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Wrong Numbers Stats can be misleading. Project the trends October’s numbers suggest, for example, and the results show a misguided vision of the future This month: Number of iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices activated
F O R WA R D
P L A N N E R
November 2010 Regional Focus: Canada Our yearly look at the games dev firms operating in BC, Quebec and everywhere in between. Events: MIGS – November 8th to 9th, 2010
Oct 2046: 471,040,000 per day
December 2010 /January 2011 Regional Focus: London Studios Profiles of all the studios at the cutting edge of the English captial’s bustling development scene. Event: GDC China – December 5th to 7th, 2010
February 2011
Jun 2007: 0 per day
Recruitment Special Our annual look at the jobs market includes: Advice for CVs, portfolios and interviews; per-discipline guidance on getting a promotion; the education sector; our salary survey; 30 Under 30 – the rising stars of games development; and much more.
Oct 2010: 230,00 per day
Regional Focus: Cambridge A look at current developments and new stories from the historic University Town.
Disclaimer: Develop realises none of these statistics are based on reasonable maths
Activating 172 billion iPhone devices a year will no doubt provide a significant challenge for Apple, but the real test will be for developers. By the middle of the century there’ll still only be a dozen good apps, and standing out will be a trillion times more difficult.
D EVIPEDI A Dissecting the hyperbole of games development
Transmedia Trans.med.ia adj & n What ‘they’ think it means: Delivering narrative “simultaneously through numerous forms of media to give the audience a rounded understanding of the creative vision”. Creating “multidirectional content” and “expanding on the game universe by embracing innovative methods and interweaving plot” through “complementary forms”, including internet, books, comics. What it really means: Merchandise. Next time you hear about transmedia storytelling, it will likely be a publisher trying to dress up a range of branded extras as some future vision of the alternate reality game. Just because the latest mindless, over-hyped triple-A release has a mini series of crudley drawn comics and a DLC code hidden on the foot of an action figure doesn’t mean it is pushing the boundaries of narrative.
Events: DICE – February 9th to 11th, 2011 Casual Connect – February 8th to 10th, 2011
March 2011 QA & Localisation The final phase of a game’s production can be its most crucial step to global success – we talk to leading experts in testing, compliance and translation. Regional Focus: West Coast USA From Seattle to San Diego via Los Angeles and San Francisco, we examine Western game development’s heartland. Events: GDC – February 28th to March 4th, 2011 Game Connection – March 1st to 3rd, 2011
April 2011 Mocap & Facial Animation Every facet of character animation examined, from limb animation to lip-synching. Regional Focus: Oxford We examine the studios and technology companies in this key UK cluster.
May 2011 With Develop 100 Insertion Audio Another look at the music and audio for the games sector, including in-house teams through to outsourcers. Regional Focus: Scotland Studios from start-ups to commercial powerhouses profiled. EDITORIAL enquiries should go through to Michael.French@intentmedia.co.uk, or call him on 01992 535646 To discuss ADVERTISING contact Katie.Rawlings@intentmedia.co.uk, or call her on 01992 535647
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