Video game industry

The Video game industry is currently the darling of the entertainment industry. Just pick up any Hollywood trade magazine and there will be an abundance of stories testifying that interactive entertainment is the place to be. Everyone from directors, writers to actors want to at least have a toe in the business and where they want to go their agents will lead them.

This sounds fantastic. But with access to all this talent, how do you think it could fail? Well... there are plenty of potential difficulties yet there are certain advantages that result from the influx of talent and access to Hollywood resources that the gaming industry is making games like King Kong and James Bond.

Simply put, the focus and attention being given to games based on movies is good for the video game business. Publishers and development teams are being allowed unprecedented access to talent and are allowed to run with the ball and create standalone experiences that extend the original IP and the result is better entertainment for the masses. There are usually a lot of brainstorming meetings scheduled during the beginning of game development. Writers, artists, directors, and animators sit down with produces, designers and programmers to share ideas and agree on the general direction of the game and everyone is given much more freedom.

I have been in many such meetings. From the Tech lead programmer perspective, I give rough estimates and resource promises to meet their budget requirements. The room is filled with creative talent. The collaboration will likely get to the point where the game designer or the film director will become so excited by the creative opportunities that they will seem to speak in a secret language.

More later.... hold on tight.