Letter from the Editor
In this issue of the IGDA Online Games Quarterly, we focus on player demographics, discussing the topic with developers, publishers, and analysts within each of the three game industry segments that this publication covers; web/downloadable, persistent world (MMO), and mobile.
Who exactly plays the games we make, publish, or distribute? What are we doing to ensure that we're providing these players with the games they want to play (and buy)? Understanding the customer and their needs is an essential ingredient in the conception, production, distribution, and marketing of nearly any successful product. Game developers and publishers have various methods for acquiring this knowledge and applying it to their work; the purpose of this issue of the OGQ is to learn about some of those methods.
Starting with this issue, we are thankful to have the help of two generous volunteer editors; James Hursthouse from Online Game Services and Karthik Swaminathan from ScreenToons will be in charge of the persistent world and mobile sections, respectively.
Thanks!
Wade Tinney
Editor, IGDA Online Games Quarterly
Partner, Large Animal Games