As autumn approaches, we’re getting ready for the change in leaves and cooler weather…well, except for us in LA where we’re still at 90-degrees on a daily basis. But hey, can’t win them all. As I bear through this heat, we’re excited to bring you our first fall edition of PLAYED. This month, we take a look at how indie games are utilizing social networks in a different way to find great traction and interaction with their fan base; how can brands learn how to create this dialogue and trust in the same manner? We also explore the overlap between game development and user generated content and its impact not only on the games, but on the connections with the communities of players themselves, as well as future revenue streams.

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Political affiliations aside, with the 2012 elections coming up, gamers can’t help but be more informed at the polls thanks to new casual titles and interactive services built on their favorite platforms. How long before that home console becomes a personal polling station? We also dive into Rock Band‘s latest iteration, and while we may not be whipping out our plastic guitars and mic stands for this version, it doesn’t mean the gameplay isn’t just as addicting.

With the yearly AAA title rollout upon us (Borderlands 2, anyone?), Happy Wars may have slipped under your radar. But considering it’s the Xbox 360′s first Free-To-Play game, it’s launch could mark the start of worlds of new thinking for the next generation of consoles. And finally, as if we did not have enough reason to play videogames, research shows that fast-paced, dynamic videogames can prevent Alzheimer’s in patients…we can’t wait for that prescription!

As always, every PLAYED article contains links to videos, supplemental info, and other digital goodies – so be sure to click throughout to enhance your PLAYED experience.  Also, if you’ve missed out on past issues, our back catalog is available online.

Enjoy PLAYED, and feel free to connect with us with questions or comments .

 

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