Video Games
In a Nutshell: The Chinese government is cracking down on games that offer incentives to keep people playing for large amounts of time. They are concerned about the social impact of people (especially young people) spending large amounts of time and money playing online games. The crackdown sets out to ban games that offer incentives for regular use (such as daily logins), and targets games in the pay-to-win market (e.g. those games with large numbers of in-App purchases). The move may force large companies like Tencent to change how they make money from games (a practice called ‘monetisation’).
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How to use this source: This response by the Chinese government is a fine example of a Moral Panic, and ties in very well with the Effects Theory proposed by Alfred Bandura. China already made a ruling in 2021, restricting the amount of time gamers under 18 could legally play to one hour a day on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. This latest ruling could be seen as a further attempt to protect young people from the ‘Dangers of Videogames’.
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22nd Dec 2023
Key Information to include: Following the announcement of the ruling, Tencent’s share price (what the company is viewed as being worth) dropped by 12.4%; the ruling also includes the requirement for games to include pop-ups, warning players of “irrational” playing behaviours.
In this regard, the article also ties in well with Livingstone and Lunt’s debates about ‘protection’ vs ‘empowerment’. Rich games companies like Tencent are seen as being able to exploit young or vulnerable gamers through things like in-App purchases, so this law will protect consumers (whilst restricting their freedoms).
In a Nutshell: In 2020, Fortnite maker Epic Games sued Google, arguing that its Play store did not allow fair competition as users were forced to make purchases ONLY through the store, and App-developers were forced to sell Android-compatible Apps (and games) ONLY through the store. This meant that Google had a monopoly on all Android-based games.
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A monopoly is where one company controls the marketplace and prevents other companies from competing and making any money.
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How to use this source: This source can be used to support any points made about distribution (publishers) or money or convergence for the Video Games Industry.
Epic Games sued Google after they were forced to pull Android-based versions of Fortnite over an issue with players paying in-App using Epic Games' own currency, V-bucks (Google said they couldn’t; Epic Games said they should be allowd to). As a result of this lawsuit, games will likely now be able to use their own in-game currency instead of Google’s monetization service. This way of paying for games and add-ons would not be possible without the convergence of games and the internet (via mobile).
The court’s ruling may fundamentally change the way App-developers can make money from their apps on Android.
Key information to include: A similar lawsuit against Apple was defeated in 2021. Epic Games appealed in 2022. Android gives Google access to 70% of all mobile devices worldwide. The Play store does not make as much money for Google as its search engine business.
12th Dec 2023
5th Dec 2023
In a Nutshell: Grand Theft Auto 6 has released its first trailer and the game features the first playable female lead in the series’ history.
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How to use this source: In 2018, Ubisoft director Serge Hascoët suggested that “women don’t sell games.” This was the reason behind introducing Alexios as a playable character alongside Kassandra in Assassins Creed: Odyssey and was reportedly the reason why Evie (who had originally enjoyed equal screen time with her brother Jacob in AC: Syndicate) had her screen time cut. With GTA V the second-biggest selling game of all time (behind Minecraft), it seems likely Rockstar Games will prove the Ubisoft execs wrong.
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Key Information to include: GTA VI is made by Rockstar Games, originally out of Dundee, Scotland; the game cost over $1bn to make, making it the most expensive game ever made; it has a release date of 2025.
