GAME OF LAYERS DJ HeroTero Karppi (MA)

DJ Hero (2009)

DJ Hero & Games As Services

How is this connected to theme of services?

Hypothesis before the launch: DJ Hero would rely on downloadable content

FAIL. There are only 2 downloadable mix packages on sale and no player created content

A need to understand the services around the game differently

It is relevant how we understand the game!

Boundaries of the game

Thinking games as services changes the traditional understanding of gamesWhere does the game begin?Downloadable content (DLC)Games are assemblages of different components

TERRITORIALIZATION

DETERRITORIALIZATION

EXPRESSIVE MATERIAL

Territorialization

• Gameworld as a fixed space• Location &itsboundaries• actualcomponents of the

game: controller, software, lcd-screen etc.

• Keeping the experienceintact

Deterritorialization

• Extending the experience outside fixed limits• virtual components of

the game: DLC, Walkthroughs, Mods, Fan pages etc.

• Transforming the game

Territorialization

• Gameworld as a fixed space• Location & its

boundaries• Actual components of

the game: controller, software, lcd-screen etc.

• Keeping the experience intact

Deterritorialization

• Extending the experience outside fixed limits• virtual components of

the game: DLC, Walkthroughs, Mods, Fan pages etc.

• Transforming the game

Material

• the rubber band• the controller• material entities with

certain features / potentials

Expressive

• Using the potentials of the rubber band (flexibility) it becomes expressive with the controller

• Connecting things and unleashing their potential

Conclusion

We cannot entirely predict what the players doThe variety of services is vaster than what has yet been commoditized (thinking outside the box)We need to follow what the players do in the gameworld but also outside the gameworld in order to understand and develop games as services

Thanks! // Questions?