If you work in the gaming industry, the idea of Marketing bringing research to Product Development and the two groups working together to create a new gaming experience seems like a setup for a hilarious punchline. In this case it wasn’t a joke. It was the genesis of the product you see today. This information gave us some great insight that allowed us to develop the idea behind PAIN. This report also included information about what TEENAGE gamers want.
Now I am not a teenager. I haven’t been for quite some time. So I came to some conclusions:
- I am not as “mature” as I thought I was.
- Age has nothing to do with gaming requirements.
- Seeing people “eat it” is funny
Whatever the case, the crew at Idol Minds had a concept that was well on the way to touching on all these points. It was this game concept called PAIN™. Talk about serendipity! It was only natural that we took this concept and made sure it had the right combination and then some. We were also looking for a unique product for the PLAYSTATION(R)Network. This concept had to be a unique experience. Something you couldn’t find anywhere else. We all knew PLAYSTATION(R)Network games need to have another requirement - Community. Gamers like to share experiences (Ya think?)
Community is critical in this era/generation of gaming. We are all a lot more connected than we used to be. I would like to think that this is going to take game creation to a new level. This website is meant for YOU. It’s your forum to tell us what you like, love, hate, loathe so we can build the best PLAYSTATION(R)Network title ever. You are going to have the opportunity as a community to help us develop PAIN™ even more than what it is now.
Sony Computer Entertainment and Idol Minds started this project. I’m hoping you all will help us take it to another level. We’re going to be asking you all for a lot of input going forward. I told my bosses that you all weren’t shy, and that you would speak up when we put questions to you. You did a lot of it when I posted to the official PLAYSTATION Blog. I am hoping you will continue to help us out.
My name is Travis Williams and I am the Senior Producer of PAIN™. You are going to be hearing from me and many other people who help bring the PAIN™. I hope you have as much fun playing (and creating) PAIN™ as I do. I’ll see you on the leader boards.
Happy Holidays!