage in independent research before purchasing a game. Parents should be making educated choices about the content they expose their children to, and hidden sexual content makes that very difficult.
I completely respect developers and the hard work they put into making a visual masterpiece like Dragon Age. However, make sure you know your audience, or the focus will be on one tiny part of your masterpiece, and that should never be the case.
Editor's Note: My lovely fiance pointed out to me that Dragon Age is actually rated "M," not "T." I was looking at the PC version online when I was doing my research for this blog. Luckily, this serves simply to bolster my argument that parents should find out what's in games, and, in the case of Dragon Age, this SHOULD involve simply looking at the cover (which is a dragon made out of blood spatter) and the big "M" slapped on the front.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Minimizing Risks in Start-Up Gaming Co's
I read a great article this morning (thanks, Google alerts)about Kalypso, a Baltimore start-up that just launched it's first game, Tropico 3. That's right, Tropico 3. How did Kalypso accomplish the amazing feat of creating the third game in a popular series as their first release? No, my friends, they did not rewrite the laws of physics.. they purchased the right to the series from Take Two, creators of GTA. You see, as the article points out, while the Tropico series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide (thanks in part, no doubt to both physical and downloadable sales on sites like Gametap & Yahoo! Games), it's still not profitable enough for Take Two to keep in its roster. Not when they have GTA (which sells millions of copies per release) and some of the best game developers in the biz; priorities = profit.
Now, that's not to say that Kalypso, who only opened their doors in June, don't have equally talented programmers and developers on their team. Quite to the contrary, I think this move was GENIUS for a start up, especially one in the cut-throat gaming industry. On the one hand, entrepreneurs "have no place to go but up," states Kalypso founder Deborah Tillet. But on the other hand, the risk of crashing and burning is higher, and of greater personal risk than it is with larger, established companies. So what better way to balance these interests than to purchase a more established IP? I touched on this topic a little while back, but it's certainly no secret that established IPs are an easier sell (and a better idea?) in this current economy. I applaude Kalypso for taking the leap and starting their own company @ a time when everyone is clinging to the known and the safe. I think purchasing the rights to an established title is a perfect & creative way to get on the map, and a chance for Kalypso to become truly innovative much quicker. Huzzah!
Now, that's not to say that Kalypso, who only opened their doors in June, don't have equally talented programmers and developers on their team. Quite to the contrary, I think this move was GENIUS for a start up, especially one in the cut-throat gaming industry. On the one hand, entrepreneurs "have no place to go but up," states Kalypso founder Deborah Tillet. But on the other hand, the risk of crashing and burning is higher, and of greater personal risk than it is with larger, established companies. So what better way to balance these interests than to purchase a more established IP? I touched on this topic a little while back, but it's certainly no secret that established IPs are an easier sell (and a better idea?) in this current economy. I applaude Kalypso for taking the leap and starting their own company @ a time when everyone is clinging to the known and the safe. I think purchasing the rights to an established title is a perfect & creative way to get on the map, and a chance for Kalypso to become truly innovative much quicker. Huzzah!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
MySpace Tries to Get It's Brand Back... Good Luck.
I'm not going to lie; I jumped on the MySpace bandwagon when it was all the rage a few years ago. And as much as it kills me to admit it, I haven't deleted my account, and, to the best of my knowledge, MySpace hasn't either. There's something sacred in deleting a social network account or a blog.... I've got this mental block that it just seems "wrong." Either way, I log on every few months to get it another chance, and am constantly disappointed at the cess pool of social media laid out before mine eyes. MySpace is a complete disaster. It's covered in flashy, annoying ads that just scream "cheap!!!", and it's filled with unsavory characters. Tell me I'm wrong; I dare you. So how did MySpace get here? And can they fix it?
Apparently, they're going to try. According to that little blip, MySpace is attempting to get it's brand back my focusing more on music, videos and games.
I'm not really sure how this will help the brand recover. The issue wasn't necessarily content (although I've seen enough pics of people in their bathrooms trying to look sexy to last me a lifetime, thank you), but functionality and the AWFUL ads/spam. MySpace is still a place for music, and many bands and music professionals alike still swear you still need a MySpace page. I'm on the fence about this, because MySpace's search function is so band that it severs limited to ability of fans to FIND music that they might actually like. Instead, users are stuck fumbling around with random key words that MIGHT be the title of a band or song they like. For example, if I like metal, I should probably type in "Guitars of Death Steel," or "Apocalypse Babies" and hope for the best. There's no intuitive way to find music related to bands that you like. Sure, there are "genres," but how often do you look up a band you like and go "What the hell?? They're not [insert genre]!" Maybe I simply haven't played around with it enough to find the niche, but should I have to?
Moving on to videos and games, it's still going to be an uphill battle. YouTube has established itself as the top go-to for videos... what is MySpace's "hook" to top that? And what's the approach to gaming? Is is casual gaming a la Yahoo! Games? Or bigger, downloadable stuff a la Gametap? Either way, they're going to have to prove to users that not only have they cleaned up their brand (hurdle #1), but also that their services are BETTER than what's currently out there (hurdle #2). Can they do it? I'm not so sure, but I'm willing to hang on to m profile for a bit longer to find out.
Apparently, they're going to try. According to that little blip, MySpace is attempting to get it's brand back my focusing more on music, videos and games.
I'm not really sure how this will help the brand recover. The issue wasn't necessarily content (although I've seen enough pics of people in their bathrooms trying to look sexy to last me a lifetime, thank you), but functionality and the AWFUL ads/spam. MySpace is still a place for music, and many bands and music professionals alike still swear you still need a MySpace page. I'm on the fence about this, because MySpace's search function is so band that it severs limited to ability of fans to FIND music that they might actually like. Instead, users are stuck fumbling around with random key words that MIGHT be the title of a band or song they like. For example, if I like metal, I should probably type in "Guitars of Death Steel," or "Apocalypse Babies" and hope for the best. There's no intuitive way to find music related to bands that you like. Sure, there are "genres," but how often do you look up a band you like and go "What the hell?? They're not [insert genre]!" Maybe I simply haven't played around with it enough to find the niche, but should I have to?
Moving on to videos and games, it's still going to be an uphill battle. YouTube has established itself as the top go-to for videos... what is MySpace's "hook" to top that? And what's the approach to gaming? Is is casual gaming a la Yahoo! Games? Or bigger, downloadable stuff a la Gametap? Either way, they're going to have to prove to users that not only have they cleaned up their brand (hurdle #1), but also that their services are BETTER than what's currently out there (hurdle #2). Can they do it? I'm not so sure, but I'm willing to hang on to m profile for a bit longer to find out.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Social Gaming On the Rise
Great article in the San Fransisco Chronicle today about Social Gaming. You know, games like Mafia Wars that you can play on F/B and annoy all your friends with your constantly updated news feed. I really shouldn't be so critical. For the gaming industry, it appears these babies are a little bit of a cash cow; simple concepts, graphics and mechanisms means lower development (and possibly maintenance) costs. Plus, because they don't require you to play "live" with others, casual gamers have the option of logging on and contributing to game play as it suits them.
Do any of you guys play these games? What are your thoughts on these games and (new) direction of gaming?
Do any of you guys play these games? What are your thoughts on these games and (new) direction of gaming?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Are We Really Going There?: Race and Video Games
Well, crap in a hat. A surprising study has come out this week, featured in Science Codex that claims studies show that minorities are notoriously underrepresented in video games. Holy cow - are you serious?? Are we really going there?
You know what, let me back up here. Yes, I agree; Latinos are not generally well-presented in video games, and there aren't a lot of African American lead characters. However, video games are not reality; they exaggerate stereotypes and play on history, much like films do. Were the Russians bitching when GTA4 came out and the lead character was a Russian gangster? No, because that shit is based on reality, albeit exaggerated for entertainment purposes. There was a big uproar when Res Evil 5 came out because all the zombies were black. First of all, they aren't really zombies - it's a rage virus. Second, the game took place in AFRICA. News flash: lots of people are black in Africa. Let it go! Did Spanish folks complain when Res Evil 4 took place in a Spanish village? No. And no one can bitch about Japanese RPG's because you can't even tell what gender half of those people are, never mind what race. Maybe transgendered individuals will start complaining about that. I mean, that's gotta be malicious, right? Game developers are evil, evil people.
On top of all this noise, the study neglected to mentioned that characters are fully customizable in a myriad of games right now. Mass Effect, Fallout; hell, look @ Miis! So if you're you're white and nerdy, you can be a ripped black guy if your heart so desires.
Here's the reality, folks - the world is (thankfully)full of diversity and different cultures. Each culture shares similarities among its individuals, which creates stereotypes. Game developers merely take some of these generalizations and populate their virtual worlds. They are not being malicious. That's why there are black people in Africa, and why Mario is a chubby Italian.
With regard to lead characters, I personally think it's difficult to discern their race sometimes. Sure, they have American accents, but that's just dubbing. What the hell race is the lead from Gears of War supposed to be? He kind of looks white, but who knows? He's always kind of dirty, and I can't see his hair. Holy crap - is he bald?? That's just cold. And he's insanely huge - is that discriminatory against skinny, small people? As a petite woman, I'm offended.
Look, I know race is still a serious issue, both in America and globally. But let's keep the issue to where it's truly relevant! A video game is not one of those places. Let's all just sit down together and have some fun, huh?
You know what, let me back up here. Yes, I agree; Latinos are not generally well-presented in video games, and there aren't a lot of African American lead characters. However, video games are not reality; they exaggerate stereotypes and play on history, much like films do. Were the Russians bitching when GTA4 came out and the lead character was a Russian gangster? No, because that shit is based on reality, albeit exaggerated for entertainment purposes. There was a big uproar when Res Evil 5 came out because all the zombies were black. First of all, they aren't really zombies - it's a rage virus. Second, the game took place in AFRICA. News flash: lots of people are black in Africa. Let it go! Did Spanish folks complain when Res Evil 4 took place in a Spanish village? No. And no one can bitch about Japanese RPG's because you can't even tell what gender half of those people are, never mind what race. Maybe transgendered individuals will start complaining about that. I mean, that's gotta be malicious, right? Game developers are evil, evil people.
On top of all this noise, the study neglected to mentioned that characters are fully customizable in a myriad of games right now. Mass Effect, Fallout; hell, look @ Miis! So if you're you're white and nerdy, you can be a ripped black guy if your heart so desires.
Here's the reality, folks - the world is (thankfully)full of diversity and different cultures. Each culture shares similarities among its individuals, which creates stereotypes. Game developers merely take some of these generalizations and populate their virtual worlds. They are not being malicious. That's why there are black people in Africa, and why Mario is a chubby Italian.
With regard to lead characters, I personally think it's difficult to discern their race sometimes. Sure, they have American accents, but that's just dubbing. What the hell race is the lead from Gears of War supposed to be? He kind of looks white, but who knows? He's always kind of dirty, and I can't see his hair. Holy crap - is he bald?? That's just cold. And he's insanely huge - is that discriminatory against skinny, small people? As a petite woman, I'm offended.
Look, I know race is still a serious issue, both in America and globally. But let's keep the issue to where it's truly relevant! A video game is not one of those places. Let's all just sit down together and have some fun, huh?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Massachusetts Game Developers! Time to Get Some Tax Credits!
Ah yes - could there be a more exciting title to a blog in the whole world? I don't THINK so. But seriously, I have some important news for game developers and game development companies in Massachusetts. There is a bill in the House right now that would extend tax credits to game development companies in the same manner that they are currently offered to motion picture companies that film in Massachusetts. I've provided hyperlinks for both the proposed changes and the current bill, but I'll break it down for all of you that don't like spending the little free time you have reading statutes.
First, a little overview of tax credits. Unlike tax deductions, which reduce the total gross income on which you pay taxes, tax credits actual reduce the amount of taxes themselves. So if you have a $10,000 tax bill and $4,000 in credits, you only pay $6,000. With that in mind, onward we go!
1) Game Development companies would get a 25% tax credit based on the total payroll for production costs in Massachusetts if total production costs (not just payroll) are $50K or more during a given tax year. This doesn't include employees that are paid over $1,000,000.00 (I don't think many folks have to worry about that part!)
2) You get an additional 25% credit for all other production expenses, excluding payroll for production if @ least 50% of the total production costs were incurred in Massachusetts.
3) You apply the credits to your total tax bill, thereby reducing it. If you have credits left over, you have 2 choices: you can ask for them back, and you will be refunded 90% of their value; or you can carry them over for 5 more years.
4) You can also SELL the credits to other people/companies! However, if you acquire a transferred credit, you can't get a refund on it (see 3)), but you can still carry that acquired credit over for up 5 five years. And you need to sell the commissioner if you transfer it.
So that's pretty much it! I'm not a tax attorney, but my understanding of the situation is that the 25% is pulled from the total amount spent. So, if you spend $600,000 total on production, and $100,000 is payroll, you get a tax credit worth 25% of payroll ($25,000) plus 25% on the balance of $500,000 ($125,000). However, I'm still doing some research on this for some of my gaming clients, so I may amend after a further look.
However, I think the important thing is that no matter what the amount, this is directly benefiting your company and the gaming industry at large in Massachusetts. Our state has some of the brightest minds in the industry, and I would strongly encourage you to write to your local congressmen and ask them to lobby in support of the bill. Game development companies bring jobs to the area and keep our brightest minds here in the state of Massachusetts. You guys are some of those minds and we want you to stay! So please consider taking the time to lobby for yourself and others.
First, a little overview of tax credits. Unlike tax deductions, which reduce the total gross income on which you pay taxes, tax credits actual reduce the amount of taxes themselves. So if you have a $10,000 tax bill and $4,000 in credits, you only pay $6,000. With that in mind, onward we go!
1) Game Development companies would get a 25% tax credit based on the total payroll for production costs in Massachusetts if total production costs (not just payroll) are $50K or more during a given tax year. This doesn't include employees that are paid over $1,000,000.00 (I don't think many folks have to worry about that part!)
2) You get an additional 25% credit for all other production expenses, excluding payroll for production if @ least 50% of the total production costs were incurred in Massachusetts.
3) You apply the credits to your total tax bill, thereby reducing it. If you have credits left over, you have 2 choices: you can ask for them back, and you will be refunded 90% of their value; or you can carry them over for 5 more years.
4) You can also SELL the credits to other people/companies! However, if you acquire a transferred credit, you can't get a refund on it (see 3)), but you can still carry that acquired credit over for up 5 five years. And you need to sell the commissioner if you transfer it.
So that's pretty much it! I'm not a tax attorney, but my understanding of the situation is that the 25% is pulled from the total amount spent. So, if you spend $600,000 total on production, and $100,000 is payroll, you get a tax credit worth 25% of payroll ($25,000) plus 25% on the balance of $500,000 ($125,000). However, I'm still doing some research on this for some of my gaming clients, so I may amend after a further look.
However, I think the important thing is that no matter what the amount, this is directly benefiting your company and the gaming industry at large in Massachusetts. Our state has some of the brightest minds in the industry, and I would strongly encourage you to write to your local congressmen and ask them to lobby in support of the bill. Game development companies bring jobs to the area and keep our brightest minds here in the state of Massachusetts. You guys are some of those minds and we want you to stay! So please consider taking the time to lobby for yourself and others.
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