Task 1 - structure - The Value Chain

Developers

Developers will make console games for the ps4, Xbox and 3DS along with PC games but now the new system is mobile games and its becoming the bigger market between the four. Developers will either make a new game or update an existing title like Gears Of War. A developer will have knowledge of computer science and software engineering, animation, graphic design and interactive media. A developers role will vary between:

Designer - how the game will look,

Artist - creating concept art for characters, objects and scenery,

Animator - using computer modelling the animator will bring characters and scenery to life,

Programmer - creating a script of code for the game to run on like gameplay, developing graphics and AI.

These are the people who really make great games an example is Bethesda this company develops a game and publishes them. They have made the long lasting titles Fallout, Elder Scrolls and Doom games. This company is unique for the stories and open world games personally I think they are unique for the game play they present to the player whatever game you are playing the certain movements and how you go along they game feel similar to others and it Clicks in you're head "I'm playing a Bethesda game". This feeling makes you comfortable because you've played a game like it so you start to enjoy it more.

Valve is another company that develops and publishes their games but, in a different style at valve the employees make what ever game they feel like which is the reason there games a so diverse not only to their rivals but even their previous publish games like Team Fortress , Portal and Half-Life. Both of these companies are good at making games and publishing them but between the two Bethesda only release a game every 4 years compared to valve who release games on steam every couple of week so this means every time a Bethesda game is going to be release it causes big tension with gamer's making it a big event which lets the game sell it self.

ttps://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/computergamesdeveloper.aspx


Publishers
Publishers are responsible for for their products manufacturing, marketing and research and pretty much all advertising. A publisher will finance developers and come to an agreement of the games licences like the publishers buying the rights to the title but letting the developers work on their project or either hire the developers to make a game for their console. The large publishers will have their own sound designers and graphic designers to help develop the game and distribute it on the release date.
Rockstar games is owned by Take-Two Interactive. Rockstar has made popular titles like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead, Rockstar games are similar to Bethesda in the way they advertise their games as they only produce a game every 4-5 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_publisher

Console Manufactures/First Party Publishers

Console manufacturing is handled by the first party publishers specifically Sony, Nintendo and Xbox these companies have large amount of power on the video game industry as they decide which game should be developed for their console and what will have priority marketing like Crash Bandicoot who is a video game character and mascot for the PlayStation 1 and 2 but, because of this fact they help developers and publishers on working projects to eventually release on their respected console platform.

PlayStation release their own first party games like the critically acclaimed series Uncharted and God Of War. Microsoft owns the Xbox the developers Microsoft studios make the first party games for the Xbox their best sellers being Gears Of War and Halo. In my opinion PlayStation is better between the two because of the exclusive content on games as well as PlayStation putting countless deals on their store, and if the user of the PlayStation has PlayStation Plus they will get three games a month for free. In addition Microsoft do have deals for their users but its not as charming as PlayStation their slogan "4 The Players" really hits it home.

http://group3gaming.blogspot.co.uk/

Distribution and Retail

Today it is much easier to buy a video game because of Digital Distribution now you can go online and simply push a few buttons and buy it. The Company Valve own Steam this is a website where you can buy games online for PC, in 2015 Valve reported they earn 3.5 billion in sales from steam so this is looking more like the future of selling video games.

A retailer like GameStop are on quick decline because of digital distribution but, to prevent them declining they have invested more into their trading system for example trading a game you dont play anymore and getting money for it or even valuable points which you can spend on a new game or console. Ultimately digital distribution will not decline unless a very popular game title was only available in physical form.

http://www.slideshare.net/cigdemkalem/video-games-distribution-and-marketing

Outsourcing companies

video game companies will outsource jobs and tasks like design, art, programming, voice acting and sound affects as well as motion capture, cinematic or even translating foreign language for the game. These jobs and tasks are given to thousands of companies and freelance contractors across the world. In addition a game studio based in Manchester will be working on a game for a Indian publisher who then outsources the game design to a freelance contractor in San Francisco.

http://www.cio.com/article/3030989/outsourcing/the-top-10-it-outsourcing-service-providers-of-the-year.html

Press and Media

video game journalism is the report and review and general information of video games an example of a games journalist is IGN who present video game news from games being developed to their opinion of the game when its released.
Video games haven't always had the greatest opinions from the general press as they say video games make people to violent things, For example in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkPFDEiC6Q

we see mothers watching a scary game that is 18 rated but is being advertised to ages younger because of this games are given a bad name, because of companies like EA making this advert stopped video games from getting the praise like they do today compared to IGN who tell the viewer how the video game really is.