Videogames: The Sims FreePlay part 2 - Industries
Regulation – PEGI
Research the following using the PEGI website.
1) What is the VSC and how does it link to UK law?
Every PEGI 12, 16 and 18 games is assessed by a VSC examiner who also writes detailed information for parents about what the game contains. Links to the UK law due to the incorporation of PEGI into the legal system.
2) Note down the key statistics on the homepage.
13938+ games rated. 15141+ apps rated.
1702 Number of Member Outlets.
30 years in operation.
3) What is the purpose of PEGI?
Age ratings help parents or carers decide whether a particular game is suitable for their children. The ratings do this by indicating the minimum age at which we think a child should be allowed to play a game. The age ratings for games are 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18.
4) Click on the PEGI Rating tab in the top menu. What are the age ratings and what do they include?
5) Scroll down to look at the ‘How games are examined’ infographic. What is the PEGI process for rating a game?
Our ratings are based on expert advice and public consultation
The ‘Freemium’ gaming model
Read this Lifewire feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) How does the freemium model work?
An app that you can download for free but that includes in-app purchases to produce revenue.
2) Why do some gamers believe freemium is ruining games?
Players become frustrated when it seems like the developers of these games are trying to nickel-and-dime them to death.
3) What are the positives of the freemium model for gaming?
players can alternatively earn the premium content by working through the game and building up in-game currency
Now read this Business Insider feature on freemium gaming and multiplayer games. Answer the following questions:
1) Note the key statistics in the first paragraph.
“freemium” games and their in-app purchases account for about 70-80% of the $10 billion or more in iOS revenue each year.
2) Why does the freemium model incentivise game developers to create better and longer games?
Developers are then incentivized to put that stream of revenue directly back into the game to improve it.
3) What does the article suggest regarding the possibilities and risks to the freemium model in future?
The “freemium” model has proven itself to be incredibly profitable.
Spending money just adds customization to the experience. It’s a benefit that many players are more than willing to do
Read this New York Times feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) Why did Temple Run use the freemium model?
Virtual store to buy new characters, different backdrops and power-ups, or special boosters.
2) The bigger gaming studios like Electronic Arts used to avoid the freemium model. Why are they now embracing it?
Big companies had always relied on charging for games and that it would be difficult for them to change their makeup.
3) Why does Peter Farago suggest independent game makers benefit more from the freemium model than the major publishers like EA?
They do not have to pay to conglomerates and workers, they can keep the money to themselves.
Electronic Arts
Read this Pocket Gamer interview with EA’s Amanda Schofield, Senior Producer on The Sims FreePlay at EA's Melbourne-based Firemonkeys studio. Answer the following questions:
1) How has The Sims FreePlay evolved since launch?
When it was realised all you could control 16 Sims, have a pet dog and a career
Now there are pets range from puppies and kittens to dragons and fairies, infinite ways to design and decorate homes, getting married and having children,
2) Why does Amanda Schofield suggest ‘games aren’t products any more’?
Games aren’t products anymore, they’re services built in a partnership with our players.
3) What does she say about The Sims gaming community?
is that the community is very active and always hungry to see more features and content in the game.
4) How has EA kept the game fresh and maintained the active player base?
They listen and build the app to keep the players engaged
5) How many times has the game been installed and how much game time in years have players spent playing the game? These could be great introductory statistics in an exam essay on this topic.
200 million installs of The Sims FreePlay
78,000, which is the amount of game time in years our players have spent in the game#
Finally, read this blog on how EA is ruining the franchise (or not) due to its downloadable content. Answer the following questions:
Surveillance, diversion = experiment with architecture, decoration and landscaping
2) What examples of downloadable content are presented?
various “expansion packs” are sold to add new gameplay features, while “stuff packs” add items, such as new clothing or furniture options, without expanding on the game mechanics.
3) How did Electronic Arts enrage The Sims online communities with expansion packs and DLC?
DLC is simply new content for a game that is purchased or downloaded for free as a separate add-on.
4) What innovations have appeared in various versions of The Sims over the years?
The Sims 4: My First Pet Stuff
The Sims 4: Cats and Dogs
5) In your opinion, do expansion packs like these exploit a loyal audience or is it simply EA responding to customer demand
To some extent, It exploits its loyal fanbase because there are many features in these extension packs that most audiences do not get to have however had extensions packs can be seen as beneficial because it introduces new features and updates.
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