Month: May 2010

It seems almost like a Christmas ritual: there’s a Next Big Thing in the video game world almost every holiday season. Last year featured a particularly interesting competition between the new gaming hardware put on the market by Nintendo and their prime competitor, Sony with its PlayStation series.

The Sony PS3 is the high-end, bells-and-whistles choice between the two. It includes high-definition graphics, a hard disk, and a Blu-ray Disc drive that delivers great image quality. The top tier 60GB hard drive version also includes a hefty $600 retail price. Nintendo’s Wii (pronounced “we”) costs $250 and builds in Wi-Fi (but not ethernet). Like the PS3, it has an SD Card slot and can display photos, but its standard-def DVD drive can’t yet play movies (Nintendo and Sonic Solutions are working on that).

What Nintendo does have that keeps it in the game is a unique gaming remote device (the Wiimote) and an enormous library of games. The PS3 enters the market with significantly more horsepower and better graphics, but their game options are, at this point, fairly limited. Wii came on the market with 62 games available; the PS3 opened with an inventory of 20 games.

PC World’s review provides a clean portrayal of the difference between the two systems. The graphics on the PS3 are state of the art 1080p high-definition and present a new level of quality for gamers. The Wii’s graphic capability is limited to standard definition, which is equivalent to the PS2, Sony’s last (and highly successful) video game console. However the Wii has a remote gaming control that utilizes motion-sensing technology, so that the gamers’ motions with the remote are mimicked in the game. If you’re playing football, a pass requires a passing motion with the remote. A sword fight will require a little air-fencing as part of the game participation.

The intuitive nature of the Wii remote is its strength, along with the relatively inexpensive cost compared to the PS3. Wii also has an additional controller called the Nunchuk which is a joystick-type device that works in conjunction with the motion-sensing remote.

The graphics and multiple uses (the ps3 includes a Blu-ray HD DVD player) are what make the Sony product attractive. When they both came on the market, the fact that each relied on separate characteristics to define their value has made for an interesting market contest.

The PS3 is the high-horsepower (and high priced) option on the market. It can handle HD DVDs, play back your digital photographs, and connect to the internet with a built in browser. Its graphics are unparalleled, and it comes with a decent game inventory that will at least get you started. It too has a new controller, one that utilizes a tilt feature that is a token effort at motion sensitivity.

With the Wii, Nintendo decided to forego the digital video wars and focus on a simple box with unique controls that is designed for fun. The Wii can play GameCube games (Nintendo’s last offering) and has been introduced with a new addition to the chart-busting Zelda game series. While the Wii hasn’t done much to upgrade the visual quality of the gaming experience, it has added substantial new dimension to the gaming process itself. It too can be utilized for web access.

Nintendo’s decision to target so-called “casual gamers” seems to have paid off in the short run. It’s too early to pick the long term winner; both companies limited their Christmas product issue in order to ensure sellouts and high product demand. The PS3 definitely has a price-break issue that will offset some gamers’ lust for the best graphics out there. On the other hand, it’s a system with a great future. Wii’s future is now, for the most part, and the product issues an intriguing invitation for a substantially new gaming experience, even if it occurs using last year’s graphics.

Frank N. Magid Associates has been looking into the buying and renting habits of consumers recently. Their report begins by noting that approximately 40 percent of console gamers – 30 percent of which are adolescents – rented at least one game in the last year. Only half of this number goes on to buy the games that they rent. The report concludes by noting that a mere nine percent of game renters go on to purchase just 11 percent or more of the games they rent.

That’s still a large number considering that almost 40 percent of weekly console gamers report renting at least one game in the last year. With their limited disposable income, teenagers represent almost 30 percent of game renters even though they make up only 12 percent of the total gamer population. Teens are both more cost-sensitive and also have the time to rent and try new games before buying.

“More often than not consumers tell us they don’t buy a rental game because it was not very good or it is too short,” says analyst Mike Vorhaus. “Rental play does not lead to significant purchases of those rented games.”

Almost 50 percent of gamers report buying NONE of the games that they rented in the last year.

Blockbuster Busts Developers’ Bottom Line

Developers generally viewed rentals as no big deal. What’s changed is that games are much shorter than they used to be. In addition, the game industry releases new games to store shelves AND rental stores on the same day. The question then arises as to whether it’s legal to disallow rental stores from buying games at Best Buy and then renting them without the copyright holder’s permission.

Another issue arises with the rental of PC games – since it’s so easy to pirate them. Stores instantly get hurt since people with PC’s can rent the game, install it at home, perhaps copy it (or just leave it installed on the machine), and return the title well in advance of the due date. The need to buy the game is instantly removed and while rentals do great, sales drop off.

It’s also possible to obtain PSP games for next to nothing on the Internet – the legal way is to pay the membership fee of one of the many sites that offer this service. There are also sites where you do not have to pay anything but when you download there are viruses, spyware and other forms of malware that come bundled with the software package.

The rap on video games is that they’re expensive and getting pricier. The typical $49.99 manufacturer’s suggested retail price is only for gamers who insist on owning a pristine copy of their favorite games. Other, less-fussy gamers can plunk down $27.99 for a so-called pre-owned copy and go home, knowing that they just saved 44% on what is essentially the same game – perhaps without a manual or box – but guaranteed to work nonetheless.

In spite of these setbacks, the recent years, in particular 2005 have been good to the gaming industry, due mostly in part to handheld gaming. The NPD Group reports U.S. game rental sales hit a record 10.5 billion in 2005, breaking the previous record of 10.3 billion set back in 2002.

Software development refers to creation of software that will allow the end users to carry on certain applications that may help them to gain profit in prevailing market scenario. The system of creation of different software is to create a set of rules and regulations in order to provide users to satisfy their needs and requirements and bring efficiency and effectiveness in their works and gain market share. The process of software development is really important and crucial in this emerging business environment where new business prepositions are generating every day. So, this activity of software creation has become really important and has become a major business activity in this fast changing world. In other word, software development has empowered the world to get better in each areas of development and gain profit with an increase in customer base.

The main aspect of software development is to create value for customers, existing and for potential customer too. In software development, the translation of a user requirement or marketing goal into a software application is basically done. With customized and conveniently drafted software development activities, users are allowed to attain specific tasks and works. It is used to carry all functions according to the need and requirements of users carrying beneficial results.

Software Development Company

In this cut throat competitive world, software development companies are gaining importance as they never had. As a result, software development companies are increasing day by day, attracting people to avail their services to increase their profit net. Nowadays, the concept of outsourcing software development companies has become gaining popularity. In this concept, a company based in far off country provides services to another company based in altogether different country. In this system of application development, many benefits can be availed and quality work can be generated with soaring profits for both the companies.

Software development services include many kinds of services including application development, web programming, Application software development, software maintenance, server management, database site programming, and website programming. With customized development of above mentioned services, a company can enhance its capability and hence can get improvise its market share and customer net altogether.

Offshoring Software Development

The concept of off shoring software development is not a new one. This global concept has proved a real bless for overall business community. In this arrangement of work, work can be delegated to another company based in a different company. Their contact is purely based on sources of communication. This method is really effective as it is more economical and produces quality work.

Video games have been one of the most loved pastimes of the new generation. People of all ages have been addicted to playing video games. We now witness a gaming revolution for big name companies compete to bring out better games consoles and games to satisfy the hunger for more entertainment.

But not all people know that there is actually money to be earned in this so called addiction, many people are now earning money to play video games. There are many ways to earn and at the same time enjoy playing video games. First is becoming a seller which is more popular on MMOGs (massively multi player online games) playing to acquire in game items, weapons, armor spells etc. and then selling them to players for real money.

The second method of making money by playing games is through game testing. Game developers and companies hire gamers to play test their games before releasing them to production. This gives them the chances to get some criticism and improvements that the game needs. This method is a also used to discover glitches and cheats around the game that the game programmer may never encounter while making the game.

Most of the games you will end up receiving are upcoming games that have not been released yet. It is a great way to beta test various different games and not to mention that most of the time you will get to keep the games. This is a great way to save money the same time you are making money. It’s a win-win situation for you and the gaming companies.

Another way of earning money would be through national and international competitions. Gamers participate in contests and compete with other players to win cash prizes. More gamers are now considering going pro, having managers and playing on a global level. One of the most popular international events for gaming is the World Cyber Games (WCG) which started 02001.

Whatever method you may choose to earn, it is the love for the game that will fuel your passion to earn money while you enjoy and play. Always keep in mind that you play not only for the money but for the fun involved in it. Having this kind of mindset it would be easy to earn while you have fun. Remember one of the best ways to have a successful business is to combine your hobbies with your career.