Research & Writing
Interactive Gaming Overview
By Cassie Carter, PhD
10 March 2000

Interactive games comprise a range from very simple, low-end web games to the most elaborate, high-end PC and console games. The quality and sophistication of a game depends on the technical complexity of the application, the caliber of the graphics and animation, and the smoothness of user experience. The majority of Internet games fall in the middle of this range, and the gap between mid-range and high-end is a large one.  Internet games are a different class than the games offered on CD-ROM for PCs or for Playstation and Nintendo.   PC and console games boast the highest-quality graphics, smoothness of user experience, and greatest interactive experience.  While some Java Internet games can be highly sophisticated, they cannot attain the quality of a PC or console game.

High-End Games

High-end games are those developed for PC and console (e.g., PlayStation, Nintendo, Dreamcast).   According to ZDNet, Video games were a $7 billion market in 1999.  The console game market share is $4.2 billion; PC games bring in $2 billion.   Sega has sold 1.5 million units of Dreamcast, and in Japan Sony sold a million PlayStation 2’s during its first two days.  As of mid-1999, almost 70% of all US households owned or rented computer games.  Currently, one in four US households have a Sony Playstation. [1]  

Console games: popular console games include Super Mario Brothers, Sonic Adventure, and Donkey Kong. Development: console games can take 1-2 years of development.  The average budget for development of a PlayStation or Nintendo 64 game is around $2 million. 

Development for a PlayStation 2 game is expected to cost at least $4 million.

High-End Games Online
PC games can be played online via websites that offer “hosted” games.  The host is an individual user who has a personal copy of the CD-ROM containing the game.  The user/host sets up the game preferences and invites other online users to play.  In some cases, all players must have a personal copy of the CD-ROM game; in other cases, play requires one copy of the game for every three players.  A chat interface allows players to talk to each other. 

Console games are played using a separate console. Sega Dreamcast’s console has a built-in 56K modem, allowing for full Internet functionality through the Sega Dreamcast Network, including chat, e-mail, web browsing and online gaming. Sega Dreamcast currently has more than 40 titles available. The 2000 Sony Playstation 2, which also supports audio CD and DVD video, also has multi-player and internet functionality.

Web Mid-to-High Range
On the web, higher-end games tend to be developed in Java and/or VRML and are extremely complex, offering top-of-the line graphics and smooth play.  They differ from mid-range game in their complexity of programming and logic (for example, simulated physics models and increased possible outcomes).  Development time can be in the range of 6-8 months.

Web Mid Range
Mid-range games are the most common on the Web.  Usually developed in Flash or Shockwave, they offer a smooth playing experience and high-quality graphics, although not as elaborate as the high-end games.  Development time is 4-6 months. 

Web Low-Mid Range
The least sophisticated mid-range games maintain high graphics quality and smooth playing, but present low level of complexity in programming and logic.  Development time is 2-4 months. 

Web Low Range
Low-end games offer less-developed graphics and less smoothness in user experience.  The low-end category may also include games/presentations with minimal “content” or action.  Development time is 1-2 months.  (See http://www.game-land.com/games/pigrace/ for an example of a low-end game.)

Types of Interactive Games
Across the range from low to high, games fall into several overlapping categories:

• Reflex/Action games: on the Internet, these are traditional arcade games like Pacman, Space Invaders, etc.   Less sophisticated ones tend to be minimal, graphically—like a pong game in which the paddles are simple lines—as compared to more elaborate ones, like a fully developed golf game that presents a complete course, varying wind speeds and directions, and so on.  The higher-end games incorporate 3-D graphics, role-playing, and multi-player networking.
• Strategy and board games: these include games like Checkers, Connect-4, Uno, Jigsaw puzzle, Tic-Tac-Toe, maze, etc.
• Word/mind challenge games: crossword puzzles, anagrams, typing tests, trivia quiz, madlibs, hangman.
• Multi-player games: Multi-player games include card games, like poker and spades (see Yahoo games), as well as more elaborate setups in which an individual can “host” a retail game online using a CD-ROM. See http://www.zone.com.  A multi-player game can be a reflex/action game, strategy or board game, word/mind challege game, an RPG, a fantasy game, or a VRML game.
• RPGs (Role Playing Games): These began as MUDs (multi-user dungeons) offering text-based chat; they are now graphics-based.  Sometimes a fee is charged for online play.
• Fantasy games: Somewhere between strategy and role-playing games, these include “Fantasy Baseball” and “Fantasy Politics” games.
• VRML games: VMRL (“virtual reality markup language”) makes possible richly detailed, interactive, 3D games.  They tend to lie on the high end in terms of complexity, development time, and cost.  For examples, see: http://kidsnetgames.about.com/kids/kidsnetgames/msub27.htm
  http://www.sumea.com/b_2.html

Outsourcing vs. Internal Development of Games
Outsourcing is not necessarily cost-effective or faster than developing games internally, unless game development is large-scale or includes high-end PC or console games.

Game Developers/Vendors
Many of the biggest names in game development concentrate on console and CD-ROM games and do not specialize in Internet game development.  However, many of the developers who offer internet games also offer PC, console, and hybrid games.  The chart below lists developers in three categories: high-end, console/PC game developers; mid-to-high range internet and CD-ROM developers; and low-to-mid range internet game developers.