BRS probably has conducted more game development research than most, and we have conducted research on some of the most successful titles ever introduced, as well as a few that never saw the light of day. Conducting hundreds of focus groups, IDIs and ethnographies over the past 8 years, BRS has examined a wide variety of game development questions on more than 60 game titles.
- What is existing character or title equity?
- What game concepts are worth pursuing?
- To aid in development, what is reaction to game concept, gameplay, features and visuals?
- What is reaction to potential game positionings, key game language, and key visuals for packaging and marketing materials?
While gaming is an international market, there are salient differences across markets, for example:
- Success of soccer-based games everywhere, except the US
- Need to “soften” bloodshed in Germany
- Success of “artistic-looking” games in France
- Strength of RTS in Korea
- British resistance to “Made in the USA”
- The popularity of anime and manga in Japan for adult games
- Relative strength of PC-based games in Germany
- “Acceptance” of violent, anti-female, games in Japan
