Fan Expo 2013, also known as Comic Con of the North, has come and gone for another year. This year, Trend Hunter Rick Ponte got the chance to demo some of the hottest topics in gaming, the Xbox One and the Playstation 4.
Xbox held a special live demo seminar to showcase one of its biggest upcoming games Spark. Rick describes Spark as the Xbox One's answer to Playstation's fan favorite Little Big Planet, where gamers can fully customize and create their own maps and gaming experience. Gamers also got the chance to test out Forza 5, Ryse Son of Rome and Killer Instinct.
Over at the Playstation 4 booth, Rick had the opportunity to demo Assassins Creed Black Flag, Drive Club and Knack. Though Playstation fans had to wait in one line for a two-hour wait (a less efficient system than observed at the Xbox booth) in order to play one of the three games available, the previews of the games and of the controller for the new system proved well worth it.
Overall, the gaming experience at Fan Expo 2013 was a great one. Fans who lined up and waited patiently will have bragging rights over their friends as they were the first in Canada to get their hands on these next gen games.
Canadian Gaming Conventions
Rick Ponte Takes a Look at the Gaming Side of Fan Expo 2013
Trend Themes
1. Customized Gaming Experience - With Xbox's Spark and Playstation's Knack, the trend of creating personalized gaming experiences is on the rise, providing opportunities for game developers and tech companies to capitalize on this trend.
2. Efficient Gaming Console Systems - The observation of the more efficient system at the Xbox booth compared to the Playstation 4 booth highlights a trend where consumers are increasingly looking for easy-to-use and time-saving gaming consoles/systems.
3. Next Generation Gaming Consoles - The launch of Xbox One and Playstation 4 offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the gaming industry, with its technologically advanced next-gen gaming consoles, and new revolutionary games that provide never-before gaming experience.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming Industry - The gaming industry can capitalize on the trend towards personalized gaming experiences to innovate games like Spark and Knack, and develop other customized gaming solutions that cater to the needs of gamers.
2. Technology Industry - The trend towards efficient and easy-to-use gaming console systems offers an opportunity for tech companies to invest in the development of innovative technologies to solve these problems and create an exceptional gaming experience.
3. Entertainment Industry - The disruptive innovation opportunities offered by the new Xbox One and Playstation 4 gaming consoles present a plethora of opportunities for the entertainment industry to create new and innovative gaming content that appeals to a broad audience.