Sometimes Business Comes First!

  As I have begun to write this blog, I have found it somewhat difficult to address serious games subjects that are important without also talking about and citing examples of casual or entertainment games.  It is fun to watch an industry grow and mature, and we can see this happening in the entertainment games arena. Part of that maturation process must be focused on responsible and business-like strategies that will foster success in the casual games sector, which can only benefit the entire computer games industry.

The eLearning Guild's annual “360º Report” has a really great essay by Kevin Corti, CEO and Chief Learning Architect of PIXELearning in Coventry, England, entitled “Demystifying Immersive Learning Simulations – Moving From the Potential to the Practical”.  Kevin articulates some really smart strategy and advice on the “business” of serious games.  He gives excellent examples of several corporate and government applications of serious games, and he has some solid advice on how the “vendors”, must frame their products for the “commissioners” who are the end users and buyers of serious 3D immersive learning technology.  Kevin's business leadership at PIXELearning is helping his company compete by successfully framing and selling their technology and their creativity to build important learning simulations for major clients.  Every company that will compete and survive in our industry will need to heed Kevin's advice!

In a similar vein, Philip Rosedale, creator of Second Life , announced this week that a new CEO, Mark Kingdon, has been appointed to take the helm.  Citing the need for “tremendous business skills and a deep understanding and passion for Second Life and where it is going,” Rosedale noted that “Linden Lab's new chief needed to know how to run a business, not just come up with cool ideas.” Linden Lab is displaying exceptional responsibility to its members and its employees by recognizing that proper and effective management is essential to success.  Obviously, Linden Lab has an eye on going public at some point, and this decision to hire talented business leadership is also an important step toward that goal.

What we must glean from the bits and pieces of written word and firm action, as demonstrated by Corti and Rosedale, is that we must have a sharp eye on the business of serious games.  Success is based, yes, in the “coolness” of this exciting technology, but it is equally rooted in the important foundation of any viable business.  We must frame our industry and its products in a way that helps the commissioners to be comfortable with the technology while also understanding the incredible benefits that come with it.  We must show the buyers of learning technology that they gain efficiency, save money, energize their audience, and enhance their profit margins while embracing innovation for a competitive advantage.  As Corti says, all parties have to be “on the same page”.

The title on that page is “Business Comes First”!

I'm Serious!

Michael