We are all gamers now

I have always had an interest in computer games. As a gamer (Xbox) but also as a source of innovation. Hence “One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games”. A book that gives an in-depth analysis of the trends and developments in the gaming industry. An industry, which is now leading up to the ninth generation of console hardware.

Evolution or revolution
The book describes the evolution of the gaming industry. From gaming software on par with that same effort in music, cinematography, and poetry to digital platforms, platform-agnostic, mobile gaming, social gaming, cloud gaming, free to play, pay to play, game-as-a-service, merchandising, tournaments, gaming TV, celebrity gaming, in-game advertising, subscriptions and soon streaming of gamings (Netflix). The changes in marketing, client retention, publishing, distribution (Gamestop) and business models. From Commodore 64 (my first computer) to Fortnite. From product to service. From CD to full-scale publishing concepts (Pokemon). Atari, Activision, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Rovio, Valve, Sony, Zynga, Supercell, Just Cause, Half-life, Grant Theft Auto and Doom.

The statistics

• Several of the world’s largest firms — Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Tencent — rely heavily on interactive entertainment for their success. According to its financials, Sony relies on…