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[Vark]

It technically pertains to music, movies and games but I figured it'd be a nice counter to the usual 'EA is homogenizing the industry' etc post.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail.html?pg=1&topic=tail

Basically the point its making (for those that don't want to read all 5 pages) is that things like online distribution are creating new markets for niche media. Essentially undermining the older ways of thought that say that a game has to be a million seller to be worth making.

As online distribution continues to grow, we could see a return of smaller low budget games (like adventure games) that no longer have to compete for shelf space in a retail outlet and instead can forge their own identities and generate their own sales to profitable levels.

 

[Mejilan]

As online distribution continues to grow, we could see a return of smaller low budget games (like adventure games) that no longer have to compete for shelf space in a retail outlet and instead can forge their own identities and generate their own sales to profitable levels.

I'm all for this.

 

[brandonnn]

Anderson signed a deal with Hyperion to develop the article into a full book by spring 2k6. You can read more about it and the concept of the long tail at http://longtail.typepad.com/ (or http://www.thelongtail.com/)

And yeah, it's very promising and exciting all around.