EA Sports Takes Another Swing With Its Golf Series

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EA Sports knows how to make a franchise game successful, with its multi-million selling Madden NFL series and the worldwide appeal of FIFA. But not too long ago, it held a firm grip on golf with the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series, dominating with a wide assortment of courses and options, along with the kind of gameplay that captured the fundamentals of the sport.

However, controversial issues off the golf course forced Tiger Woods to break away from EA Sports, and the franchise was left without a superstar golfer for the first time. At one point, it appeared that the publisher would move forward with the PGA Tour series without a big name – but apparently that’s no longer the case.

EA Sports has signed on up-and-comer Rory McIlroy to headline its latest golf game, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, which will make its debut this June on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Obviously, McIlroy isn’t as big a name as Woods, but considering his legacy on the sport in the past few years, he could easily gain popularity as a staple in the golf series.

“I’m very proud and humbled to see my face and name on EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour,” McIlroy said in a statement. “This is a great honor, and something I couldn’t even dream of growing up playing the sport. I really hope people enjoy the game and I’m very glad I can be a part of it.”

The game will feature a wide assortment of male and female golfers, as well as authentic courses taken from around the world. However, EA Sports looks to have a different angle on golf this time around, introducing “interactive” elements that appear on the course on occasion. During a trailer that debuted last year, a battleship crashed its way onto the mainland, forcing the player to adapt their style of play so that they could still get the ball on the green.

The publisher also hopes to bump the golf game up a notch with the introduction of the Frostbite engine, which is normally reserved for first-person shooters, like the Battlefield series. EA’s Brent Nielsen said, “Frostbite has allowed us to take this franchise to a whole new level. The new engine drastically improves all facets of the game, from core gameplay to opportunities for brand-new modes and features. We’re looking forward to sharing a lot of great news with our fans throughout the rest of the spring.”

Whether these new elements – and McIlroy’s name – can bring the PGA Tour series back to prosperity is still up in the air, since its absence over the last couple of years has forced golfing fans to turn elsewhere to get their swing on. However, with the right elements – and its highly-regarded online options (where players can play a round consecutively, without waiting on others to take their turn) – PGA Tour could certainly be a hit.

Just watch out for that battleship, though. That’s a heck of a stroke penalty.

YouTube May Start Subscription Service

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YouTube is highly regarded as one of the best free video services around, with millions of viewers and content providers sharing their interests, and many companies contributing as well. But YouTube could change that with a possible subscription program.

The Verge has reported that, per a published article by Variety, Google-owned YouTube is “exploring the prospect of launching its own subscription VOD service.” With it, YouTube expects to keep its current business model in place, but could launch its subscription service with ad-free streaming, as well as content provided by superstars in the YouTube Originals fold.

This isn’t the first time YouTube has considered a subscription program, as the company is hard at work on its Music Key service, which provides a number of music videos and free streaming through Google Play Music for $7.99 per month.

But with video, this could bring YouTube into competition with other streaming companies that provide original programming, including Vimeo, Hulu and Vessel. A lot of offers have been made to content providers to produce content on these premium channels, in exchange for a better percentage of ad revenue. With the subscription program, YouTube could create a pipeline that gets more cash to those content creators, while still producing a small amount of revenue for itself.

Still, the introduction of such a service could stir up controversy for those that have gotten used to what YouTube has created in the past few years, should some content be “locked out” exclusively for the service in favor of simply visiting the creator’s channel and viewing with an optional ad.

Nothing is official from the company yet (just the quote from Variety), so, at the moment, the subscription plan is still very much in the air. But here’s to hoping that YouTube treads these waters carefully, so it can remain financially lucrative for itself and its partners, while still keeping the video channel wide open for the millions of viewers that visit on a daily basis.

Google Play Gaining On Apple App Revenues

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Apple leads the mobile industry when it comes to both the number of apps and games in the App Store and the revenue from those apps, but Google is coming up fast. Google’s coming up fast, though, with a reported one billion Android devices, the majority of which use the Google Play store in over 190 countries. (Not to mention that Android has an 81 percent market share on the world’s mobile operating systems.)

Variety has reported that Google isn’t far off from knocking Apple off its mobile perch. The site reports that in the previous month, Germany, the second largest mobile market in Europe, managed to become the first country where Google surpassed Apple in revenue for applications (from data compiled by App Annie). That could be the start of Google’s dominance in mobile for the year, as many estimate that it could best Apple’s app revenue worldwide by the end of 2015.

Jamie Rosenberg, the vice president of digital content for Google Play, did indicate that there’s more to be tracked here besides reach and revenue. “As we measure ourselves, we ask, ‘Are we getting more and more out of every Android device that gets activated, and is our performance increasing over time ‘ And that has been the case.”

The previous year’s revenue for the company sits somewhere between $4 and $5 billion, right up there with YouTube’s profits. Credit Suisse analyst Stephen Ju believes that Google Play is even more valuable, thanks to the lower costs to run the company, which results in higher operating profit and free cash flow. There are some key things to note about the Google Play store: First, that it derives over 90 percent of its revenue from games, and second, it does not exist in the biggest mobile market in the world, China. China is served by dozens of smaller Android markets, many of which can also be found elsewhere in Asia. Amazon, as well, has its own Amazon Appstore for its Android devices, and that takes a significant share of Android app revenue in many countries.

While Google is gaining on Apple’s app revenue, that doesn’t mean Apple’s ready to give up without a fight, though. The company still has per-capita profitability, sharing $10 billion over the past 12 months with developers – that’s $3 billion more than what Google Play paid. Apple also manages to achieve 70 percent more revenue from apps than Google Play’s, despite the fact that the Android-based service has 60 percent more app downloads than Apple. Plus, after the stunning 49 percent smartphone sales increase last quarter, Apple is now the #1 smartphone seller in the world.

Android’s profitability could rise even further, though, according to Radio Free Mobile analyst Richard Windsor, who stated, “Simply because there will be many more Google Play devices than iOS devices in the longer run.”

David MacQueen, a mobile analyst for Strategy Analytics, also chimed in about the shortage of apps on Android compared to iOS, indicating that operating systems will still collect big-time from “freemium”-based apps. “For Google, the profitability of its app store, per se, doesn’t matter,” he said.  “Having good reach matters, because the advertising revenue is of critical importance.”

More information on this report can be found here.

Playmobil On Expanding Its TV Series To Netflix In The US

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By: Jessica Klein

Playmobil’s kids’ series Super 4 has proven its popularity on linear TV in the UK, Italy, and Latin America across various channels (specific to those areas). Soon, the adventure series starring Playmobil figurines (well, in CGI animated form) will come to the US. This time, instead of showing up on broadcast TV, it will debut on Netflix in April 2015.

Sarah Blair-Miller, who works in marketing for Playmobil USA, caught up with VideoInk to tell us about the decision to put Super 4 on Netflix and give a little more info on the toy company’s digital video strategy.

Super 4 was doing well on TV in other territories. Why choose to move it to Netflix in the US?
This isn’t a move so much as an expansion. The Super 4 series has proven to be extremely successful in Europe, and we’re thrilled to have the series debut as the first Playmobil-inspired entertainment property in the US. Netflix has proven itself to be a strong broadcast provider in the industry, and the flexibility that it offers its viewers made it a perfect partner for the Super 4 series. Parents are constantly on the go and want content for their children to be available when needed. Netflix makes that flexibility possible, allowing families to stream their favorite Playmobil-inspired series whenever they feel the urge or their schedule allows, whether it be at six in the morning or six at night.

What was the inspiration behind Super 4 Was the idea to make an animated video version of Playmobil at all inspired by The Lego Movie (or did Playmobil’s series come out before that in other countries)?

The Super 4 series was developed by Morgen Studios and Method Animation. Together, they came to Playmobil with the idea and passion to develop content based entirely upon the brand’s figures and themes. Naturally, we were both excited and flattered to have been the inspiration for such an exciting kids’ series. This also represents the first time that the Playmobil worlds have come to life and interacted with one another, similar to a child’s play experience where anything is possible–knights can encounter dinosaurs, and fairies and pirates can visit a futuristic tech world.

Read more…

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

 

The Changing Scope Of Virtual Reality

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Virtual reality has come a long way in such a short amount of time. Evolving from a mere fad in the late 80’s and early 90’s into something far more intricate for this generation of technology, it’s about to lead a major shift in how consumers can interact with products, whether they’re immersive 3D games or movie-style experiences.

Better still, it seems that there’s something for everyone, despite budget. Aside from the deluxe units like Facebook’s Oculus Rift and HTC’s recently announced Vive, Google’s Cardboard project provides a deep virtual reality experience without having to worry about the boisterous price tag. Re/code recently posted impressions of the device, highlighting the ups (a wide assortment of app usage and convenient use) and downs (your phone battery gets drained quickly by the number of programs) of using it. Obviously, it’s not as high-tech as the other devices, but also not that high in price – and that could be a driving factor to its success.

This can also open the door for developers to make a killing on the virtual reality market, since the store for the Gear VR opened last week at the opening of the Game Developers Conference. This enables tech makers to really produce some killer demos for an affordable price, even though virtual reality itself still has yet to find a voice in the consumer market. (The Oculus Rift, Vive and other models aren’t available just yet.)

Still, the future can be filled with potential, according to NDTV. “The truth is, we still don’t know what the best applications are going to be,” said John Carmack, chief technology office for Oculus, speaking at a recent conference. And there’s no doubt that the Vive is gaining huge buzz from those who saw it at the GDC event, even to the point that it could be a clear competitor for the Oculus. (No word yet how it’ll hold against the budget-priced Google Cardboard, though.)

Whatever the case, virtual reality has a huge chance to succeed as a business instead of just a fad, with a number of competitors and developers really taking strides in how effective it can truly be. Now it’s just a matter of seeing how well it adapts to the consumer market, how affordable it can be (the Google Cardboard is a huge example of this) and what kind of experiences will be able to draw us in. One thing’s for sure – the future is definitely getting interesting on a virtual level.

Multi-Platform Viewing In The US: More Are Watching ‘Anytime, Anywhere’

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By: Jessica Klein

As fewer people are tuning into linear TV, more of then are getting their viewing fix online, whether it’s watching the same TV content online via services like Hulu or web-native content on platforms like YouTube.

According to these infographics from ComScore, live viewership has been in a steady decline for the past several years, while a significant majority of US internet users are watching video content on the web:

ComScore stats on watching online vs TV

When it comes to web viewership, there’s more of it than most measurements may account for — measurements that are forgetting about mobile devices, that is. While the majority of digital video viewing still happens on desktop, 31 percent takes place on smartphones and 12 percent happens on tablets. Most millennials consume content via smartphones on a monthly basis, while 15 percent reported watching video on their smartphones every day.

Read more…

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

Immerse Yourself In The World of These 11 Virtual Reality Companies

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By: Jessica Klein

Virtual reality is slowly shifting from experimental and exciting to a potentially viable medium for consumers. To help this process gain momentum, many technology, production, and hardware companies are making significant moves in the world of immersive video.

We all know what giant tech and content company Samsung has been doing in this realm, but what have other VR-focused companies been up to The following all have some big VR plans for the coming months (and years), and they all have something unique to offer in the growing VR ecosystem.

From videos projected onto viewers’ eyeballs to spherical camera equipment, here’s how these companies are looking to bring VR into the mainstream…

Read more…

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

Now Hiring The Week: March 4th

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[a]listdaily is your source for the hottest job openings for senior management and marketing in games, entertainment and social media. Check here every Wednesday for the latest openings.

Whatever it is, you can be sure there is an app for that. Including supercharging your career. Here are 10 apps that can help you take it to the next level.

  • NBCUniversal – VP Marketing, E! Entertainment (Los Angeles, Calif.)
  • Google – Partner Development Manager, Google Play Games (Mountain View, Calif.)
  • Sony Pictures – Brand Partnerships and Innovation Coordinator (Miami, Florida)
  • Ayzenberg – Director, ION Business Development (Pasadena, Calif.)
  • Ayzenberg – Director, Social Media (Pasadena, Calif.)
  • Ayzenberg – VP, Digital (Pasadena, Calif.)

For last week’s [a]list jobs postings, click here. Have a position you’d like to place with us Email us at pr@ayzenberg.com.

Valve And HTC’s VR Device Could Be First To Market

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With Sony’s Project Morpheus and Facebook’s Oculus Rift not yet ready for retail release (they’re coming, though), that leaves room for competitors to come in and easily snatch a piece of the market. Samsung already has a jump on that with its mobile-ready VR device; and now Valve, hard at work with its own Steam Machine line-up, has a device that’s ready to make an impact at the Game Developers Conference this week.

The company has partnered with HTC on a new device called the HTC Vive, which is set to be unveiled this week. This is a more high-concept sort of virtual reality device, capable of plugging straight into a user’s PC for access to various applications and games. And with Valve’s support, there’s no doubt that it will get a huge push in the gaming department.

The Vive will be built for comfort, but also comes with two high-end screens, so that the user feels perfectly engulfed in their virtual reality experience. In addition, it will also come with support to scan for full room-scale environments. HTC also plans to make compatible controllers, so that users will be able to interact with their experiences in real time, as the device can easily scan for these peripherals and incorporate them into users’ experiences.

But perhaps the most startling news about the Vive is that it’s not going to take its time heading to the market. HTC and Valve fully anticipate launching the device into the community this spring, with a full consumer launch expected in time for the holidays, according to Engadget.

While that still isn’t quite a full-on release date, it does show how serious both sides are when it comes to launching a devoted virtual reality unit – and it could push Sony and Facebook to make plans for their respective devices as well, in the hopes of creating demand for a virtual reality-based market with consumers. With GDC happening over the next few days, we might even see announcements this week. Sony is actually holding a special event for the Morpheus tomorrow night, and could have more details in terms of what potential customers can expect.

March’s Biggest Events For Marketers: GDC, PAX East And More

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It’s March, and you know what that means. There are a slew of big events coming up this month, from Apple’s forthcoming Watch event to the Game Developers Conference to the Penny Arcade Expo East, among others. These are sure to be big events for communities, but marketers will want to take notice as well – and there’s a few reasons why.

Game Developers Conference – San Francisco, March 2-6

The Game Developers Conference has become an ideal location for would-be game makers and companies to come together. It has become the leader of the educational side of games, with a number of panels and speakers explaining their side of the industry, and providing insight in terms of what up-and-comers can do next.

However, it’s also become a spot for companies to showcase what new technology they have on the horizon. Last year, Sony debuted its Project Morpheus virtual reality technology with flying colors, while others like Oculus Rift and Samsung rode the wave. This year is no exception, as Valve is teaming up with HTC for its own virtual headset, which is coming this year.

Why marketers should take note: there’s a lot of big business happening at GDC, whether it’s business folk talking locally at the W (which is always full over the week) or showcasing something in the exhibit hall. This is a great place to get caught up with gaming trends before the big E3 event in Los Angeles in June, as attendees can see what a majority of developers are up to, while gaining information in terms of what they’re hiring for.

With no shortage of parties to choose from and plenty of companies and projects on hand, the Game Developers Conference has something to offer for all sorts of attendees. Plus, the business potential is quite huge.

Mobile World Congress – Barcelona, March 2-5

Not to be outdone by the Game Developers Conference, the Mobile World Congress is one of the biggest events to focus on mobile communications, across wearable devices, connected devices and a number of other means.

With over 85,000 attendees and C-Level leaders in attendance, the conference is a who’s who of companies, innovators and other people involved in the mobile community, checking out panels and other news that makes it one of the biggest events in the world – although, given its location, not everyone can make it, as it’s not as easily accessible as, say, Game Developers Conference.

Why marketers should take note: the best mobile information usually emerges from this event, with a number of statistics and projects that indicate its direction over the next year. It’s here that companies can easily learn the “hot new thing” on the market, whether it’s with a particular type of app or a feature that people will be able to get the most out of.

In addition, a number of cutting-edge products are revealed at the show, giving people an idea where tech may be headed. If mobile leaders aren’t at Game Developers Conference this week, chances are you’ll find them at the Mobile World Congress.

Penny Arcade Expo East – Boston, March 6-8

Every year, each of the Penny Arcade Expo shows – East, Australia, Prime, and the just added South – are sellouts, not only because of their extraordinary outreach to a large gaming community, but also because of the involvement of companies like Nintendo, Twitch and Wargaming. This year’s East show will be no exception.

The show will feature a number of “indie” game developers showing off their projects, and will also bring big companies in droves, like Nintendo with its Wii U shooter Splatoon and 2K Games with its forthcoming Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, amongst other games.

Why marketers should take note: the possibilities with consumers and companies alike are endless. Some big announcements are usually saved for shows like this (Harmonix is already promising some fun times ahead with a special “Paxamania” promotion), and people pay attention in droves. It could be the ideal spot for marketers to see what trends emerge in the gaming world here, as well as reactions to games like Splatoon, to see how possible sales or promotions could be ahead of their release.

Plus, it’s a good chance to talk to folks that are involved directly with game making or playing, and getting a better idea of just what’s in store for the next few months in the industry. On top of that, board games are also really popular at these events, and learning what type of games people are into could help some companies with designing the next big Cards Against Humanity, or something to that equivalent.

Apple Watch Event – San Francisco, March 9th

Following the Game Developers Conference, Apple intends to make some big waves with its own event, in which it will talk about the Apple Watch in greater detail. Expect launch dates, pricing details, and maybe even a glimpse of what the device can do in terms of games, applications and other programs.

Why Marketers Should Take Note: Even though it’s Apple’s first real foray into wearable tech, the Apple Watch should be huge with its potential and marketing, and that means big news for companies making applications and/or games for the device. They should be out there talking about their next big product, and how well it’ll work with Apple’s peripheral, right down to the interface.

Obviously a product like this can be a gamble with its limited charge time and screen size, but it’ll sell anyway, because Apple has no problem moving tech. With that, companies should be on board to offer the kind of practical applications that will keep people tinkering away with it for months to come.