CliffyB said AAA games are "nearly unsustainable" and advocated AA games instead. He also noted that VR games still have a long way to go, being stuck in an "80s" kind of wave-based shooter design trend.
The developer of Garry's Mod has announced it is in the process of removing all Nintendo-related content from Steam Workshop after receiving a takedown request from Nintendo.
Remedy has made a couple of changes to its core management team with the goal to grow Alan Wake and Control into larger franchises.
Changes like not being anti consumer? putting out Alan Wake Remastered on disc but not the sequel?
CGM Writes: While we were over at PAX East, we were able to sit down with Goichi Suda (Suda51) and talk about the upcoming remaster of Shadows of the Damned
No one cares about what you say, Cliff
I agree with his comments on both subjects, especially AAA being unsustainable when one poor performing game that takes three years to make can wipe out a studio.
It's going to be even weirder where AAA gaming will be in 10 years. Definitely agree with Cliffy on both statements.
AAA gaming has just gotten way too expensive, especially in the marketing department. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Destiny's marketing budget higher than the actual development? A game like that could have just sold on "Creators of Halo with the publisher behind CoD" with no need for fancy live-action shorts with Led Zepplin that have nothing to do with the game.
VR I agree is in it's "80s period" since it's still in it's infancy and has quite a ways to go before it gets flooded into the mainstream. I doubt it will ever replace traditional gaming though, even in 20 years. Just way too many things going on versus just a controller and a tv. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, I don't know.
Hes absolutely right. Its exactly why I havent bought into VR yet. We have no games, just technology demos. Until developers learn to make true full games, like Fallout 4, using it... its going to remain in its infantile state. As far as AAA, spot on. AAA is stuck in a holding patern and has been for 10+ years. Games following a paint-by-numbers pattern of popularity. Whats hot, what is selling, whats not... which is probably the first questions any AAA developer asks at any brainstorming session for their next project.
The only innovation weve seen in the past 10+ years, has come from Indie developers. Because they want to make games that they would enjoy playing, instead of those specifically made to generate profit for investors. Not saying that all AAA developers are the same, because I know all want to make the best games they can... but they are limited by the corporations and investors they work for and dont have the freedom or time to innovate the way Im sure most of their employees would love to.
Gaming is in an odd period, altogether. Its almost as if many gamers are tired of, what has become, AAA experiences and are reverting back to gamings youth. When it was just a few buttons and a world full of imagination. Maybe tired of how complex modern gaming has become. Regardless of reason, its obvious that something has to change. The games we play truly havent changed in 20 years. Halo then, is still COD now. I thought Red Faction: Guerilla would hopefully usher in a generation of physics enhanced games, where we could use every object in the game world against the enemies standing near them. Yet, it seems that game was a one trick pony for the industry and we havent seen any game that used physics as a gameplay feature, since.
All that has changed is the graphics and the sizes of the worlds we are playing in. Almost like developers forgot how physics could make the games we play, that much better, by using everything in the environment as a tool. Instead of shooting enemies in the face, shoot the statue that falls into a vehicle carrying gas tanks, that explodes and sends shrapnel flying into the enemy. Imstead of trying to find a way around the broken bridge, shoot down a tree to span the void. It gives gamers a million ways to complete the tasks ahead of them. A way to be creative themselves, within the confines of a games mission structure.
I think gamers and developers have spent too much time thinking about resolution, and much less thinking about the way we play. Which is why I think many gamers are reverting back to gamings beginning and playing Indie titles that mirror those many played in the 80s. They are easy to get into, fun to play, yet difficult to master. Providing a challenge, without complication of controls getting in the way. Just pick up and play.
I agree with his comments regarding VR. There still hasn't been a killer app yet and I'm not sure when we will receive it.