In Part II, this part of the study moves from industry context to empirical analysis, translating strategic questions into evidence-based insights drawn from primary research. While Part I established the historical and market foundations of Games as a Service (GaaS) and transmedia adaptation and framed the challenges of player retention, monetization, and franchise longevity, Part II examines how these dynamics operate in practice. Using findings from a 1,159-response U.S. consumer survey, nine industry interviews with developers, influencers, and experiential professionals, as well as supporting secondary research, this section analyzes player behavior perceptions and expectations. Part II identifies the mechanisms that drive sustained engagement and trust in live service ecosystems, evaluates the effectiveness of current GaaS and transmedia strategies, and surfaces actionable insights that inform the strategic recommendations presented in the final chapter.
This study provides a foundational analysis of how live-service game models and transmedia strategies are reshaping the contemporary video game industry, with a particular focus on Games as a Service (GaaS), player engagement, and franchise longevity. As gaming continues to outpace film and television as the world’s most lucrative entertainment sector, publishers face growing pressure to sustain player communities, balance monetization with satisfaction, and extend intellectual property beyond the game itself. Part 1 examines the historical evolution of GaaS and game adaptations, situating SEGA’s legacy within today’s competitive landscape. Drawing on existing literature, industry reports, and market context, this section frames the central research questions and methodological approach that guide the study. By establishing the strategic challenges and opportunities facing live-service games and transmedia franchises, Part 1 lays the conceptual groundwork for the data-driven analysis and recommendations presented in Part 2.
This article explores the evolution of murals from ancient cave paintings to modern digital advocacy, highlighting their role as a vital tool for social resistance and cultural preservation. Through this lens, the public wall is revealed as a primary battleground for community identity and the right to protest in the 21st century.
As immersive technologies merge with AI-driven platforms, the boundaries between physical and digital life are rapidly dissolving - bringing new ethical, legal, and safety challenges into focus. This article examines the history of virtual harm in online and XR environments, from early text-based worlds to contemporary VR gaming and performance spaces, and argues for a privacy-first framework as the foundation for immersive safety. By analyzing legal gaps, platform accountability, and global policy efforts, it proposes digital “guardrails” that prioritize user dignity, data protection, and well-being as core design principles rather than afterthoughts.
This article explores the intersection of digital art, NFTs, and community governance through the lens of the furry fandom, a decentralized community of artists and enthusiasts. With the rise of NFTs, the ability to authenticate digital art and protect creators' work has become a critical concern. The study examines the resistance within the furry community to adopt NFTs, highlighting their reliance on community-based trust and governance over "trustless" blockchain systems. While some see potential in NFTs to safeguard intellectual property, many furries are skeptical, valuing social trust and ethics over commercialization. By studying the furry subculture's approach to art ownership and the challenges they face, the article poses larger questions about the future of NFTs and blockchain technology in creative spaces.
This is part 1 in a two-part series examining hybrid museums that successfully demonstrate how bridging the physical and virtual in the museum visitor experience can increase the length, breadth and depth of engagement with the institution and its collection. Part 1 explores the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania.
As more people are consuming and participating in the arts via electronic media, it is essential for arts institutions to develop a strong online presence. Uploading content and performances online can allow more people to access the arts and learn about an institution. One strategy to increase engagement and build an online presence is through live streaming. This paper explores the benefits of live streaming, and how it can remove barriers of access to the arts. It explores various platforms for streaming, like Facebook, Periscope, Youtube, Livestream.
Streaming platforms have revolutionized the music industry and the way consumers discover and listen to music. Companies are having to differentiate themselves by offering unique content, focusing on the artist, or developing different price models. To better understand this landscape, we examined six of the most successful platforms for a competitive analysis to understand the existing music streaming business model.
As the public becomes increasingly aware of the disastrous effects of climate change, individuals and businesses across the globe have tried to decrease their waste by pursuing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. The theatre industry has made some attempts to follow suit, but their expenditure of resources is still extremely high. Environmentally friendly theatre practices taught at the collage level have the potential to impact the industry at large in the near future.
Imagine a network like the Internet, except exclusive in access meaning no commercialization. That’s Internet2, which exists to streamline network access for entities with a commitment to research and education.development. This paper examines the technology and its various uses to music organizations in both education and performance contexts.
A summer long weekend in Philadelphia is inspiring by the many art experiences the city has to offer. Of the museums I visited I was most impressed by both the collection and quality of experience at the Barnes Foundation. The museum has a noteworthy collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modernist artwork, which includes the world’s largest holdings of paintings by Renoir and Cézanne.
AMT Lab’s latest white paper is a preparatory guide for those embarking on geographic analysis for the first time. The case study explores how one organization used this type of analysis to inform decisions about donor recruitment and retention. This guide aggregates useful resources, highlights important considerations, and outlines the process of geographic analysis step-by-step using a succinct case study.
In April 2019 the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh opened MuseumLab. According to the museum “MuseumLab is a place where kids 10+ can work with makers to create everything from furniture to apps, experiment with cutting edge technology in the creation of art, climb three stories on a unique sculpture, collaborate on one-of-a-kind art installations, and more!” On a rainy summer day they kids and I decided to take a mini road trip across the city to check it out!
Elizabeth Long’s latest white paper explores how experience enhancement and the development and implementation of new programs and resources can increase accessibility for low-vision and blind individuals. It provide an overview of what is possible for museums and other visually-oriented art forms. Read the full report here!
In Washington, DC, The Museum of the Bible is strategically using various modes of technology to encourage audience engagement. The entire museum is full of interactives for an array of targeted age groups and technological comfort levels. Thoughtfully placed throughout the museum’s 7 floors, there are tech-focused interactive opportunities for individuals, small groups, and even guided experiences for up to 25 visitors at a time.
UX design explains how organizations value and practice relationships with audiences. These relationships are defined by the single and accumulated experiences that occur through interacting with an object in a given context. If an institution truly understands how audience members consciously and subconsciously interact in a given environment, they can better design their spaces and develop programming.
In the latest episode of the AMT-Lab Podcast series, Chief Technology Manager Ashley Anderson Kowach interviews AMT-Lab contributor Megan Ma about her research on how a nonprofit organization can integrate social media data with an existing CRM system to better understand their constituents interests which could lead to better engagement between the organization and the audience.
NY Live Arts hosted the Arts + AI Symposium, Saturday May 11, 2019. The Symposium was part of Live Arts, their annual humanities festival of arts and ideas. The 2019 Festival AI: Are You Brave Enough for The Brave New World? pondered a future with artificial intelligence, a technology that promises to revolutionize human existence. The festival headliner was a performance by discrete figures. Other activities included a hacking camp for teens and panel discussion on the Future of Work.
The Art + AI Symposium offered the sold-out crowd a speed dating style share-out from panel participants. As the manager in the group, I provided a perspective on AI focusing on how institutions will begin connecting the art to the audience using emerging technologies. The following article provides a summary of the frameworks and solutions I presented.
Introducing the Summer Road Trip Series! In addition to bringing you research and reviews from the art’s management and technology world, over the next few months the AMT-Lab team will be sharing stories of their interactions with art and technology from their travels over the summer. We hope our travels will inspire you to visit a new place on your summer vacation or spark a new idea to try out in your own institution!
Artificial intelligence continues to make its way into the main stream and into multiple industry sectors. The arts are no exception. Over the past few years we have begun to see a wave of organizations use artificial intelligence as a method to both enhance the audience experience and generate new creative expression.
