Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games Net Present Value (NPV) / MBA Resources

Introduction to Net Present Value (NPV) - What is Net Present Value (NPV) ? How it impacts financial decisions regarding project management?

NPV solution for Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games case study

At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Adam Brandenburger. The Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games (referred as “3do Bit” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Strategy & Execution. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Competitive strategy, Marketing.

The net present value (NPV) of an investment proposal is the present value of the proposal’s net cash flows less the proposal’s initial cash outflow. If a project’s NPV is greater than or equal to zero, the project should be accepted.

NPV = Present Value of Future Cash Flows LESS Project’s Initial Investment

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Case Description of Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games Case Study

The 1980s were the "Nintendo" decade in video-games, while the early 1990s saw Sega rise to prominence on the basis of next-generation, 16-bit technology. By early 1994, Nintendo and Sega split the worldwide installed base of 16-bit home video-game systems about equally. Still, while 16-bit systems offered superior graphics, sound, and game play over the earlier 8-bit systems, many observers considered them a transitional technology, likely to be superseded in the next two to five years. The case focuses on the efforts of 3DO, a high-profile U.S. start-up, to promote a new 32-bit platform. Also describes the new technologies being developed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Philips, and Atari. By expanding the scope of the game, 3DO engineered a window of opportunity with respect to the established players, Nintendo and Sega. Focuses on how 3DO chose to exploit that opportunity. Illustrates, in particular, the strategy of bringing new players into a game. Planning to make money from licensing the software technology, 3DO gave away the hardware technology for free.

Case Authors : Adam Brandenburger

Topic : Strategy & Execution

Related Areas : Competitive strategy, Marketing

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games Case Study

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 6 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10022470)	-10022470	-	-
Year 1	3447928	-6574542	3447928	0.9434	3252762
Year 2	3979606	-2594936	7427534	0.89	3541835
Year 3	3942738	1347802	11370272	0.8396	3310399
Year 4	3233669	4581471	14603941	0.7921	2561369
TOTAL			14603941		12666365

The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2643895

In isolation the NPV number doesn't mean much but put in right context then it is one of the best method to evaluate project returns. In this article we will cover -

Different methods of capital budgeting

What is NPV & Formula of NPV,
How it is calculated,
How to use NPV number for project evaluation, and
Scenario Planning given risks and management priorities.

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Capital Budgeting Approaches

Methods of Capital Budgeting

There are four types of capital budgeting techniques that are widely used in the corporate world –

1. Internal Rate of Return
2. Profitability Index
3. Payback Period
4. Net Present Value

Apart from the Payback period method which is an additive method, rest of the methods are based on Discounted Cash Flow technique. Even though cash flow can be calculated based on the nature of the project, for the simplicity of the article we are assuming that all the expected cash flows are realized at the end of the year.

Discounted Cash Flow approaches provide a more objective basis for evaluating and selecting investment projects. They take into consideration both –

1. Timing of the expected cash flows – stockholders of 3do Bit have higher preference for cash returns over 4-5 years rather than 10-15 years given the nature of the volatility in the industry.
2. Magnitude of both incoming and outgoing cash flows – Projects can be capital intensive, time intensive, or both. 3do Bit shareholders have preference for diversified projects investment rather than prospective high income from a single capital intensive project.

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Formula and Steps to Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) of Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games

NPV = Net Cash In Flowt1 / (1+r)t1 + Net Cash In Flowt2 / (1+r)t2 + … Net Cash In Flowtn / (1+r)tn
Less Net Cash Out Flowt0 / (1+r)t0

Where t = time period, in this case year 1, year 2 and so on.
r = discount rate or return that could be earned using other safe proposition such as fixed deposit or treasury bond rate. Net Cash In Flow – What the firm will get each year.
Net Cash Out Flow – What the firm needs to invest initially in the project.

Step 1 – Understand the nature of the project and calculate cash flow for each year.
Step 2 – Discount those cash flow based on the discount rate.
Step 3 – Add all the discounted cash flow.
Step 4 – Selection of the project

Why Strategy & Execution Managers need to know Financial Tools such as Net Present Value (NPV)?

In our daily workplace we often come across people and colleagues who are just focused on their core competency and targets they have to deliver. For example marketing managers at 3do Bit often design programs whose objective is to drive brand awareness and customer reach. But how that 30 point increase in brand awareness or 10 point increase in customer touch points will result into shareholders’ value is not specified.

To overcome such scenarios managers at 3do Bit needs to not only know the financial aspect of project management but also needs to have tools to integrate them into part of the project development and monitoring plan.

Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 15%

After working through various assumptions we reached a conclusion that risk is far higher than 6%. In a reasonably stable industry with weak competition - 15% discount rate can be a good benchmark.

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 15 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10022470)	-10022470	-	-
Year 1	3447928	-6574542	3447928	0.8696	2998198
Year 2	3979606	-2594936	7427534	0.7561	3009154
Year 3	3942738	1347802	11370272	0.6575	2592414
Year 4	3233669	4581471	14603941	0.5718	1848861
TOTAL					10448627

The Net NPV after 4 years is 426157

(10448627 - 10022470 )

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 20%

If the risk component is high in the industry then we should go for a higher hurdle rate / discount rate of 20%.

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 20 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10022470)	-10022470	-	-
Year 1	3447928	-6574542	3447928	0.8333	2873273
Year 2	3979606	-2594936	7427534	0.6944	2763615
Year 3	3942738	1347802	11370272	0.5787	2281677
Year 4	3233669	4581471	14603941	0.4823	1559447
TOTAL					9478013

The Net NPV after 4 years is -544457

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9478013 - 10022470 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of 3do Bit to discount cash flow at lower discount rates such as 15%.

Acceptance Criteria of a Project based on NPV

Simplest Approach – If the investment project of 3do Bit has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at 3do Bit can ACCEPT the project, otherwise they can reject the project. This means that project will deliver higher returns over the period of time than any alternate investment strategy.

In theory if the required rate of return or discount rate is chosen correctly by finance managers at 3do Bit, then the stock price of the 3do Bit should change by same amount of the NPV. In real world we know that share price also reflects various other factors that can be related to both macro and micro environment.

In the same vein – accepting the project with zero NPV should result in stagnant share price. Finance managers use discount rates as a measure of risk components in the project execution process.

Sensitivity Analysis

Project selection is often a far more complex decision than just choosing it based on the NPV number. Finance managers at 3do Bit should conduct a sensitivity analysis to better understand not only the inherent risk of the projects but also how those risks can be either factored in or mitigated during the project execution. Sensitivity analysis helps in –

What are the uncertainties surrounding the project Initial Cash Outlay (ICO’s). ICO’s often have several different components such as land, machinery, building, and other equipment.

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

What will be a multi year spillover effect of various taxation regulations.

What are the key aspects of the projects that need to be monitored, refined, and retuned for continuous delivery of projected cash flows.

What can impact the cash flow of the project.

Some of the assumptions while using the Discounted Cash Flow Methods –

Projects are assumed to be Mutually Exclusive – This is seldom the came in modern day giant organizations where projects are often inter-related and rejecting a project solely based on NPV can result in sunk cost from a related project.

Independent projects have independent cash flows – As explained in the marketing project – though the project may look independent but in reality it is not as the brand awareness project can be closely associated with the spending on sales promotions and product specific advertising.

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Negotiation Strategy of Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games

References & Further Readings

Adam Brandenburger (2018), "Power Play (C): 3DO in 32-bit Video Games Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.