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Amusement arcades
Amusement arcades are operated in many types of formats. Two frequent formats are arcades within shopping centers and arcades in separate buildings along highways.
Amusement equipment (commercial use)
These arcade machines that are used at amusement arcades and other locations allow visitors to enjoy games in a manner that is not possible at home. Categories of these machines include medal games, prize games, video games and other types of games.
ARPU
Average revenue per user at Capcom is primarily the average monthly revenue per user of the company’s social games.
CAPTIVATE
Captivate is the name of a private show that Capcom holds each spring for members of the overseas media. Participants receive information about games to be released in the future and a variety of other subjects.
Casual users
Beginning game players who usually do not play video games for a long time
CERO
The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, which is a non-profit organization located in Japan, issues age-appropriateness ratings for computer games as the selection of these games becomes more diverse along with the increasing popularity of computer entertainment. These ratings provide information that is required to select game software. The objectives are to contribute to the sound development of young people and to maintain a proper level of social ethical standards. (from CERO website) Capcom receives a CERO rating before launching new home video game titles.
CESA
The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association supports the advancement of the computer entertainment industry by performing studies of the industry as well as research, promotional, educational and other activities. The objectives are to contribute to the sound development of the computer entertainment industry in Japan and to enriching the lives of the Japanese public. (from CERO website)
Core users (Heavy users)
Core users are people who are very knowledgeable about video games and have become experts regarding specific games by playing these games for a long time.
Developer
A company or organization that develops game content
Distributor
A company or organization with a sales network for game content
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is an intangible form of game content that is sold (distributed) through the Internet and thus requires no physical packaging. This content is available on networks linked to home video game consoles, such as PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and Wii Ware. This content can also be downloaded to a computer and obtained in other ways.
E3
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is one of the world’s largest video game conference and show. This expo is held every year in Los Angeles, California.
Feature phone
A feature phone is a conventional cell phone of the type that was used before the emergence of smartphones. Capcom has for some time been distributing relatively simple games based on its game content, ring tones, stand-by screen images and other content for these phones.
First party
A company or organization that supplies game hardware or platforms
Freemium
Freemium is a business model in which users can download a basic game or service at no charge and then pay for additional components and special functions. Freemium is also a generic name of games played in this fashion. It is rapidly increasing market share as game content for mobile phones and smartphones.
Game content
Game content encompasses game software along with the game’s characters, music, images and all other components. This is also called digital content when the content is stored digitally using an intangible format rather than on a physical object such as a disk.
Game creator (planner, designer, sound creator, programmer)
These are all terms of individuals engaged in the development of game content. Game creation is divided into many tasks. For example, planners create game plans, designers create designs for characters, background scenery and other elements, sound creators create all of a game’s sounds, and programmers write the game’s software.
Game genre
The genre refers to the category to which a game belongs and how the game is played. Major examples of game genre are action, fighting, adventure and role playing.
Game literacy education
This education includes lessons about ethics and associated subjects so that children can enjoy video games in a sound manner based on a proper understanding of these games. To fulfill its obligations to society, Capcom is well aware of its responsibility to help educate children and to support the educational activities of teachers and guardians. As part of these activities, Capcom sends instructors to give lessons at schools and gives tours of company facilities to students.
Handheld game console
This term refers to all game consoles that are small and light enough to be carried with ease.
Hardware (home video game console)
A dedicated device that is required to operate game software
Home game console
Home game consoles are used to play games in a single location, primarily through a connection to a television or monitor.
Home video game
Home video games are games being played on a specific type of console. These games are made for home consoles such as the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii as well as handheld consoles such as the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. Capcom has developed these games for a broad array of consoles.
Internally produced
The process of developing a product entirely within a single company, rather than outsourcing tasks to a third-party company or organization
JAMMA
The Japan Amusement Machinery Manufactures Association supports the development of the amusement machinery industry by performing research studies and technical R&D activities as well as collecting and disseminating information concerning this industry. The objectives are to contribute to the development of this industry in Japan and to improving the lives of the Japanese public. (from JAMMA website)
Launch title
Launch title is either the introduction of a title simultaneously with the introduction of a new game console or the product that is launched simultaneously.
License-out
Granting rights to a third-party company or organization for the use of a Capcom character, title logo or other item
Licensed merchandise
Media content, products using characters and other merchandise derived from characters, title logos and other items of a particular company that have been licensed to third parties
Million seller
A million seller is a product that has sold or will sell at least one million units. Capcom defines a "Blockbuster" as a title with sales of at least one million units and markets these titles as "million sellers".
MT Framework
"MT Framework" is an integrated game development environment created by Capcom. In particular, this framework provides shared software development tools for about 80% of the development process for games used on the Xbox360, PlayStation 3 and PCs. Using this shared process greatly reduces game development expenses and cuts development time by two-thirds. In response to market needs, Capcom has made the MT Framework compatible with more types of consoles. Currently, the framework can also be used to develop games for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii and iPhone. "MT" stands for meta-tool, multi-thread, multi-target and other characteristics of this framework.
Multi-platform
With the multi-platform approach, game content is supplied for a variety of platforms rather than only a single platform. This makes it possible to reach more people and reduce the time and cost needed to develop content. This is one of Capcom’s core strategies. Furthermore, Capcom uses its exclusive MT Framework, an integrated game development environment, to make the development process more efficient.
Next-generation console
New types of game consoles are usually released about every five years in the home video game market. These next-generation consoles offer users new functions along with new or additional ways to play games.
Original content
Original content is content created by using completely original elements. There can be no other original story or third-party oversight. Capcom is able to use its content in many ways due to the ability to create a large volume of original game content.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of placing an order to a third-party company or other organization to develop all or part of a particular product.
Packaged software
This is generally software or media that is sold at stores or on the Internet for use with home video game consoles. Software is sold on DVDs, Blu-ray discs and other media depending on the format of each console.
PC online games
These are games that can be played over the Internet on a PC because they do not require a dedicated game console. Players can play a game along with or against other players via a network of users established by accessing the portal site for that game.
Platform
A platform is the environment required to operate game content. Capcom supplies game content for home video game consoles and PCs as well as for cell phones, smartphones and a steadily increasing number of other devices.
Premium
A conventional generic name(or common name) used to refer to mobile content service(or mobile phone content service). It refers to a business model designed as a pay-service for a single content or other services, or a fixed monthly rate membership service for game content.
Publisher
A company or organization that develops and sells game content
Rating
Video games receive age-appropriateness ratings based on the characteristics of each game after undergoing an examination by the CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization). In Japan, all home video games must undergo this examination and display the resulting rating (A, B, C, D or Z) along with the associated precaution icon.
Remake
The process or updating an older game to utilize the advanced capabilities of a new game console or platform or the updated product itself
Series
A game series consists of number of titles based on the same content. This is also called a franchise. Capcom has created many very successful game franchises, including Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Monster Hunters and others.
Single Content Multiple Usage
Single content multiple usage is a core Capcom strategy in which the company’s popular original content is used for home video games as well as for character merchandise, movies and many other uses in order to maximize earnings.
Smartphone
Smartphones are high-performance, multi-function cell phones that are similar to PCs and can access the Internet. Recent rapid progress with smartphone performance has made these devices a popular platform for playing games.
Social games
Social games are online games that are played with others by communicating over a network rather than alone. These games are provided over social networking services (SNS) and each game incorporates a link to its respective SNS. The popularity of social games is increasing rapidly on a global scale as people discover this new way to enjoy games.
Software (Home video games, consumer games)
Software refers to game content that is either incorporated in a game console or installed separately on a computer, cell phone or other device. Software is sold mainly in packages or through Internet downloads.
Spin-off titles
A title in a game series that, rather than being a pure sequel, uses selected components of the game to create a side story or other new element.
TGS
The Tokyo Game Show is one of the world’s largest video game expo. This event is held by the CESA every fall near Tokyo at the Makuhari Messe convention center.
Third party
A third party is a company or organization that supplies software or game content to the first party.
Title
A title is a particular game or the name of a particular game.
Transition period
This is the transition period between a current game console and the launch of its next-generation version. Normally, sales of the current game console decrease during this transition period to the next generation.
Transplanting
Transplanting is the process of altering specifications of the original game software so that it can be released again for use on a different platform (game console).
Work-in-progress for game software
This accounting term refers to game software development expenses that are treated as future assets. These expenses are included in the assets section of the balance sheet until the game launch date.
