Innovation and creativity in the video game industry: the balance of exploration and exploitation activities

How do the video game producer SMEs balance the tensions between exploitation activity ofexisting games and exploration of new concepts or new technologies and combine them tostimulate creativity and innovation. The video game industry, consisting of large and smallorganizations in a situation of complex innovations, both technological and editorial, is aprivileged to observe and understand the tensions that develop between exploitation andexploration. The study of innovation activities in nine video game studios showed two models:internal management of tensions between exploitation and exploration through the project mode oforganizational structure, and outsourcing of exploration activities. It appears that artistic creation isoutsourced more easily than technological innovation.

Keywords:

Cultural Goods , Editorial Innovation , Video Game Studio , Outsourcing