Who Plays, Who Pays? Mapping Video Game Production and Consumption Globally

  • Randy Nichols
Chapter
Part of the Critical Media Studies book series (CMEDS)

Abstract

When the seventh generation of video game consoles began to hit the market in 2005 and 2006, it was quickly apparent that while the audience for video games and the industry producing them was increasingly stable, the role of the machines and the games they played was changing. Stories covering them appeared across the spectrum of mainstream media in North America, Europe, and Japan, and what was covered went beyond discussions of hardware functionality and questions of the effects of video game playing on children to discussions of video games as a part of daily life. Video game products were becoming mainstream, adapting a variety of functions and incorporating an increasingly sophisticated aesthetic that was designed to appeal to a broad audience.

Keywords

Wall Street Journal Game Developer Game Industry Global Total Game Production 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Anonymous. 2005. “Xbox Unveils Processor.” Daily Gleaner. From http://proquestumi.com/pqdweb?did=983846701&Fmt=7&clientId=5258&RQT=309&VName=PQD
  2. Aoyama, Yuko, and Hiro Izushi. 2004. “Creative Resources of the Japanese Video Game Industry.” Cultural Industries and the Production of Culture 33:110–29.Google Scholar
  3. Ashenfelter, Orley, and Stépán Jurajda. 2001. “Cross-Country Comparisons of Wage Rates: The Big Mac Index.” Princeton University and CERGE-EI/Charles University. http://www.voxeu.org/audio_files/VoxEU.org_VoxTalks_20090424_1.mp3.Google Scholar
  4. Barboza, David. 2011. “Workers Sickened at Apple Supplier in China.” New York Times, February 22. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/technology/23apple.html.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 2009. International Hourly Compensation Costs for All Employees, by Sub-Manufacturing Industry, 1996–2007. Washington, DC: US Bureau of Labor Statistics.Google Scholar
  6. —. 2011. International Comparisons of Hourly Compensation Costs in Manufacturing, 2009. Washington, DC: US Bureau of Labor Statistics.Google Scholar
  7. Byster, Leslie A., and Ted Smith. 2006. “The Electronics Production Life Cycle. From Toxics to Sustainability: Getting off the Toxic Treadmill.” In Challenging the Chip: Labor Rights and Environmental Justice in the Global Electronics Industry, edited by Ted Smith, David A. Sonnenfeld and David Naguib Pellow, 205–14. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.Google Scholar
  8. Caldwell, Patrick. 2006. “Report: Korean Game Market to Surpass $2 billion in 2007” Gamespot, July 12. Accessed July 1, 2008. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6153903.html.
  9. Consalvo, Mia. 2008. “Crunched by Passion: Women Game Developers and Workplace Challenges.” In Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat: New Perspectives on Gender and Gaming, edited by Yasmin B. Kafai, Carrie Heeter, Jill Denner, and Jennifer Y. Sun, 177–92. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
  10. Cotroneo, Christian. 2005. “Xbox 360 Sets Its Sights on Your Living Room.” Toronto Star, December 1, J5.Google Scholar
  11. Croal, N’Gai, and Kay Itoi. 2004. “Fall of the Video King.” Newsweek 144(16): E30-E31.Google Scholar
  12. Davidson, Neil. 2005. “Microsoft Brainstorms Every Angle of Sleek, Slick Xbox 360 Console.” CTV News (Canada), November 21. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20051121/xbox_microsoft_051121/.
  13. Deutsch, Claudia H. 2002. “Game-Design Courses Gain Favor.” The New York Times, April 1. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/01/technology/01GAME.html.
  14. DOC. 1997. 1997 Economic Census: Bridge Between NAICS and SIC. Washington DC: US Department of the Census.Google Scholar
  15. DOL. 2005. 2004–2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington DC: US Department of Labor.Google Scholar
  16. Dyer-Witheford, Nick. 1999. “The Work in Digital Play: Video Gaming’s Transnational and Gendered Division of Labor.” Journal of International Communication 6(1): 69–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. —. 2002. “Cognitive Capital Contested: The Class Composition of the Video and Computer Game Industry.” Multitudes, November. Accessed March 15, 2005. http://multitudes.samizdat.net/article.php?id_article=268.
  18. Dyer-Witheford, Nick, and Greig de Peuter. 2006. “‘EA Spouse’ and the Crisis of Videogame Labour: Enjoyment, Exclusion, Exploitation, Exodus.” Canadian Journal of Communication 31(3): 599–617.Google Scholar
  19. —. 2009. Games of Empire: Global Capitalism and Videogames. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
  20. Elkin, Seth. 2006. “Cutting the Cord.” SportingNews 230(40): 11.Google Scholar
  21. ELSPA. 2004. Chicks and Joysticks: An Exploration of Women and Gaming. London: Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association.Google Scholar
  22. Emeling, Shelley. 2004. “Seniors Taking to Computer Games.” Salt Lake Tribune, December 30.Google Scholar
  23. EPA. 2009. Final Draft Game Console Requirements. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed March 24, 2011. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=revisions.game_console_spec.Google Scholar
  24. ESA. 2005. 2005 Sales Demographic, and Usage Data: Essential Facts about the Computer and Videogame Industry. Washington, DC: Entertainment Software Association. Accessed March 31, 2005. http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2005.pdf.Google Scholar
  25. —. 2010. 2010 Sales, Demographic, and Usage Data: Essential Facts about the Computer and Videogame Industry. Washington, DC: Entertainment Software Association. Accessed March 24, 2011. www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_Essential_Facts_2010.pdf.Google Scholar
  26. Fetters, Eric. 2005. “Gadgets That Glitter.” The Herald (Washington), November 27, 1.Google Scholar
  27. Fullerton, Tracy, Janine Fron, Celia Pearce, and Jacki Morie. 2008. “Getting Girls into the Game: Towards a ‘Virtuous Cycle.’” In Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat: New Perspectives on Gender and Gaming, edited by Yasmin B. Kafai, Carrie Heeter, Jill Denner, and Jennifer Y. Sun, 161–76. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
  28. Gilbert, Ben. 2012. “Xbox 360 Now at 66 Million Worldwide, Kinect at 18 Million.” Joystiq.com, January 9. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01 /09/xbox-360-now-at-66-million-worldwide-kinect-at-18-million/.
  29. Global Video Games Investment Review. 2011. London: Digi-Capital, Ltd.Google Scholar
  30. Grossman, Lev. 2005. “Out of the X Box.” Time 165(21): 44–53. Accessed April 21, 2012. http://www.scribd.com/tedmitew/d/51184578-DigiCapital-Global-V ideo-Games-Investment-Review.
  31. Grover, Ronald, Cliff Edwards, Ian Rowley, and Moon Ihlwan. 2005. “Game Wars: Who Will Win Your Entertainment Dollar, Hollywood or Silicon Valley?” Business Week, February 29, 60–66.Google Scholar
  32. Guth, Robert A. 2001. “Sony Game Unit Invests in Square, Preparing for Fight With Microsoft.” Wall Street Journal, October 10, A13.Google Scholar
  33. —. 2005. “Getting Xbox 360 to Market; Microsoft Must Coordinate Game Player’s 1,700 Parts to Ensure Big Enough Supply.” Wall Street Journal, November 18, Bl.Google Scholar
  34. Guth, Robert A., Nick Wingfield, and Phred Divorack. 2005. “It’s Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3, and War Is about to Begin.” Wall Street Journal, May 9, Bl.Google Scholar
  35. Ham, Tom. 2005. “Where’s the ‘Wow’?; Xbox 360 Has a Better Design, but the Games Fall Short.” The Washington Post, December 11, F01.Google Scholar
  36. Hayes, Jonathan. 2005. “Reconceptualizing the Xbox Platform.” Design Management Review 16(4):10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Hesseldahl, Arik, and Dan Beucke. 2005. “For Every Xbox, a Big Fat Loss.” BusinessWeek, December 5, 13.Google Scholar
  38. Ho, Chun Kit, Päivi Pöyhönen, and Eeva Simola. 2009. Playing with Labour Rights: Music Player and Game Console Manufacturing in China. Helsiniki: FinnWatch.Google Scholar
  39. IEAA. 2005. Game Play Australia2005. Eveleigh, Australia: Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia. http://www.igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/GamePlay_Aust_2005.pdf.Google Scholar
  40. —. 2007. Interactive Australia2007. Eveleigh, Australia: Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia. http://www.igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IA9-Interactive-Australia-2009-Full-Report.pdf.Google Scholar
  41. IGDA. 2004. Quality of Life Survey. Washington, DC: International Game Developers Association. http://www.igda.org/sites/default/files/IGDA_QualityOfLife_WhitePaper.pdf.Google Scholar
  42. Johnson, Bobbie. 2007. “Halo 3 Enters the Fray in £19bn Videogames Battle.” The Guardian, September 25. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/sep/26/games.news.
  43. Kerr, Aphra. 2006. The Business and Culture of Digital Games: Gamework/ Gameplay. London: SAGE.Google Scholar
  44. Kerr, Aphra, and Roddy Flynn. 2002. “Revisiting Globalization through the Movie and Digital Game Industries.” Paper presented at the Media in Transition 2 conference, Cambridge, MA, May 10–12.Google Scholar
  45. Kim, Yun-Hee. 2011. “Microsoft to Add Staff in China” Wall Street Journal (Online), February 22. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703529004576160013344234354.html.
  46. Kuehr, Ruediger, German T. Velasquez, and Eric Williams. 2003. “Computers and the Environment-An Introduction to Understanding and Managing Their Impacts.” In Computers and the Environment: Understanding and Managing Their Impacts, edited by Ruediger Kuehr and Eric Williams, 1–15. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. LaDou, Joseph. 2006. “Occupational Health in the Semiconductor Industry.” Challenging the Chip: Labor Rights and Environmental Justice in the Global Electronics Industry, edited by Ted Smith, David A. Sonnenfeld, and David Naguib Pellow, 31–42. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.Google Scholar
  48. Levine, Robert. 2005. “MTV Finds a New Ally in Games.” The New York Times, June 27. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/27/technology/27midway.html.
  49. Lewis, Peter. 2005a. “Let the Game Begin.” Fortune 152: 225–26.Google Scholar
  50. —. 2005b. “Not Just Playing Around.” Fortune 151: 126–28.Google Scholar
  51. —. 2006. “Sony Score with New PS3.” Fortune 154: 190.Google Scholar
  52. Luk, Lorraine. 2011. “Wintek Compensates Poisoned Workers.” Wall Street Journal (Online), Feburary 24. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576163663992661764.html.
  53. Martin, Stana. 2002. “The Political Economy of Women’s Employment in the Information Sector.” In Sex & Money: Feminism and Political Economy in the Media, edited by Eileen Meehan and Ellen Riordan, 75–87. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
  54. “Microsoft Launches Sale of New Xbox Videogame Console.” 2005. The Globe and Mail, November 23, B12.Google Scholar
  55. Miller, Patrick. 2012. “Eleventh Annual Salary Survey.” Game Developer, April, 7–13.Google Scholar
  56. Miller, Toby. 2008. “Anyone for Games? Via the New International Division of Cultural Labor.” In The Cultural Economy, edited by Helmut Anheier and Yudhishthir Raj Isar, 227–40. London: Sage.Google Scholar
  57. Nelson, Robin. 1990. “Videogames Aim at Reality.” Popular Science 237: 90–93.Google Scholar
  58. Nicholls, Ben. 2005. “Design Choice: Xbox 360.” Marketing, December 14, 8.Google Scholar
  59. Nichols, Randy. 2008. “Ancillary Markets: Merchandising and Videogames.” In The Contemporary Hollywood Film Inudstry, edited by Janet Wasko and Paul McDonald, 138–62. Hoboken, NJ: Blackwell Publishers.Google Scholar
  60. Nielsen Games. 2008. Videogamers in Europe. Brussels: Interactive Software Federation of Europe. http://www.isfe.eu/sites/isfe.eu/files/isfe_consumer_research2008_report_final.pdf.Google Scholar
  61. —. 2002. “Game Developer Salary Survey 2002.” Gamasutra.com, July 15. www.gamasutra.com/features/20020715/SalarySurvey2002.pdf.
  62. Olsen, Jennifer. 2004. “Game Developer Salary Survey 2003.” Gamasutra.com, Feburary 10. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2031/game_development_sal-ary_survey_2003.php.
  63. Orland, Kyle. 2010. “Greenpeace Criticizes Nintento and Microsoft’s Environmental Records.” Gamasutra.com, October 26. Accessed February 11, 2011. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31174/Greenpeace_Criticizes_Nintendo_and_Microsofts_Environmental_Records.php.
  64. Pöyhönen, Päivi, and Eeva Simola. 2007. Connecting Components, Dividing Communities. Helsinki: FinnWatch.Google Scholar
  65. Prescott, Julie, and Jan Bogg. 2011a. “Career Attitudes of Men and Women Working in the Computer Games Industry.” Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture 5(1): 7–28.Google Scholar
  66. —. 2011b. “Segregation in a Male-Dominated Industry: Women Working in the Computer Games Industry.” International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology 3(1): 205–27.Google Scholar
  67. Rahim, Saquib. 2010. “Videogamers Use as Much Energy as San Diego.” Scientific American, December 17. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=video-garners-use-as-much-energy-as-san-diego.
  68. Richtel, Matt. 2005. “A New Reality in Videogames: Advertisements.” The New York Times, April 11. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/11/technology/llgame.html.
  69. Takahashi, Dean. 2005. “Gearing Up for Battle of Videogarne Console Business.” Knight Ridder Tribune, August 16, Business News, 1.Google Scholar
  70. Tarnaki, Julie. 2005. “Xbox Shoots for Next Level.” Los Angeles Times, November 13, C1. http://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/13/business/fi-xboxl3.
  71. Tito, Gregg. 2010. “Top Ten Bestselling Videogames of All Time.” The Escapist, January 10. Accessed March 26, 2011. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/97629-Top-Ten-Bestselling-Videogames-of-All-Time.
  72. “Top Videogame Publishers, 2008.” 2009. In Market Share Reporter, edited by Robert S. Lazich. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc.Google Scholar
  73. Van Slyke, Brandon. 2008. “How a Game Gets Made.” Game Developer, Fall 2008, 19–24.Google Scholar
  74. Vargas, Jose Antonio. 2005. “Designer’s Been Outside the Box.” The Washington Post, November 23, 34.Google Scholar
  75. VGChartz. “Platform Totals.” Accessed September 19, 2010. http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/Hardware/Global/.
  76. —. “Global Yearly Chart, 2009.” Accessed September 19, 2010. http://www.vgchartz.com/yearly/2009/Global/.
  77. —. 2008a. “Hardware Table, Total Units 4/22/89–12/29/08.” Retrieved July 8, 2008, from http://vgchartz.com/hwtable.php?cons%5B%5D=Wii&cons%5B%5D=P53&cons%5B%5D=X360&cons%5B%5D=XB&cons%5B%5D=GC&cons%5B%5D=P52&cons%5B%5D=PS&reg%5B%5D=Total&start=32621&e nd=39628Google Scholar
  78. —. 2008b. “Worldwide Million Sellers.” Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://vgchartz.com/hwtable.php?cons%5B%5D=Wii&cons%5B%5D=PS3&cons%5 B%5D=X360&cons%5B%5D=XB&cons%5B%5D=GC&cons%5B%5D=PS2& cons%5B%5D=PS &reg%5B%5D=Tota1&start=32621 &end=39628Google Scholar
  79. —. 2010a. “Hardware Annual Summary.” Retrieved September 19, 2010, from http://www.vgchartz.com/hw_annual_summary.phpGoogle Scholar
  80. —. 2010b. “Hardware Comparison Table,” April 16 1989 to September 25, 2010. Retrieved Septermber 29, 2010, from http://www.vgchartz.com/hwtable.php?cons[]=PSP&cons[]=DS&cons[]=GBA&cons[]=GB&reg[]=Total&reg[]=America&reg[]=Japan&reg[]=Total+Others&reg[]=UK&reg[]=France&reg[]=Germany&reg[]=Spain&reg[]=Italy&reg[]=Scandinavia&reg[]=Australia& start=32621&end=40447Google Scholar
  81. —. 2010c. “Hardware Totals.” Retrieved September 19, 2010, from http://www.vgchartz.com/hardware_totals.php
  82. —. 2011. “Hardware Annual Summary.” Retrieved February 6, 2011, from http://www.vgchartz.com/hw_annual_summary.php
  83. Wasko, Janet, and Eileen Meehan. 2011. “Critical Crossroads or Parallel Routes?: Political Economy and New Approaches to Studying Media lndustries and Cultural Products.” Paper presented at the International Association for Media and Communications Research annual meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, July 13–17.Google Scholar
  84. Williams, Dmitri. 2002. “Structure and Competition in the U.S. Home Videogame Industry.” The International Journal on Media Management 4(1): 41–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  85. Williams, Eric. 2003. “Environmental Impacts in the Production of Personal Computers.” In Computers and the Environment: Understanding and Managing Their Impacts, edited by Ruediger Kuehr and Eric Williams, 41–72. Boston: Kluwer Academic Press.Google Scholar
  86. Wingfield, Nick, and Merissa Marr. 2005. “Games Players Can’t Refuse?” Wall Street Journal, April 19, B1.Google Scholar
  87. Zinner, Jill, and Jennfier Olsen. 2001. “Game Developer Salary Survey 2001.” Gamasutra.com, July 15. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131465/game_development_salary_survey_2001.php.
  88. Zito, Kelly. 2000. “Not All Fun and Games.” Cooljobs.com, May 8.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Nina B. Huntemann and Ben Aslinger 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Randy Nichols

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations