Boxing up Steam

    Valve recently announced that it would be stepping into the console market with the Steam Machine. For those who do not know what Steam is; it is a PC program that allows gamers to buy and download games. All the games are then available through the Steam program from any PC you use. Simply download Steam, log in, and you are set. Every game you purchase is there, and all the save points are synced between PCs.

    What does the Steam Machine mean for the video game industry? Well I for one think that it finally bridges the gap between PC gamers and console gamers. This is also excellent news for developers because now they do not need to create four different versions of one game (PC, Xbox, PS, and the Wii). This will save on cost related to development, and cost the gamers less in purchases. Having what is essentially a PC in the living room could open up the industry to more developers as well. Which I hope it does since the current video game industry is (in my opinion) heading towards another crash. The industry needs new life breathed into it, and fast.

    What the Steam Machine is essentially a PC that will run the SteamOS. Valve also stated that the console will be able to play the nearly 3,000 games already on Steam. The company will also be releasing the SteamOS so gamers can build their own Steam Box anyway they choose. This will prove to be a significant advantage for Valve as they are the only gaming company to allow users to use an OS on custom built hardware. Valve even stated that users will be free to hack the Steam Box with no issues. The specs for the Steam Machine are random at this point since Valve has multiple prototypes out in order to test the best configuration for the Steam Machine.

    I can not wait to have this console sitting in my living room. The ability to play a PC game in my living room is a huge plus for me. Valve has already added in a “Big Picture Mode” that lets users play on large screens. This mode simply enlarges the current Steam program into a new layout that is easy to navigate on a large screen. To accomplish this, users have to hook up his/her TV to a computer. It can be done, but in my example my computer is in another room and would look out of place in my living room. However, a console dedicated just to run Steam is enough for me to pre-order one next year.

    Valve is out to shakeup the console wars with their Steam Machine. If Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo do not watch out, their consoles could go the way of Blockbuster. 

Copy of Paste: The Reusing

    As the holiday season approaches video game studios are pumping out their new investments. Enter Call of Duty: Ghost by Activision, which as of now has sold more than $1 billion on its first day out. Now there is impressive no matter how you look at it. However, being the big franchise that Call of Duty is, it must put a lot of pressure on a company to produce a high quality game.

Planning for Business

    Earlier in the month I took a look at two experts in the world of business plans, Carl Schramm and Chuck Blakeman. These gentlemen had decidedly different views on how to deal with business plans, and took into account what they both had to offer. While Carl was in favor of small business plans, Chuck said that there is no need to have one.

Opposing Plans

          Starting a business is likely one of the toughest choices one will have to make. It involves a lot of planning and research before the business is even launched. Along with that, a potential business owner needs to find the capital in order to get their business off the ground. So to get the capital, one needs to find investors. However, to get investors a solid business plan is required to help sway the investors into lending out the money that is needed.

Half-Dead 3: Steamy Valve

    It looks like Valve is back at it again with tease its fan base about upcoming releases. Valve just stated that it has three big announcements. Their teaser site currently has a countdown, which ends on Monday. What these announcements are anyone’s guess, but the saying it has three is leading something to think it could be tied to its Half-Life or Left 4 Dead

Opening the Valve

    In 2007 Valve released the long awaited squeal to Team Fortress Classic, simply named Team Fortress 2. This online game features two opposing sides (Red vs Blue) in a never ending war with each other. At first launch, Team Fortress 2 was a simple first person shooter that had the standard capture the flag and defense type maps. Soon after Valve began to update the game and started including unique weapons that plays could unlock and use. Each weapon having its own unique abilities, but what Valve did next was expected by no one.

An Eye On Gaming

    With my recent post dealing with the Rift and virtual reality, I felt it was an opportune time to have a look into Google Glass.

    Google has been developing a wearable mini display that allows the user to watch and record videos, take pictures, make phone calls, send text messages, view emails, and more. What Google has not truly touched on, is the use of video games being played on the device. Google Glass has the potential to expand the mobility of video games.

A Tear in the Rift

    In the world of video games, developers and console makers are adding in the use of motion controls to their hardware and video games. Nintendo kick started this craze with the introduction of the Wii system. Soon after, both Sony and Microsoft release their own version of motion based controllers. Microsoft even took it a step further and got rid of all physical controllers and developed the Kinetic, a camera based motion controller.

A Lawful Update

    I had an opportunity to listen to two excellent podcasts from Entertainmentlawupdate.com, hosted by Gordon Firemark and Tamera Bennett. They both go in-depth and analyze recent court cases that deal with entertainment. Listening in helps me understand what the courts are deciding on and how it could potentially affect my future business.

Ripple Effects

     In the world of videogames, developers need to make they have all their legal bases covered. Since the dawn of the video game age, there have been countless court cases that deal with copyright or patent infringement.

Awfully Majestic

    One of Seth MacFarlane’s popular shows, American Dad, recently had its 150th episode. What makes this episode so memorable to many is the music. The band known as Wax Fang (Jacob Heustis and Scott Carney) was chosen by co-creator and writer Mike Barker.

What Would Deadpool Do?

    Today I would like to write about a bit of creative marketing that I have been following for some time now. It involves a comic book superhero (or anti-hero) named Deadpool and his upcoming release of his new video-game developed by Highmoon Studios. Before I dive deeper in the marketing behind this game, I’ll give you quick rundown on the character known as Deadpool.

Negotiating with Records

     I had the chance to interview a good friend of mine in order to get some insight on negotiating contracts. His name is Mr. Dustin Sortor, he is the owner and operator of Ryder Records. Mr. Sortor recently graduated Full Sail University with a bachelors in Recording Arts and has moved his studio back to his hometown of Portland, OR. His studio provides various services such as audio recording, professional mixing, audio mastering, video production, and numerous different audio and visual services.

3D Sound Systems

     A new age of surround sound is dawning, and with it brings a whole new level of audience immersion. The film industry has already a big boost from the new digital projectors and 3D technology. But when it comes to sound, it has relied on the same surround sound systems in use buy movie theaters.

As if millions of voices suddenly cried out...

   
     When I first heard of Disney buying LucasFilm, it really wasn't a shock for me. The Star Wars brand and Disney have always held a working relationship with each other and it only seemed right that Disney would be the one to purchase it.

Trade Associations and You

        With the ever-increasing video game industry that is in place in todays society, it is important to have a group of collective publishers to help promote and safe guard the industry.

Mystery Box

For my post today, I would like to talk about a J.J. Abrams TED presentation that I had the pleasure of watching last year. I have included the video below, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sound Gear

         Today I will be reviewing some equipment I have had the opportunity to work with out in the field. It is important for field recording to have the right set of gear in order to capture the best sounds you can.

Real Sound In A Fantasy World

         In light of all the recent acts of violence going on around the United States, more and more questions arise on what is causing this rise in violence. Video games and film are often first to be called on for it’s effect on children. People have stated that both the film and game industry is becoming more violent with its every increasing realism.

Behind The Vision Is The Sound

Sound design is getting more detailed with every big budget movie Hollywood can crank out. With each release, sound designers are almost teasing each other to see who can produce the best auditory experience. These masters of sound work behind the scenes to ensure that audience is enveloped in sound suitable for each genre of film.