iNiS and Q Entertainment both shared a love of music and a different view of how to interpret music into a game setting. Both companies decided the proper platform for their games was handheld devices; this could be due to the price of handhelds and music games being marketable to non-gamers. Casual games, like music games, serve as an excellent way to introduce people to games and gaming systems. Gaming companies have recently began to realize the profitability of marketing to non-gamers, Nintendo’s Wii has become the best selling console ever by following this strategy. iNis and Q’s games speak to this audience by utilizing something that is inherently human, music. Music is something that speaks to everyone; games that are based around music have the opportunity to have the same power. The games that iNiS and Q have designed seem to have this power with their audience. iNiS’s Elite Beat Agents does an excellent job of drawing the player into the beat of the song, and making them feel like they control the song, this ability to draw the player in and keep them absorbed in the game play is where music games excel.
One of the neatest things that we saw on the trip was the Panasonic room of tomorrow, which contained their giant touch screen. While the screen’s touch technology allowed for greater control over various objects at once, the uses demonstrated were a mixed bag. It is very hard to believe that people will want to get off the couch to do simple tasks such as change the volume or balance on a stereo or purchase items online. While there may be a plausible use for these features, but the virtual rooms seemed the most illogical. I can see a time when someone may use the wall radio control, but it is very hard to believe that children will play ball with their TV wall. Even with the space constraints of Tokyo, we still saw parks and playgrounds for children to play. This room and the touch screen at DoCoMo, made it obvious to me that this is something that is more show than substance. DoCoMo illustrated solid uses for large touch screens, screens such as this appear to have more use in the office or newsroom, than in the living room.
