What’s a Wave and What’s a Puddle?
Mr. Takahashi will consider the tricky question of deciding what’s a wave to jump on and what’s really just a puddle for start-up companies. You don’t want to get to the wave too early, and you don’t want to show up too late.
By VentureBeat’s calculations, investors poured $935 million into 111 game and virtual world companies in 2008, up from $614 million in 2007 (the latter figure according to Jussi Lakkonen). That’s a pretty rocking party. But some people are wondering if the bubble has fully expanded. Will the lousy sales numbers from the month of March for console games signal a slowdown in everything related to games and game investment?
Venture capitalists and other investors are wondering about the wave or puddle question with respect to game startups. If games are a haven from the recession, then it’s worth investing in. But if the recession has dried up the opportunities for new game startups, then it isn’t worth jumping into the puddle. But if games are just beginning to get going, then it’s a great time to pile in and pay attention to new markets, new audiences, and new platforms.
Should game developers pay attention to the VCs when they decide what kind of games to build? Are fitness games in? Are training simulations en vogue? Should the gamer makers chase the emerging markets where the growth is? Or should the game developers just try to make something that they themselves would play?
Intended Audience:
Prerequisites:
Format: Keynote Lunch
Track: Business
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 12, 12:00 PM
Room: Grand Ballroom
