RANDOM VIDEO GAME NEWS

[HoonDing]

Video Game Industry crash everybody. 

[Oerwinde]

Video Game companies need to start divwrsifying like the movie industry. Do a bunch of lower budget games that are easier to make a profit off of so the big AAA games don't bankrupt the company if they fail.

[Orogun01]

Video Game companies need to start divwrsifying like the movie industry. Do a bunch of lower budget games that are easier to make a profit off of so the big AAA games don't bankrupt the company if they fail.

There has to be market for the low budget games; just like there is for the movies. It is hard to turn a profit on smaller games because games rely almost solely on sales revenue.

[Ganrich]

Orogun, I agree. That said, I think some genres have a market. Castlevania games, in there old Metroidvania style, have a market. Guacamelee and Dust: An Elysian Tail are evidence of it. It doesn't have to be a hundred million dollar game, but they have a franchise the has recognition, and so they choose to shoehorn it into 3D. I refused to buy the 3D Castelvania games until Lords of Shadow, and I rented that first. Mario in 2 D still sells. Megaman, 2D Metroid, etc would sell. They don't need AAA budgets, and when their AAA incarnations fail they just cease to be made (Megaman). Instead they could do smaller Castelvania games on smaller budgets while working on the bigger budget game.

 

I think the wise thing would be to use some of those old franchises to keep steady profit rolling in from more smaller budget games. That isn't to say that I don't think AAA versions of these titles should stop, but one should not override the other. Even though I think over saturation could be a fear with this system.

 

Another issue is exclusivity. All games should be available on PC, On all 3 consoles, and capable handhelds when they are made by a 3Rd party. I understand we will never have Mario on PC, or Halo on Nintendo. However, it does nothing but hurt the industry when 3rd party titles aren't available everywhere possible. AAA developers need to realize that they hold the power... Not Nintendo, not Microsoft, and not Sony. If they said they (EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Deep Silver, Take-Two, Konami, Capcom, Square-Enix, Namco, etc) required the systems to be compliant with a universal standard like OpenGL in order for them to support the system, so they could hit every market possible, then the Console makers would have to concede or there system would have little to no games and would flop. This is another issue entirely though, and it is an entirely different conversation.

 

Also, @Alanschu, you are right. I should have worded things better. I was typing on my phone while at work and rushed a bit. However, Tomb Raider was likely profitable just not as profitable as desired.

[alanschu]

I think the wise thing would be to use some of those old franchises to keep steady profit rolling in from more smaller budget games. That isn't to say that I don't think AAA versions of these titles should stop, but one should not override the other. Even though I think over saturation could be a fear with this system.

Like Call of Duty?

 

It's important to note that you can also run into issues of the game designers themselves wanting to do different things, and I definitely agree that oversaturation is a huge issue and not just from a consumer standpoint. While I have only ever worked on the Dragon Age franchise, it hasn't gotten stale since each iteration has had different approaches and challenges. I'd consider it bad for gaming if BioWare had just stuck with the Infinity Engine and done nothing but make those isometric games because nothing new would be attempted.

 

 

One of my favourite juxtapositions is Tim Schafer fans. Tim has made a career out of giving gamers something new and unique with so many of his games. When his kickstarter was active, the loudest and most frequent request types were "make a sequel to a game you made before that I really like!"

 

Now, I take this as a degree of "give me something that will make me feel the way that that game did." Though I think people overlook that the novelty was a contributor. I stopped with Megaman games with Megaman 3 because while they were fun, I was less interested in playing them further. (Ironically, I'd probably be much more open to them now, since I haven't played a game like that in a long time and have fond memories). I always point out to Psychonauts fans: "Imagine if Tim simply made a game that was a sequel to one of his earlier successes, instead of Psychonauts?"

 

What if Super Mario Bros didn't deviate and remained like the original Mario Bros game? Megaman didn't always exist, earlier stuff was created and instead of just making games along established titles at the time, they tried something new. Mario in 2D may still sell, but they also aren't simply keeping the Mario gravy train rolling with minimal changes for consistent releases to saturate both creativity and the market. Because those people took those risks and tried something new, they got huge rewards for doing so.

 

 

Another issue is exclusivity. All games should be available on PC, On all 3 consoles, and capable handhelds when they are made by a 3Rd party.

Exclusivity isn't always done because of one of the first party manufacturers paying for it though. Unless you are making all the same machine (at which point, you no longer have competing consoles so it's just a different landscape than it is today). What you've done is mandate that things have a significantly higher fixed cost. Yes, you try to temper that cost through the use of more open standards like OpenGL, but unless the system is identical (i.e. there aren't 3 different consoles) it isn't going to be simply "well press the check box to compile for the other platform."

 

I don't think that there's any advantage to making us have to make Dragon Age for the Vita, PSP, or Wii/Wii-U. But it will be a hell of a lot of work for not very much reward.

 

 

AAA developers need to realize that they hold the power... Not Nintendo, not Microsoft, and not Sony. If they said they (EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Deep Silver, Take-Two, Konami, Capcom, Square-Enix, Namco, etc) required the systems to be compliant with a universal standard like OpenGL in order for them to support the system, so they could hit every market possible, then the Console makers would have to concede or there system would have little to no games and would flop. This is another issue entirely though, and it is an entirely different conversation.

Neither side holds all the cards. It's a symbiotic relationship. Nintendo compromised their position with the N64 by being a cartridge. Some developers still made games for it, but ultimately it was a barrier to making those games. BioWare doesn't really make games for the Wii, because it's not really worth the time investment.

 

In reality, it's the install base that drives it. The primary reason the Wii isn't seen as viable for us is that it's demographic doesn't support us investing in the console. With enough critical mass, we can make our games for PS3/360 (and XB1/PS4) because of that market, people will pick up the games. Now, if a console developer doesn't have the install base, we could skip it but there's still a game of chicken. A game like GoldenEye may do better simply because gamers for the system are starved for games.

 

 

This doesn't even factor in things like brand loyalty which will keep some consoles around on that alone.

[Orogun01]

Orogun, I agree. That said, I think some genres have a market. Castlevania games, in there old Metroidvania style, have a market. Guacamelee and Dust: An Elysian Tail are evidence of it. It doesn't have to be a hundred million dollar game, but they have a franchise the has recognition, and so they choose to shoehorn it into 3D. I refused to buy the 3D Castelvania games until Lords of Shadow, and I rented that first. Mario in 2 D still sells. Megaman, 2D Metroid, etc would sell. They don't need AAA budgets, and when their AAA incarnations fail they just cease to be made (Megaman). Instead they could do smaller Castelvania games on smaller budgets while working on the bigger budget game.

 

I think the wise thing would be to use some of those old franchises to keep steady profit rolling in from more smaller budget games. That isn't to say that I don't think AAA versions of these titles should stop, but one should not override the other. Even though I think over saturation could be a fear with this system.

 

Another issue is exclusivity. All games should be available on PC, On all 3 consoles, and capable handhelds when they are made by a 3Rd party. I understand we will never have Mario on PC, or Halo on Nintendo. However, it does nothing but hurt the industry when 3rd party titles aren't available everywhere possible. AAA developers need to realize that they hold the power... Not Nintendo, not Microsoft, and not Sony. If they said they (EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Deep Silver, Take-Two, Konami, Capcom, Square-Enix, Namco, etc) required the systems to be compliant with a universal standard like OpenGL in order for them to support the system, so they could hit every market possible, then the Console makers would have to concede or there system would have little to no games and would flop. This is another issue entirely though, and it is an entirely different conversation.

 

Also, @Alanschu, you are right. I should have worded things better. I was typing on my phone while at work and rushed a bit. However, Tomb Raider was likely profitable just not as profitable as desired.

Just one thing; developers don't hold the power. This industry is saturated with people, some of which are insanely talented and some that are not who love the medium and desperately want to work on games as a career. Publisher hold the capital and so they know that without them the game never gets made, workers they can find everywhere.

Kickstarter has upset that balance a bit but it is a method based on public trust and I don't believe it to be reliable.

I agree with everything else.

[alanschu]

Cheap plug for a guy that I respect who has been working on a survival game of his own after leaving BioWare to try his hand at indie stuff:

 

 

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/17/impressions-neo-scavenger/

 

 

 

EDIT: You can actually play a demo via web browser from here: http://bluebottlegames.com/main/node/21

Edited February 21, 2014 by alanschu

[IndiraLightfoot]

My key for Thief arrived early from Greenman Gaming, a few hours ago, and it turned out that the game was available for preloading. Problem is, it's still going on, so it's probably a pretty big game. I always find game keys sent out much earlier than expected and the option of preload a joyful experience, worthy of a small celebration, even.

[Monte Carlo]

Cheap plug for a guy that I respect who has been working on a survival game of his own after leaving BioWare to try his hand at indie stuff:

 

 

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/01/17/impressions-neo-scavenger/

 

 

 

EDIT: You can actually play a demo via web browser from here: http://bluebottlegames.com/main/node/21

 

It's good fun. Just tried it out.

[Labadal]

Risen 3 was announced. Hope I like it as much as the first game.

[Keyrock]

Risen 3 was announced. Hope I like it as much as the first game.

Source?

[Malcador]

 

Risen 3 was announced. Hope I like it as much as the first game.

Source?

 

 

http://forum.worldofplayers.de/forum/threads/1333416-NEWS-Next-PB-project-revealed-Risen-3-Titan-Lords?p=22441373#post22441373

 

http://www.pcgames.de/PC-Games-Brands-19921/News/PC-Games-3-14-mit-Exklusiv-Titelstory-Risen-3-Titan-Lords-Vollversion-Assassins-Creed-1110559/

 

Both same source.  Though I cannot speak German for the latter.

[Keyrock]

Gotta love Google Translate:

 

 

Risen 3 is coming - and in PC Games 3/14, there's the first information and screenshots. We visited Piranha Bytes exclusive and reveal what Risen 2 against everything changes

 

 

I'm hoping they stick with the pirate motif, but if this picture is anything to go by, then it looks like we may be going back to a more medieval-ish theme

 

Edited February 21, 2014 by Keyrock

[sorophx]

I keep forgetting to post this here:

 

Bohemia Interactive will be releasing a free DLC for Arma 3 called Zeus. and it's basically an online Game Master module for the game. one of the players takes the role of Zeus and is able to spawn everything everywhere for his players. I figured it's close enough to RPG news 

 

here's the dev livestream showcasing the mode (FFW to 6th minute):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tQPRwQtIek

 

it's already available with the dev branch of the game, btw. go get it and start your modern warfare RP sessions 

[Labadal]

Gotta love Google Translate:

 

 

Risen 3 is coming - and in PC Games 3/14, there's the first information and screenshots. We visited Piranha Bytes exclusive and reveal what Risen 2 against everything changes

 

 

I'm hoping they stick with the pirate motif, but if this picture is anything to go by, then it looks like we may be going back to a more medieval-ish theme

 

I didn't mind the pirate theme. What I didn't like were the smallish islands and that meant less fun exploration.

[Keyrock]

 

Gotta love Google Translate:

 

 

Risen 3 is coming - and in PC Games 3/14, there's the first information and screenshots. We visited Piranha Bytes exclusive and reveal what Risen 2 against everything changes

 

 

I'm hoping they stick with the pirate motif, but if this picture is anything to go by, then it looks like we may be going back to a more medieval-ish theme

 

I didn't mind the pirate theme. What I didn't like were the smallish islands and that meant less fun exploration.

 

Agreed, one or two much larger islands would have been much better.  With that said, Piranha Bytes managed to cram an amazingly high amount of stuff to find and do into each of those little islands.

[Malcador]

That Zeus tool looks fun, kind wanted to see that in Arma since I saw it in VBS2 way back when

 

Also apparently some Thiaf is terrible from internet scuttlebutt, apparently some gameplay was leaked.  The ending was on Youtube too, Garret fighting some psychic woman.

[Malcador]

http://www.onlysp.com/all-new-details-on-ground-branch-the-upcoming-unreal-engine-4-tactical-fps-exclusive-interview/

 

Some details on Ground Branch, a "tactical FPS" they say.  Hm.

[sorophx]

I've know about Ground Branch for almost two years, and it's still nowhere near being finished...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrV0VAttQ70

[Malcador]

I thought it was dead, actually, but still dragging along.  Here's to it not being crap like Takedown Red Sabre.

[sorophx]

Arma 3, Project Reality and Insurgency pretty much cover all my tactical FPS needs (large scale, medium scale and small scale battles), so I don't even know if I can bare another one of these if it's not trying to revolutionize the genre. really just waiting for Project Reality 2 (on CryEngine 3)

[Lexx]

I seriously want a new SWAT game... with all the fancy stuff from the old SWAT games + finally some ballistic shields and police dogs, bomb sniffing and what not. Damn, why is it so hard for people to make a new game of this kind.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Lexx

[Labadal]

Shadowrun Returns: Dragonfall keys are being sent out. Got mine 5 minutes ago.

[Humanoid]

They're also offering GOG or Humble copies on top of the Steam codes, which is even better - despite the recent regional pricing shenanigans of both companies.

 

Thing is, had they asked yesterday I would have requested GOG, but now both are the same in terms of that policy, so it's six of one and half a dozen of the other in that regard.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Humanoid

[Orogun01]

I seriously want a new SWAT game... with all the fancy stuff from the old SWAT games + finally some ballistic shields and police dogs, bomb sniffing and what not. Damn, why is it so hard for people to make a new game of this kind.

Cuz it ain't COD

Edited February 22, 2014 by Orogun01