Institution

--       Background of Rockstar

Rockstar is a major video game developer set in new york who have had a range of successful games and franchises.

-       Rockstar is considered to be a global institution – list all of their studios and when they were acquired by Rockstar.

Mobius entertainment in 2004

Tarantula studios in 1999

Mad doc software in 2008

Dma design in 1999

Angel studios in 2003

Barking dog studios in 2002

-       What other titles are Rockstar famous for?

Grand theft auto franchise

Max Payne series

Manhunt

Red dead

-       What has been their most successful game?

Grand theft auto

-       What controversies have surrounded Rockstar in the past?

Jack Thompson threatened to take various measures to prevent GTA being sold to minors and so rockstar’s partner take-two interactive filed a lawsuit against him.

-       What has made them so successful?

The success of the GTA series and that they have bought out many companies to be their own.

-       Discuss the development and importance of R.A.G.E

ID software developed the game partnering with Bethesda softworks for publication. The game was brought out on playstation 3, X-Box and windows. It used an ID tech 5 engine. It was developed for a first person shooter.

-       Discuss the importance of franchises to Rockstar.

Franchises are important because they build a fan base and develop the games further so that when it is released they already have people who want to buy the new game.

-       Discuss how Rockstar is an example of vertical integration.

Rockstar bought out a range of companies such as tarantula studies etc, who are assigned a certain aspect of the game to work on. They bought the company out so that they would only work for rockstar and so work would be done faster.

-       Why is vertical integration important for developers?

Its faster to work on when they are only working for rockstar and don’t have to focus on other companies projects, as well as making it cheaper for rockstar as they are now part of their company.

-       Discuss the oligopoly of the games industry and the implications for Rockstar.

Rockstar is dominated by sony and so they have the final say on the games.