Wikinomics Write-up

 Apply the concept of Wikinomics to real products/brands for a business and a separate example of collaboration. Use key terms GLOBALISATION, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, PROSUMER. 500 words. 

Due on the 15th September. 

About | Black Salt Games - Black Salt Games (collaboration) + Wikinomics for their product i.e., Dredge due to them advertising on social media (YouTube Twitter, Instagram, TikTok) on their website 

An example of collaboration being used effectively can be seen through the game design company Black Salt Games. Despite Black Salt Games being an indie company, they have no extensive funding and only have four members. However, the personnel already have extensive experience and knowledge in the gaming industry. For instance, their programmer, Joel, has been making games full time for the last dozen years, their 3D and Game Developer, Mikey, chose the career a decade ago and has stuck with it ever since, and that's merely two of their members. The team members are sparkling examples of prosumers because at the same time as tirelessly producing games, such as their first finished project Dredge, and posting to their various social media accounts, they also play their fair share of videogames themselves going as far as to include their favourite games to their bios on their company website. This is also a clever marketing tactic because they are trying to connote themselves as being as relatable as possible to other gamers i.e., their main target audience. They have been able to use the globalisation of social media channels to advertise themselves and their game Dredge, just as effectively as the bigger and older studios. Their network includes the social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Their influence on YouTube and TikTok in particular are examples of Web 2.0, or the “interactive web” being used effectively; this is because other prosumers and consumers of media I.e., gamers can leave comments and questions on the YouTube and TikTok videos that Black Salt can then reply to. This would create a sense of fulfilment in the audience as they feel like they have a connection with the game developers. More importantly it encourages people of all abilities to play the game because if they struggle with certain elements of the game all of their questions can either be answered in due course or have already been asked by other members of the community.

 

The company, despite being quite recently founded, has already released their first game Dredge that has been well received in the gaming community. Most notably the well renowned game review body IGN has left quite a positive YouTube video on the game. This is another positive of Web 2.0 because IGN has advertised the game as well as throwing it in a positive light. Before the emergence of technologies and Web 2.0, however, indie games like Dredge would not have been as successful. This is because such a small company like Black Salt would not have been able to compete against competitors such as Atari, Nintendo and Sega because they had the influence and funds to make sure their games were delivered to stores first, would be able to produce many more copies and distribute them worldwide, as well as be able to advertise them on mainstream TV, in magazines and on posters and billboards. Dredge, however, did practically none of these things. It was able to make a name for itself due to it being different and niche, there is simply no other game in the same lane as it, which has meant that brands like IGN, have lapped it up and many successful YouTubers such as Jacksepticeye’s series on the game is just as successful as his series on big Studio games such as Elden Ring and Doom Eternal.