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GameTap VP of Content: Episodic games should reflect TV shows
Filed under: Culture, PC, Business

Rick Sanchez, Vice President of Content at GameTap, outlines his thoughts on the potential of episodic games. After defining episodic content -- regularly scheduled chapters of a game that can stand alone -- he focuses on why this method of game design fits the market.

Sanchez says that the production and life of episodic games could reflect a TV show. When looking for a publisher, developers could create an episodic pilot of a game, like the TV pilot season allows producers to attempt a variety of shows at a relatively low cost. A publisher could order a series of episodes based on the game pilot, and even more episodes could be schedule based on consumer purchases and feedback.

Sanchez also notes that the casual gamer could support the bite-sized style of episodic publishing. We sometimes avoid -- or don't complete -- 60-hour games because we don't have the time. While we're not casual gamers, we prefer frequently playing a game for a short duration. Does the pick-up-and-play aesthetic inherently relate to gameplay -- like Katamari Damacy or Tetris -- or can chapters of a first-person shooter also fit that ideal?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Author: Zack Stern
Category: chapterdownloadepisodeepisodicGameTap
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Source: Joystiq
Description: Joystiq

Thought I'd move this here, as it was discussed quite a bit when the HL1 episode first came out. Are you a fan of Episodic content if the price is right?

I think it's a good idea, and better than waiting at least a year for a sequel to a game you're a big fan of

If the price is right, as you say. I enjoyed both Sin Episodes and HL:E1, and both those were just long enough to get into. Problem is when it's taking so long inbetween episodes it kind of breaks the flow.

The reminds me, the next Sam & Max episode is out today.

After episode 1 I bought the whole of the rest of the series for an offer price of $26. That's a bargain in my eyes and I've definitely bought into the episodic thing.