Social Gaming

For me many whole days and nights were spent locked in a room playing the Civilisation series of games as an early teen. Had not it been for my best friend at the time that would have been a very solitary experience. Ahhhh. You see there weren’t many other kids into that kind of game in my area and within my immediate circle of school friends. Whilst we couldn’t play it literally together or against one another we managed to get enthused none the less and so this was as social an experience gaming was for me until mulitplayer Fifa Football and Pro Evolution came about. We could only dream of creating our empires and playing real humans.

Earlier this year I went into the Sony HQ to hear about their up and coming Playstation Home. A second life type virtual gaming environment. They wanted to see which brands I could get involved for launch. To be honest it all looked rather flat and an visualized extension of geeky game forums with limited appeal.

However, there was some serious potential as promised by Red Bull’s developing of a brand owned island within Home to represent all their real world sporting events including; rally cars, stunt planes, dirt tracks, stunts etc. And all for free thanks to the stimulant drinks company.

The idea was not just that you play multiplayer games but that you socialize around them creating leagues group events and discussion. Nice. But everything was still pre-made and packaged up for you there was no way to really get involved in any creation other than some limited customization of avatar and Home flat.

Now excuse me for writing about something I haven’t played but recently I saw advertising for the new Playstation game Little Big Planet. To be honest it was all over the place but what really caught my eye was the take over on Sport a free sport related mag you get outside Tubes in London. On the inside cover the ad says the front covers character was designed by the readers of Sport Magazine in a competition and the back ad was entirely designed inside the game. Without kn owing much about what it was already I’m impressed that their advertising has been creating by agency and the reader base of the mag in the game.

Deeper within the mag I am introduced to the 3 tenants of the game Play, Create & Share. As you character progresses through the game they can fully customize the game around them by the tools and bits-and-bobs they collect. So if you don’t like it you only have yourself to blame! And therefore unlikely to happen.

Personalization very 2.0! They just provide the tools for you to make the game that best fits your requirement. The 2nd part is quite key that you can SHARE. Here you can share your work with the community meaning an endlessly evolving game. One of the biggest problems for gamers but revenue earners for gaming companies is that you generally complete a game in a very short space of time particularly if you are a heavy user (I have heard of people completing these games in a matter of days). Here you can give people the levels you created to play.

Now I heard a rumour that you could share all your creations not just on the LBP community area but across your whole social map inc. Myspace, Bebo, Facebook, Youtbe really easily but I can’t seem to validate that any where. Anyway I guess I will be able to find out if Santa thinks I’ve been good this year.

Gaming just keeps on fast forwarding at break neck pace so much so I fear getting such engaging games through fear of losing my girlfriend and finding out whilst holding a feeling of great accomplishment I have in reality achieved very little.