The Sims FreePlay - Industries blog tasks
Create a new blogpost called 'The Sims FreePlay case study part 2 - Industries' and complete the following tasks.
1) What audience pleasures for The Sims are discussed at the beginning of the blog?
Regulation – PEGI
Research the following using the PEGI website.
1) What is the VSC and how does it link to UK law?
The VSC is the regulatory body that helps PEGI to regulate games for the UK. Every PEGI 12, 16 and 18 game is assessed by a VSC examiner who also writes detailed information for parents about what the game contains.
2) Note down the key statistics on the homepage.
PEGI also take into account the prospect of in-app purchases
"In 2012 the PEGI ratings system was incorporated into UK law and the VSC was appointed by the government as the statutory body responsible for the age rating of video games. In the UK, PEGI 12, 16 and 18 rated games supplied in physical form, such as discs and cartridges, are legally enforceable and cannot be sold or rented to anyone under those ages."
3) What is the purpose of PEGI?
To ensure that the correct rating is provided to products so that it can reach its intended audience
4) Click on the PEGI Rating tab in the top menu. What are the age ratings and what do they include?
3, 7, 12, 15 and 18
- fear
- in-app purchases
- violence
- horror
- bad language
- sex
- drugs
- gambling
It's worth noting that, even if a game is rated at the lowest classification of 3, it may still not appeal to young children and/or may be very challenging and complicated to play. It simply won't contain any content that is harmful to, or unsuitable for, young children.
5) Scroll down to look at the ‘How games are examined’ infographic. What is the PEGI process for rating a game?
They have industry experts who use their knowledge to categorise a game based on what age group its content caters to
"We also listen to the views of parents and young people to ensure the ratings remain up-to-date and reflect current views about what's appropriate for children of different ages to play. The guidelines are kept under constant review in case changes are needed."
The ‘Freemium’ gaming model
Read this Lifewire feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) How does the freemium model work?
The game is free to play but includes in-app purchases
2) Why do some gamers believe freemium is ruining games?
It puts all the good items in a game behind the paywall which makes the game inaccessible to gamers who can't pay the in-app purchases.
3) What are the positives of the freemium model for gaming?
It furthers gamers progress much faster and it generates money for the developer
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.
For clash of clans, 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?
The more items that players can unlock prolong the life of the core game because the add-ons will likely change the way that the player will interact with the game.
3) What does the article suggest regarding the possibilities and risks to the freemium model in future?
it might be abandoned because some developers don't make it clear as to whether there are in-app purchases available
Read this New York Times feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) Why did Temple Run use the freemium model?
2) The bigger gaming studios like Electronic Arts used to avoid the freemium model. Why are they now embracing it?
It helps them to increase the longevity of a game's content without having to release another edition of that game , the more in-app purchases you have, the more content there is available to unlock.
3) Why does Peter Farago suggest independent game makers benefit more from the freemium model than the major publishers like EA?
The money gets distributed to less streams which results in more profit
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?
We started out with a game where you could control 16 Sims, have a pet dog and a career and that was most of the game.
2) Why does Amanda Schofield suggest ‘games aren’t products any more’?
Gamers require that extra level that enables them to create their own content which reflects what they want in their ideal game
3) What does she say about The Sims gaming community?
The community is a critical part of the game development process and must be embedded with our game teams so we not only know what our players are saying about the newest update, but we also can quickly respond to any problems that arise.
4) How has EA kept the game fresh and maintained the active player base?
Updates that reflect a season change or cultural trend such as Halloween or Pride month.
5) How many times has the game been installed and how much game time in years have players spent playing the game?
200 million installs
78,000 years spent playing
Finally, read this blog on how EA is ruining the franchise (or not) due to its downloadable content. Answer the following questions:
- personal identity
- personal relationship
virtual humans with personalities and ambitions — and take complete control of their lives. Players can also use the game to experiment with architecture, decoration and landscaping. Traditionally, each main series entry begins with a base game containing a large portion of the content, but not the entire package.
2) What examples of downloadable content are presented?
expansion packs such as new furniture or clothing
3) How did Electronic Arts enrage The Sims online communities with expansion packs and DLC?
The Pets DLC often disappoints players as the content is not as exclusive as thought to be and the players petitioned for the DLC to be free.
4) What innovations have appeared in various versions of The Sims over the years?
The gallery feature, acting as a social media platform. Virtual families that create a digitised generation of characters.
5) In your opinion, do expansion packs like these exploit a loyal audience or is it simply EA responding to customer demand?
I think EA needs to make extra cash because the main crux of the game is to constantly develop your world to make it the best it can be, usually the answers to these questions are behind the in-app purchases which give EA money and the player some more content to enjoy.
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