打造全球顶级游戏的奥秘

    贝克表示，尽管自Riot创立以来游戏业已发生了翻天覆地的变化，但有一样东西却始终如一：那就是玩家体验的重要性。如果哪家公司能提供这种体验，那他可以打包票现在的玩家也会一如既往地热情追捧，而且他们还会向自己的朋友卖力介绍这种游戏。

    贝克说：“现在的新情况是：出现了各种潜在的发行渠道。游戏公司应该尝试自行发行吗？今天这个市场中出版商还有什么作用？推动我们发展到今天这个地位的重大因素正是可以自行发行。现在在Riot和玩家之间的中间商和沟通障碍都减少了。”

    Riot还在电子竞技领域投入了上百万美元，把《英雄联盟》变成了一项引人瞩目的国际赛事，并通过大量流媒体播放将职业游戏推向最高水平。现在Riot的“英雄联盟系列锦标赛”（League of Legends Championship Series）已举办到第三届了，为粉丝们提供了另一条体验、接触这款游戏的途径。

    随着这类游戏的竞争进入白热化，Riot必须加快脚步、奋力迎战。华纳兄弟互动娱乐公司（Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment）、社交游戏公司Zynga和暴雪公司（Blizzard）这些业界巨头们正纷纷紧追《英雄联盟》成功的脚步，投身这场竞争。而这正是成为业界老大后必须面对的挑战。（财富中文网）

    译者：清远

    Beck says that while a lot has changed in the game industry since Riot was founded, one thing remains the same -- the importance of an excellent player experience. If a company delivers that, he promises today's gamers will respond pretty much like gamers always have -- with lots of enthusiasm. They'll tell their friends about the game, too.

    "What's new are the potential distribution choices," said Beck. "Should companies try to self-publish? What's the role of a publisher anyway in today's market? A big contributor to where we're at today was the choice to self-publish. There have been fewer intermediaries and communication barriers between Riot and players."

    Riot has also invested millions of dollars in electronic sports, or e-sports, turning League of Legends into an international spectator sport and propelling professional gaming into the stratosphere with huge numbers of live-streams. Riot's League of Legends Championship Series is currently in its third year, offering fans another way to experience and stay connected with the game.

    Now Riot will have to keep on its toes as competition in the genre heats up. Powerful firms like Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, Zynga (ZNGA) and Blizzard are all going after League of Legends' success. Such is the peril of being number one.