February 2006 Sputnik Summary

 

Fun versus Offensive - Balancing the Cultural 'Edge' of Content for Global Games (PRE-GDC Practice)

 

Speaker: Tom Edwards (Principal Consultant & Owner, Englobe Inc.)

Track: Business and Management

Format: 60-minute Lecture

Experience Level: All

 

Session Description Games are meant to be entertaining, engaging and above all, fun. However, if in-game and/or game-related content crosses the tenuous boundary from fun to offensive, the experience for the game player - as well as the potential success of the game title – changes entirely. The core focus of this lecture is thus to enlighten and educate attendees on managing the challenging balance between fun and offensive content. Through the presentation of the primary conceptual issues and the employment of practical, timely examples, the presenter demonstrates how political and cultural issues can severely affect the pre-release development, post-release consumer perception and ultimately the overall global business potential of individual game titles and the industry as a whole. The lecture concludes with practical advice on essential steps content developers can take to decrease offensive elements while maintaining their “edge” and keeping the game fun for a global audience.