Social Media/Social Network Analysis and Virtual Gaming Industry

Games have evolved over generations. We used Atari, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation, Xbox and so many other consoles. Now games are on Social Networking websites like Facebook. Social Network games are becoming more and more popular. It all started with Mafia Wars, Farmville and now Candy Crush. Even mobile games are now having an option to play online or post their scores on social networking sites.

Console games are more and more getting integrated with Social Media. Facebook, Twitter integration inside games is increasing. Previously it was just multiplayer games, now entire communities for gamers are forming. Special networking websites for gamers are present where hardcore gamers interact. Even developer communities are on an increase.

There are some questions-

• Why social networking games are so popular?
• Games like SIMS was popular, was the reason for its popularity was that it portrayed real relationships among people?
• What games like Farmville have done that have made them popular?
• Why was Mafia Wars so popular?
• Why one posts his/her high score in a game online? To tell his friends, if yes why?
• Can there be a relationship between game developers, their publishers and game consoles?
• Can there be any relationship between gamers and consoles they chose?
• Is future consoles going to have AI?

All these point to a simple fact that gaming industry can be understood by Social Network Analysis and the developers are using it to develop games. Also how the gaming industry is using Social Media to gain popularity. For AI to be embedded into consoles, some steps have been taken. For eg. Sony PS4 will learn from users and will suggest games based on their preferences; it’ll also download some demos if it feels that the user will like the game. I agree with SNA of gaming industry and some research has already been done on the topics.

Here are some interesting articles and research paper for the same-

http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/media-journalism/5-ways-video-game-companies-are-leveraging-social-media/

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4009/the_social_network_game_boom.php

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-awesome-social-networks-just-for-gamers/

Research paper on Video Game Industry as a Social Network (SNA of Video Gaming Industry)

http://www.cse.unr.edu/~mgunes/papers/snaa12.pdf

Sulabh Gupta [M14 Exchange Student]