RANDOM VIDEO GAME NEWS THREAD!, just a dumping ground

[Purkake]

A truly shocking development on the Resident Evil front.

 

Will it perhaps feature some form of undead enemies that may or may not be wielding comically large objects as weapons?

[funcroc]

One of Double Fine's projects will be unveiled in late August.

[Bos_hybrid]

Fable 2 has 460,000 words/47 hours of speech

 

Steams new survey checks what programs are installed on your computer

[Spider]

Here's an article on second hand sales and piracy.

 

The car analogy is somewhat flawed because making each car cost money, giving each individual copy a significant value. On the other hand you can copy data infinitely and perfectly for a negligible cost.

 

While I agree that the analogy is flawed, I don't agree with the reason. Ease of copy would have it's effect on pricing, not second hand sales. It's flawed because the car industry already has a functional alternate revenue stream that doesn't care if a car is sold or resold - spare parts. From what I understand, their profit margin there is significantly higher than on a new car. I suppose this is what DLC is trying to mimic, but as it's still in it's infancy, it's nowhere there yet.

 

That being said, the reasoning in that article was awful. Second hand sales is what keeps specialized game stores afloat and without them I think first hand sales would lower dramatically. Not to mention all those who turn in a game in order to buy a new one.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Spider

[HoonDing]

Fable 2 has 460,000 words/47 hours of speech

Fable 3? Looking great.

 

Since it seems to take place in an 18th century like Albion, I wonder how prevalent magic will be. Molyneux going steampunk?

[Mamoulian War]

Here's an article on second hand sales and piracy.

 

The car analogy is somewhat flawed because making each car cost money, giving each individual copy a significant value. On the other hand you can copy data infinitely and perfectly for a negligible cost.

 

While I agree that the analogy is flawed, I don't agree with the reason. Ease of copy would have it's effect on pricing, not second hand sales. It's flawed because the car industry already has a functional alternate revenue stream that doesn't care if a car is sold or resold - spare parts. From what I understand, their profit margin there is significantly higher than on a new car. I suppose this is what DLC is trying to mimic, but as it's still in it's infancy, it's nowhere there yet.

 

That being said, the reasoning in that article was awful. Second hand sales is what keeps specialized game stores afloat and without them I think first hand sales would lower dramatically. Not to mention all those who turn in a game in order to buy a new one.

 

As you said spare parts could be very easily compared in that analogy to DLCs

[Azdeus]

Here's an article on second hand sales and piracy.

 

The car analogy is somewhat flawed because making each car cost money, giving each individual copy a significant value. On the other hand you can copy data infinitely and perfectly for a negligible cost.

 

While I agree that the analogy is flawed, I don't agree with the reason. Ease of copy would have it's effect on pricing, not second hand sales. It's flawed because the car industry already has a functional alternate revenue stream that doesn't care if a car is sold or resold - spare parts. From what I understand, their profit margin there is significantly higher than on a new car. I suppose this is what DLC is trying to mimic, but as it's still in it's infancy, it's nowhere there yet.

 

The car analogy with spareparts does'nt work in comparison to DLC's, since spare parts more equals patches.

 

DLC's are more like optional extras; Carbon ceramic breaks and doubleclutch gearboxes. Or atleast they should very much be optional extras.

 

That being said, the reasoning in that article was awful. Second hand sales is what keeps specialized game stores afloat and without them I think first hand sales would lower dramatically. Not to mention all those who turn in a game in order to buy a new one.

 

Yes, it is, atleast secondhand copies are'nt pirated copies of games. On the whole I agree with your arguements, many stores would go down if it was'nt for second hand sales.

[Morgoth]

New Oddworld games in development. Click

 

I'm still waiting for that friggin' Oddbox.

[Azdeus]

Just read through this, basically a summary of Bobby Koticks statements and changes through Blizzivison.

It's old stuff, basically, and I've heard all that **** before - but reading it as a summary my eyeballs damn near popped out of my sockets. What a rotten bastard.

[funcroc]

A Game of Thrones: Genesis (A Song of Ice and Fire RTS) announced Edited July 16, 2010 by funcroc

[Hurlshort]

A Game of Thrones: Genesis (A Song of Ice and Fire RTS) announced

 

I don't understand why a book series that revolves around unique characters that get killed off frequently and political conspiracy would be a good fit for an RTS.

[Thorton_AP]

There was a fun board game that had the unique characters (as heroes).

 

I could see them doing something with hero characters and whatnot.

[Atom523]

Yeah you can have several hero based characters and they could die....frequently .

I like the book series, so i am curious to see how they get this to work.

Who wants to bet that the game comes out before the next book does?

[Wrath of Dagon]

New Oddworld games in development. Click

 

I'm still waiting for that friggin' Oddbox.

Sorry, but you've been pawned by funcroc. But anyways, yeay!

Edited July 16, 2010 by Wrath of Dagon

[Purkake]

A Game of Thrones: Genesis (A Song of Ice and Fire RTS) announced

 

I don't understand why a book series that revolves around unique characters that get killed off frequently and political conspiracy would be a good fit for an RTS.

Better than a FPS or a racing game.

[Spider]

As you said spare parts could be very easily compared in that analogy to DLCs

 

Except I also said DLC doesn't work yet and it's not a clear comparison. The spare parts are already invented. They need to be manufactured, true, but the main cost of productions has already been regained. With DLCs you have to create new product that needs to sell well enough to cover the initial investment before they start turning a profit. They certainly need to sell fewer copies than of a full game, but there is also a signficantly smaller market, albeit a more directly targeted one.

 

If a part in a car breaks down, whoever owns the car will need to get a replacement or get rid of the car. So there's no need for marketing or anything. Just ship parts when they're needed. Storing is the only cost other than production and I odn't know how that works.

 

The car analogy with spareparts does'nt work in comparison to DLC's, since spare parts more equals patches.

 

DLC's are more like optional extras; Carbon ceramic breaks and doubleclutch gearboxes. Or atleast they should very much be optional extras.

 

Spare parts equals patches you have to pay for. A patch is issued to correct flaws in the design, spare parts are sold due to normal wear and tear. So while a patch is a 100% loss from a production stand point (goodwill doesn't count here), spare parts certainly aren't. I'd say patches are more similar to the warranty issued with a new car, which is also a complete loss for the manufacturer, but needed for the goodwill it brings (and because I don't think anyone would buy something like a car without one).

 

In the end, it doesn't matter if the analogy holds up or not (and it wasn't really meant as an analogy in the first place, just an example), the point still stands. If the gaming industry needs to increase their profit margins, they need alternate reveneue streams, not to go after the gaming infrastructure.

[Serrano]

Valve have just announced a new game, an Alien Swarm remake on Source. It's being released on monday and it will be free.

 

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/16...n-swarm-monday/

Edited July 16, 2010 by Serrano

[Morgoth]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/16...n-swarm-monday/

 

Valve just rather nonchalantly announced a game

It looks like Alien Breed. That was one boring game.

 

But hey, at least it's for free.

[Oner]

I still have to install Steam for it, huh?

[Morgoth]

I still have to install Steam for it, huh?

What do you think, silly? Every Valve game is powered by Source and Steam.

[Oner]

It was a poetic question.

[Azdeus]

The car analogy with spareparts does'nt work in comparison to DLC's, since spare parts more equals patches.

 

DLC's are more like optional extras; Carbon ceramic breaks and doubleclutch gearboxes. Or atleast they should very much be optional extras.

 

Spare parts equals patches you have to pay for. A patch is issued to correct flaws in the design, spare parts are sold due to normal wear and tear. So while a patch is a 100% loss from a production stand point (goodwill doesn't count here), spare parts certainly aren't. I'd say patches are more similar to the warranty issued with a new car, which is also a complete loss for the manufacturer, but needed for the goodwill it brings (and because I don't think anyone would buy something like a car without one).

 

In the end, it doesn't matter if the analogy holds up or not (and it wasn't really meant as an analogy in the first place, just an example), the point still stands. If the gaming industry needs to increase their profit margins, they need alternate reveneue streams, not to go after the gaming infrastructure.

 

Car recalls equals patches, but I'm nitpicking. A patch does correct designflaws, but sometimes also prevents crashing. ;P

Spare parts would mostly resemble getting a new CD/DVD for your game.

And I still think DLC's are optional extras.

 

Valve have just announced a new game, an Alien Swarm remake on Source. It's being released on monday and it will be free.

 

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/16...n-swarm-monday/

 

Did anyone here play the original mod?

[Serrano]

I never played the mod but there were loads of games like that back in the Atari ST days. It's a simple and addictive kind of fun and if it's anywhere near as good as Chaos Engine then it warrents a download, especially as it's free.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Serrano

[Thorton_AP]

Yes and it was loads of fun.

 

And ****ing hard.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Thorton_AP

[Azdeus]

What was the point of it? Kill things?

 

I never played the mod but there were loads of games like that back in the Atari ST days. It's a simple and addictive kind of fun and if it's anywhere near as good as Chaos Engine then it warrents a download, especially as it's free.

 

Unless you vehemently oppose Steam ofcourse.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Azdeus