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On games in 2013.
12 years ago
I always assumed i would be old before I would say that games aren't what they used to be. Check out this gem; it has everything from copyright violations to $100 in app purchases, to monetised ammunition.
http://au.ign.com/videos/2013/04/24.....ket-free-games
The sad thing is I can't bring myself to say this is a terrible game. Sure, they have been... audacious with their character and pricing; but it's functional and not exactly whacked together. Don't get me wrong; this is nothing close to a good game. But there are plenty of worse games out there.
Tbh I think the games industry is lost. Not in terms of losing its soul or anything ethical; rather, it has no idea where things are heading, or how to make a dollar anymore. The traditional premium model; that which views games as a product; is failing. Games are released, rocket up the charts and then plummet a month later. Priced have not increased over the past 15-20 years, but game developer numbers and years have exploded. The real money is in digital distribution; which has been largely cornered by non developers, and non traditional publishers. Sure, games like skyrim can generate a billion dollars, but this is the exception, not the norm. It's getting harder and harder to turn a profit under this model, unless you are one of a handful of IP's.
The rise of mobile has blown the market up; both in terms of accessibility for consumers and developers, as well as innovating new minetisation features, which view games not as products, but as services. Under the old market, there were 200 million gamers. Now there are over a billion, but their expectations are different. They don't view games as an experience; rather a form of entertainment to play in bursts, where they put the phone down as quickly as they pick it up. They don't want high price point games; they want dollar apps, or even less.
This means that games themselves must adapt. A team of one to 10 people is all that is needed to meet this demand; but they must monetise the game in ways that aren't from the point of sale. This means that gameplay must be different; and in order for the games to stay up the top of the chart, they must be open ended. There can't be an ending to the game, which means thee can't be a story. Just a basic concept, with basic mechanics that can be picked up as easily as they are put down.Those that get it right will rake it in. Those that don't will fall by the wayside.
Companies like EA and Zynga have been slammed for trying to chase the Facebook social network side of gaming. Ea just let go of close to 10% of their workforce, and zynga's revenue just keeps on slipping. The app store is dominated by small indie developers which are making games that traditional gamers would consider shit.
But that's what the market is. THQ failed by sticking to the traditional buisiness side of things. We're it not for the exceptional (and legacy driven) success of wow, then activision wouldn't be doing so hot now either. This is a market and trend that cannot be avoided for any developer or publisher.
From here I see a lot of bloodshed in the industry; giants will fail, new companies will rise and fall in their place. And from the point of view of the traditional gamer, games will get worse. On the whole, anyway.
http://au.ign.com/videos/2013/04/24.....ket-free-games
The sad thing is I can't bring myself to say this is a terrible game. Sure, they have been... audacious with their character and pricing; but it's functional and not exactly whacked together. Don't get me wrong; this is nothing close to a good game. But there are plenty of worse games out there.
Tbh I think the games industry is lost. Not in terms of losing its soul or anything ethical; rather, it has no idea where things are heading, or how to make a dollar anymore. The traditional premium model; that which views games as a product; is failing. Games are released, rocket up the charts and then plummet a month later. Priced have not increased over the past 15-20 years, but game developer numbers and years have exploded. The real money is in digital distribution; which has been largely cornered by non developers, and non traditional publishers. Sure, games like skyrim can generate a billion dollars, but this is the exception, not the norm. It's getting harder and harder to turn a profit under this model, unless you are one of a handful of IP's.
The rise of mobile has blown the market up; both in terms of accessibility for consumers and developers, as well as innovating new minetisation features, which view games not as products, but as services. Under the old market, there were 200 million gamers. Now there are over a billion, but their expectations are different. They don't view games as an experience; rather a form of entertainment to play in bursts, where they put the phone down as quickly as they pick it up. They don't want high price point games; they want dollar apps, or even less.
This means that games themselves must adapt. A team of one to 10 people is all that is needed to meet this demand; but they must monetise the game in ways that aren't from the point of sale. This means that gameplay must be different; and in order for the games to stay up the top of the chart, they must be open ended. There can't be an ending to the game, which means thee can't be a story. Just a basic concept, with basic mechanics that can be picked up as easily as they are put down.Those that get it right will rake it in. Those that don't will fall by the wayside.
Companies like EA and Zynga have been slammed for trying to chase the Facebook social network side of gaming. Ea just let go of close to 10% of their workforce, and zynga's revenue just keeps on slipping. The app store is dominated by small indie developers which are making games that traditional gamers would consider shit.
But that's what the market is. THQ failed by sticking to the traditional buisiness side of things. We're it not for the exceptional (and legacy driven) success of wow, then activision wouldn't be doing so hot now either. This is a market and trend that cannot be avoided for any developer or publisher.
From here I see a lot of bloodshed in the industry; giants will fail, new companies will rise and fall in their place. And from the point of view of the traditional gamer, games will get worse. On the whole, anyway.
Out of interest though, what kind of games do you like that the critics hated?
Unlimited Saga
Legend of Mana
Fate/Extra
Ok perhaps there aren't that many, but I always just look on myself with hate, so just a few titles and I come to the conclusion that I really don't have any taste in things.