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?
In 2012 the PEGI system was incorporated into UK law and the VSC was appointed as the statutory body responsible for the age rating of video games in the UK using the PEGI system.
2) Note down the key statistics on the homepage.
- OperatinG for 30 years
- Rated 1200+ games
- Rated 8000+ apps
- 1987 member outlets
3) What is the purpose of PEGI?
PEGI are responsible for supplying consumers detailed information about the content of games with PEGI ratings. They are committed to providing as much helpful information as they can about video game ratings.
4) Click on the PEGI Rating tab in the top menu. What are the age ratings and what do they include?
The age ratings are: 3, 7, 12, !, 16 and 18.
5) Scroll down to look at the ‘How games are examined’ infographic. What is the PEGI process for rating a game?
The PEGI process of rating a game can take between 4-10 working days. The game developer needs to first complete a content declaration statement, where they declare in full detail what the game contains. After this is completed, they are given a provisional rating to be used in advertising. The provider must then send PEGI evidence of their assessment answers; this includes video footage and a copy of the game. The video footage is assessed and analysed to see if anything was missed or misinterpreted from the questionnaire. After this, the game is examined itself and PEGI ensures it tests out things that have not been included in the video. After the completion of the assessment, the developer is sent a formal license in addition to content labels explaining to the consumer how the game attained its rating.
The ‘Freemium’ gaming model
Read this Lifewire feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) How does the freemium model work?
The typical freemium or free-to-play app is a free download that uses in-app purchases to produce revenue rather than charging a flat fee for the app.
2) Why do some gamers believe freemium is ruining games?
It does not allow access to the whole game and therefore you cannot experience it fully.
3) What are the positives of the freemium model for gaming?
it allows people to play the game for free. This is a huge benefit for the gamer's as if they are really intrigued to play the game, they are willing to pay money to experience the game fully.
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 model 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?
This is because gamers are consistently spending money on the game, it is not just a one and done payment. This motivates the developers to keep improving their game if they want the revenue to keep coming in.
3) What does the article suggest regarding the possibilities and risks to the freemium model in future?
It a risky business because it is uncertain who and how many poeple are willing to spend money on a free game.
Read this New York Times feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:
1) Why did Temple Run use the freemium model?
Because people would instantly download it when they find out that its free.
2) The bigger gaming studios like Electronic Arts used to avoid the freemium model. Why are they now embracing it?
“Generally speaking, there’s been a critical mass of quality products at freemium,” he said. “The audience has responded in a way which has become incredibly obvious to game makers like Electronic Arts.”
He decided to follow this freemium model after the success of the Sims Freeplay Game.
3) Why does Peter Farago suggest independent game makers benefit more from the freemium model than the major publishers like EA?
It will be easier for independent game makers to start from scratch and then produce freemium games at a high standard and then maintain this standard. Large media publishers like EA would have to completely change their approach in order to make the freemium model work.
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?
The detail has improved a lot as you can now have a variety of pets ranging from dogs to dragons
2) Why does Amanda Schofield suggest ‘games aren’t products any more’?
because they are now built and based around a partnership between the gamers and the game developers.
3) What does she say about The Sims gaming community?
The gaming community provide feedback and keep up to date with the developers which suggests that they are part of the development process.
4) How has EA kept the game fresh and maintained the active player base?
"There are so many more ways that each of our players have unique needs and requests when it comes to playing The Sims FreePlay, so it’s super important that we’re always finding ways to reach all of these individuals by varying the content and features we focus on."
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.
It has over 200 million installs and over 78,000 years of game time.
Finally, read this blog on how EA is ruining the franchise (or not) due to its downloadable content. Answer the following questions:
“The Sims” games centre on the players’ ability to create “Sims” — 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?
As the lifespan of the game progresses, various “expansion packs” are sold to add new game play features, while “stuff packs” add items, such as new clothing or furniture options, without expanding on the game mechanics. These all fall under the umbrella term “downloadable content.”
3) How did Electronic Arts enrage The Sims online communities with expansion packs and DLC?
Late last year, the now-infamous developers came under fire for locking several iconic characters and powerful multiplayer abilities behind DLC in “Star Wars Battlefront II.”
4) What innovations have appeared in various versions of The Sims over the years?
The expansion pack introducing pets is always one of the most coveted entries. “The Sims 4: Cats and Dogs” followed suit and fit the mold to a T. It provided an in-depth system of creating pets while also containing a sizeable amount of building content for houses and cosmetic items for Sims.
5) In your opinion, do expansion packs like these exploit a loyal audience or is it simply EA responding to customer demand?
I think that EA have been exploiting it to a certain extent as they do lock necessary content. However, in some cases, they are just giving what their customers want as people might grow to be bored of the game if it is just the same thing.
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