THE 7 DEADLY SINS OF
GAME DEVELOPMENT

• The Thief. When is the last time you audited your machines for unlicensed software? The question presumes the innocence, or at least ignorance of management when raids occur, and once in a great while that may be true. Most of the time though, everyone in the company is complicit in the use of the unlicensed software.
  
  I have heard every excuse in the book when folks get busted, from “XYZ should charge us less based on where we are located because everything is cheaper here than in the West” and “everyone does it so why are you persecuting us” to “we wouldn't be in business if we didn't do this.” Now these same folks would scream bloody murder if their game was pirated and they got virtually nothing for their work.
  
  Folks, we work in an intellectual property industry; certain things are required as part of the price of admission. And those who don't follow these ethical and business imperatives are not only unfairly competing with those who do, they are also placing their companies and all of their customers at risk. When raids occur, assets on projects in development are seized, as are the hardware and other means of getting those projects back on track. Publishers miss dates, lose marketing dollars and potential revenues, and other innocent developers are often called into a fire drill to clean up the mess. This one is avoidable at the macro level. Listen up publishers and developers …
  
  

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Big Blue Bubble

Big Blue Bubble is the chameleon of the videogames industry. Just 4-1/2 years old, it has changed its look and feel several times already as it demonstrates its flexibility while following the market trends.

Originally a mobile game developer, in 2005 the Ontario-based studio added a second division -- to produce console games. But that didn’t slow mobile game production. Indeed, CEO Damir Slogar claims that, at one point in 2007, his company was the largest indie mobile game developer in the world, having created 30 high-profile titles in that category. Then, last year, as interest in casual games took off, Slogar opened a casual games division which now represents about 30% of the company’s business.

The casual games division’s biggest hit so far was its third title, original IP called “Home Sweet Home” for the PC, which has garnered over five million downloads to-date (and it will launch on WiiWare next week). Then, this month, in an explosion of creativity, Big Blue Bubble unveils its sequel -- “Home Sweet Home 2: Kitchen & Baths” for PC -- along with two other new titles: “Samba De Amigo” (for mobile) and “Army Men Soldiers Of Misfortune” (for Nintendo DS, Wii, and PlayStation 2). In October, it also intends to take the lid off of “Hockey Allstar Shootout” for Wiiware.

While the company is steering away from hardcore games, there is one exception -- an RPG that Slogar expects will be “the best-looking 3-D game ever for the Nintendo DS. It will run at 60 frames-per-second and it features dynamic lighting and hi-res textures.” Unfortunately, he says, licensing restrictions prohibit him from naming it or describing it further.

As for the future, what Slogar can say is that his team of 50 designers intends to release six or seven games a year, with about half being original IP.

“We’re looking to publish more games on our own through digital distribution rather than using a 3rd-party publisher, specifically when we’re talking about our own IP,” he notes. “Do I see that as a strategy for success? Well, Big Blue Bubble has been growing at a rate of 80% a year in terms of staffing and revenue, and I certainly believe that will continue.”

Dreamers Creative Workshop Closing Malaysian Studio.
Hong Kong-based developer Dreamers Creative Workshop Limited (DCWL) will be closing its outsourcing studio in Malaysia, according to CEO Kenny Lai. He quotes competitive pressures for finding good talent and a rising wage base due to several major publishers setting up operations in the area as the main reasons his company will no longer be able to take on art and animation outsourcing.
“There really isn't enough margin left in this region as a small developer attempting to use pricing strategies for competitive advantage,” notes Lai.
The company plans to continue to offer original IP full game development proposals to publishers via FOG Studios, DCWL's exclusive representatives.

Activision Releases “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion” Trailer.
Scheduled to be released in 2009, “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion” -- which is the sequel to the 2006 game “Marvel: Ultimate Alliance” -- is starting off with a bang. The trailer, just released by Activision Interactive, can be seen here.

Blue Omega, Codemasters Unveil “Damnation” Trailer.
"Damnation," a shooter gone vertical featuring fast-paced, frenetic combat coupled with unique naviation, is poised for a year-end release from Blue Omega and Codemasters. But, in the meantime, check out the debut trailer here.

Wham-O® Names Winner Of 60th Kid Inventor Contest.
Imagine a game that tests players' skills and aim by catapulting balls from a specially designed launcher. Indeed, the brand new game -- “Bam!” -- is the brainchild of 9-year-old inventor John R. Bisbol III of East Northport, NY, who won $2,000 for his winning concept in Wham-O's 60th Anniversary Kid Inventor Contest. In addition, “Bam!” will be reviewed for possible inclusion in Wham-O's 2010 toy line-up. If it makes it, John will receive a portion of the profits from the manufacturing and distribution of his toy.
When asked what inspired him to create his invention, John answered: “I don’t know. It just came to my head ...”
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