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
