Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

“Video games in general have always been in a continuous growth phase,” said Jesse Divnich, vice president of insights and analysis at game industry research firm EEDAR. “We consistently grow every year. Some years more than others, but we've consistently grown.” It seems as some people think the industry is taking a huge hit, when others just simply say it is changing."I bristle when people suggest as much," says Adrian Crook, a game design consultant. "Consoles will grow again and will never go away." I believe that the money is still there but just going to different areas of the industry. Anyone who already owns a game console has no need to buy a new one. When new consoles first come out, they generate a huge revenue. This is caused by such a high price and high demand for the console. Now when everyone already owns it, that revenue drops drastically. The money is not being spent on the consoles themselves, but now in other areas. Size of global traditional video game market revenue, excluding mobile games on smart phones and tablets: $58 billion, up slightly from $57.2 billion in 2012 .http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/10/gameshow-e-idINDEE9590DW20130610. The video game market might be taking a hit, but mobile phone game sales are steadily increasing.

I think there's probably natural attrition occurring in the market," said Edward Williams of BMO Capital Markets. "What you're wrestling with here is there are several currents. The category is evolving—in terms of how people are playing games and how they're paying for the games

The market for video games, i believe, is still there. Perhaps targeting different audiences will help generate sales. Most games being put out are specifically designed for younger males. Maybe designing games for girls and women would help generate more money while continuing to design the games for the young male audience. 

Week One Eoc: Great Customer Service

One time I was browsing online looking for a new computer. I knew i wanted to have a awesome computer that would be capable of doing everything audio related that i needed it to do. I had to get a Mac. I went to the apple website and started to chat with a customer service representative. I told him exactly what i would be using it for and all the minimum specifications that it would need. He suggested a computer that to me seemed very expensive. Even though the professional told me exactly what was needed, i decided to go with a less expensive computer. This one was significantly cheaper, but also lacked in certain areas that really were needed to be top notch for what was the desired use. Apple shipped the computer and I received it in no time. At first it was great. It ran quickly and was having no trouble with the programs I had on it. As a few months past i installed a couple more audio programs on it. These ones, as the Apple rep told me, needed more RAM memory and a quicker processor. I was very upset at myself and thought i had just wasted 900 dollars. It had been about 4 months since I had purchased it and was way past the return date. I had nothing to lose so i figured it wouldn't hurt to talk to Apple about it and just ask what could be done. I got on the phone with a manager and explained my situation. In no time the manager had a paid for postage stamp sent to my e-mail and told me to take it to a post office to be sent back. About two weeks later i had my brand new computer sitting on my front porch. I have never received anything close to such wonderful customer service. Just the fact that i was able to talk to a manager so quickly and he was so understanding of my situation blew my mind. I tell people about what great customer service Apple has and i know that brings them more business. In the end, having the wonderful customer service might cost a company some money at first, but in the long run they keep their customers close and continue to gain new ones every day, Thats's what great customer service is all about to me. "Web seller Zappos is obsessed with creating the very best customer service and customer experience. In return, customers reward the company with their brand loyalty and buying dollars. The result: Zappos’ sales have grown astronomically." Marketing: An Introduction" pg. 4

Week One EOC: My Voice

As an audio professional I strive to keep up to date skills and talents that keep me talented in this always changing field. The competition for money in this industry causes newer and better technology to be released on almost a weekly basis. It is essential as an audio professional to be aware of the newest technology, and get familiar with it as well. Being comfortable and skilled with technology from 5 years ago will keep you behind and sometimes out of work. The big names in this business are always upgrading their studios and equipment to be more time and money efficient. Just being up to date on the skills in the always changing software of the industry will keep you a job. Now how good you can be with it will most likely determine the money you choose to charge if you are working freelance. Currently only a sophomore, I can consider myself a professional. My skills and talents include everything from mixing and recording great quality sound, to recording and editing video. I am comfortable with the latest version of Pro Tools, which is an industry standard program for mixing and doing post production.  I also have acoustical studio experience, and have skills in creating some great sounding rooms for either mixing or just listening. Whatever it may be, i consider myself an artist in all aspects of audio.