RANDOM VIDEO GAME NEWS

[Zoraptor]

The sharing system sounds like it will be basically useless. Use someone else's account, but only when they aren't playing any game/ logged into steam? Where's the benefit over logging into someone else's account, downloading what you want then going offline (apart from the offline mode roulette, but even then nothing lost)? That's got far fewer restrictions. I find the linux thing particularly amusing- much as watching people who'll blithely rant about the sins of the grubby and benighted console peasant but beg for the ability, nay the privilege, of preordering a totally not console steambox- since Gabe is saying "closed platforms are bad" when he's running one himself. He's only bigging up linux because it lacks a central authority to gainsay him on that score; if he actually believed in open platforms he'd not be aggressively promoting his own, closed, one.

 

Meh, same arguments as always. May have to resurrect the steam sux/rox thread.

[Monte Carlo]

In other news, Blizzard have announced that they are shutting down the real-money *and* gold auction house in Diablo III. This will be March next year.

 

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/10974978/

 

Is this a brave, non-cynical move that acknowledges a mistake? Or something else?

 

Personally I like the new Loot 2.0 system that they've said will replace AH (or at least mitigate the need for it) so am not bothered by the removal.

[Morgoth]

Excellent move, Blizzard. This, in addition with Loot 2.0 and other amendments, might just revive the corpse that is Diablo III again out of it's shameful retirement.

[Morgoth]

But then again I was going to buy the expansion pack anyway because I'm a sucker.

[Monte Carlo]

^ It's a smack on the nose for Jay Wilson (bwahahahaha), but a quick look at community reaction shows that this is a largely positive development.

[Mamoulian War]

In other news, Blizzard have announced that they are shutting down the real-money *and* gold auction house in Diablo III. This will be March next year.

 

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/10974978/

 

Is this a brave, non-cynical move that acknowledges a mistake? Or something else?

 

Personally I like the new Loot 2.0 system that they've said will replace AH (or at least mitigate the need for it) so am not bothered by the removal.

 

Now if they remove with this move the Online only portion for Singleplayer as well, I might finally purchase the game and expansion as well...

[Blarghagh]

Wow, that's a surprise. And a positive development, it means the loot machine can be attuned to fun rather than profit again.

[entrerix]

Excellent move, Blizzard. This, in addition with Loot 2.0 and other amendments, might just revive the corpse that is Diablo III again out of it's shameful retirement.

 

my thoughts exactly.

[Hurlshort]

This might actually get me to play Diablo 3 again, I lost interest rather quickly and I think the loot was part of that.

[Morgoth]

Sega Sammy acquired Atlus.

 

http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20130918_index_e_final.pdf

[Orogun01]

Sega Sammy acquired Atlus.

 

http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20130918_index_e_final.pdf

Which means that in the coming years they will produce a cult classic with no patch support or sequel

[Mamoulian War]

And of course without localization to English

[Bester]

At some point I found myself wandering why the **** was I reading some contract in a pdf.

[BruceVC]

At some point I found myself wandering why the **** was I reading some contract in a pdf.

 

 

Then you realised there are better things to do with your time

Edited September 18, 2013 by BruceVC

[Mamoulian War]

Hmm I do not know if anyone here plays anything like this, but Card Hunter - interesting free to play browser game - just got  released few days ago...

 

http://www.cardhunter.com/game-info/

 

It is still few days pretty slow due to pretty hard traffic

 

 

Aren’t free to play games just designed to make you have to pay to win?

Some free to play games are designed that way, but our model is that we want to provide you a great free experience with the option of purchasing stuff if you like the game and want to enhance your experience. We are striving hard to make sure the game isn’t “pay to win”. With the exception of the Treasure Hunts and the costumes, you can access everything else in the game for free.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Mamoulian War

[Morgoth]

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sony-we-don-t-do-mid-sized-games-any-more/0121195

Sony: "We don't do mid-sized games any more"

 

Development has polarised now,” he says. “Our bigger teams are getting bigger and we are not doing many mid-sized games any more. So we are either working on larger projects, or very small ones – many of the latter. I think that trend will continue because people like the big budget, huge experiences. And I love them too. So maybe we may not be able to make more of these in terms of numbers but there is always a demand for the ‘wow factor’.

 

 

In other words, the games I'm most likely interested in won't fall into PS-exclusivity anymore. Thanks for clearing that up, Sony!

[Morgoth]

http://kotaku.com/yep-grand-theft-auto-v-is-making-a-load-of-money-1343137251

 

http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856046&highlight

 

$800 million in 24 hours.

 

Holy ****. Not even CoD or Avatar made that much in a single day.

[Monte Carlo]

I bet the development team and creatives still got paid zip.

[Gfted1]

Why would they? Are game revenues usually profit shared with programmers?

[BruceVC]

http://kotaku.com/yep-grand-theft-auto-v-is-making-a-load-of-money-1343137251

 

http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856046&highlight

 

$800 million in 24 hours.

 

Holy ****. Not even CoD or Avatar made that much in a single day.

 

Really good news, well done Rockstar !!!!

[Keyrock]

http://kotaku.com/yep-grand-theft-auto-v-is-making-a-load-of-money-1343137251

 

http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856046&highlight

 

$800 million in 24 hours.

 

Holy ****. Not even CoD or Avatar made that much in a single day.

This success will likely mean bloated AAA budgets will soar even higher, thus speeding up the impending AAA game model collapse.  I say let it collapse.

[Malcador]

This success will likely mean bloated AAA budgets will soar even higher, thus speeding up the impending AAA game model collapse.  I say let it collapse.

Well for games that make ridiculous money easily like this or COD or maybe BF, sure.

[BruceVC]

 

http://kotaku.com/yep-grand-theft-auto-v-is-making-a-load-of-money-1343137251

 

http://ir.take2games.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86428&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856046&highlight

 

$800 million in 24 hours.

 

Holy ****. Not even CoD or Avatar made that much in a single day.

This success will likely mean bloated AAA budgets will soar even higher, thus speeding up the impending AAA game model collapse.  I say let it collapse.

 

 

Geez Keyrock you don't seem your normal cheerful self, whats wrong? 

[Keyrock]

Nothing is wrong, typical day at work, plus having fun playing Card Hunter during break.

[alanschu]

Why would they? Are game revenues usually profit shared with programmers?

 

 

EA gives out bonuses that are affected by studio and project performance, coupled by employee performance.  My largest one came the year DA2 was released, a slightly smaller one last year (ME3's release), and a smaller one (though still decent and certainly appreciated) this year (no major revenue streams for BWE aside from some DLC and MP).

 

I'd be surprised if none of the success of GTA 5 didn't trickle back to the team in some capacity.