I’ve been following Media Molecule’s Dreams with cautious optimism for three years now, not because I doubt the LittleBigPlanet developers’ ability to make a robust, accessible creation platform, but because I was worried the team wouldn’t realize the full potential of the app on PSVR. Creative platforms like Tilt Brush, Medium and Tvori make for some of the most compelling VR experiences on the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and PSVR has been missing out on them for two years now. But Dreams’ possibilities go far beyond these virtual art studios. Now, my caution hasn’t yet been remedied, but recent signs suggest things are looking up. Media Molecule has understandably had to dance around the subject of VR in interviews and previews while the Sony marketing machine gets its messaging in order, but there are vital signs of life. For starters, an interview last month suggested that Dreams’ VR support will allow players to create within their … [Read more...] about Dreams could be PSVR’s most important game
Important games
Stock your travel bag with these gadgets for gaming on the go
Whether you’re waiting to board a flight, train, or bus, chances are you’ll have some downtime. Rather than aimlessly scrolling through social media or stressing out about what you did and didn’t pack, relax by playing a video game. Whether it’s a simple puzzler or an intense shooter, gaming is a great option for passing the time and focusing on something less stressful, since traveling can be traumatic enough. That said, you should plan ahead to ensure the best gaming experience. Playing in an airport terminal or 30,000 feet in the sky requires more forethought than playing on the comfort of your own couch. If you’re planning a trip and want to bring your games along, keep these tips in mind. Bring the right device for the job First, let’s discuss the types of devices that are primed for gaming on the go. The smartphone glued to your hip is the obvious choice, but you might also want to consider a dedicated gaming device. That could be a portable … [Read more...] about Stock your travel bag with these gadgets for gaming on the go
Mobile platforms now account for more than half of all game spending
was actually the world's most important gaming platform from a raw revenue perspective. But at the time, I warned that continued double-digit growth in the mobile market meant the PC's market dominance wouldn't last forever. Fast forward to the forecast for the 2018 global game market, and things could scarcely look more different. Newzoo's 2018 Global Games Market Forecast now predicts that mobile games will make up a slim majority (51 percent) of all worldwide gaming revenue this year (including smartphones and tablets, but not dedicated gaming handhelds). That's up from 34 percent in 2015 and just 18 percent in 2012. Console and PC games will split the remainder of the pie relatively evenly in 2018, at 25 percent and 24 percent of worldwide spending, respectively. The growth of the mobile market doesn't show any signs of stopping either: by 2021, Newzoo estimates that 59 percent of all gaming spending will go to mobile platforms, with console and PC games dividing up the … [Read more...] about Mobile platforms now account for more than half of all game spending
Giants’ drawn-out win over Dodgers has the feel of a game in October
Published 9:50 pm, Saturday, April 7, 2018 Fouled off. Again and again. And again. Seven times in all. On eleven pitches. But when Andrew McCutchen got ahold of the 12th pitch and lofted it high into the left-field bleachers, with his sixth hit of the day, he had just etched his signature into Giants-Dodgers lore. Sure, it was the first Saturday in April. Just the seventh game of the season. It was two teams simply trying to get back into the groove, back into rhythm, after an unexpected and unusual two-day break. And it became something epic. In the bottom of the 14th inning, more than five hours after the game started and after the Dodgers had taken the lead and looked on their way to a win, McCutchen won the game with a walk-off three-run home run. He rounded the bases and was mobbed by his new teammates. Doused with water. When the Giants got into their clubhouse, the rowdy celebration could be heard through the walls, as though it were a playoff game. A college … [Read more...] about Giants’ drawn-out win over Dodgers has the feel of a game in October
The DeanBeat: The joys and perils of gaming in 2018
The game industry is booming, with global revenues expected to hit $125.4 billion in 2018, according to market researcher Newzoo. But if you look under the surface, not everything is great. We can see winners and losers in various markets, regions, platforms, and game categories. We’re going to explore the state of games at our upcoming GamesBeat Summit 2018 event in just 10 days, and we hope we’ll come out of it with real perspective. It’s great to see resilience across so many categories, like esports, augmented reality, virtual reality, consoles, PC games, and mobile. If any one of those sectors weakens, the other can pick up slack. Economically, that’s good for any region, whether it’s an emerging market or the U.S. But the U.S. got a dose of bad news this week from the job site Indeed.com, which applied analytics to its trove of big data on game jobs. U.S. game tester and quality assurance roles are down 36 percent since last year and down 43 percent … [Read more...] about The DeanBeat: The joys and perils of gaming in 2018