RPGDot Network    
   

 
 
Age of Mourning
Display full image
Pic of the moment
More
pics from the gallery
 
 
Site Navigation

Main
   News
   Forums

Games
   Games Database
   Top 100
   Release List
   Support Files

Features
   Reviews
   Previews
   Interviews
   Editorials
   Diaries
   Misc

Download
   Gallery
   Music
   Screenshots
   Videos

Miscellaneous
   Staff Members
   Privacy Statement

FAQ
Members
Usergroups
Why PC Games are in Trouble
  View previous topic :: View next topic
RPGDot Forums > News Comments

Author Thread
corwin
On the Razorblade of Life
On the Razorblade of Life




Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 8376
Location: Australia
Why PC Games are in Trouble
   

Over in the Dreamcatcher Dungeon Lords Forums, I came across this fascinating post by a former game developer. It's well worth reading, if only to appreciate how difficult game development is in the current economic reality. Here's the introduction.<BR>
<BR>
<!--StartFragment -->
<BLOCKQUOTE><i>I wanted to take a moment and talk about this movement on the forum that seems to largely consist of the end-user and customer sense of entitlement for those who bought Dungeon Lords. Please read on and see my 10 points below.<BR><BR>You don't know me but I used to make video games. Now I manage a large non-profit company in the healthcare industry here in North America. Why? I earn more money per year than I would earn in a decade making computer games and I actually have a great deal more time to play them.<BR></i></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
You'll find it all on this <A href="http://dreamcatcherinteractive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21644" target=_blank>page</A>.
Post Thu May 12, 2005 3:21 pm
 View user's profile
yeesh
Keeper of the Gates
Keeper of the Gates




Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 113
Location: Unofficially representing Queens
   

What a depressing read. I admit that for me the most surprising notion is that many game developers love games so much that they're willing to give up playing them to make them. That's the ultimate sacrifice right there.

It seems absurd to me that improving technology makes it HARDER to develop games instead of easier. I wonder if there's any way to fix that.
Post Thu May 12, 2005 3:39 pm
 View user's profile
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

I am so sick of people proclaiming the death of PC gaming. They've been doing it for years and it hasn't happened yet. PC gaming isn't dying, it's evolving.
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*
Post Thu May 12, 2005 7:12 pm
 View user's profile
Guest







   

That article was written by an arrogant and misguided person. What arrogance to suggest that consumers are to blame for wanting to spend their money on quality product. Only creative people think the world owes them all a favor in order to fulfill their dreams.

I own my own business and no one is going out of their way to buy my products or pay more for them. They want the quality for a low price. That's the nature of business. Only someone who couldn't handle this reality would make the kind of self-centered and misguided post as that ignorant former developer.
Post Thu May 12, 2005 7:23 pm
 
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

While I agree with your post in principle, I think your tone isn't that different than the fellow you're talking about. I also think the following quote:

quote:
Only creative people think the world owes them all a favor in order to fulfill their dreams.


...is perhaps a bit too broad and slightly off mark. Only lazy people feel that way, I'd posit. I know plenty of lazy non-creative people who feel the world owes them something and plenty of hard working creative people who expect honest recompense for their hard work.

The current game publishing market is focused on profit and profit alone. I know that's frustrating for a lot of developers to accept. The point is, we're being presented with more and more options every day. Options we can take advantage of to bypass the "evil" publishers.

Hm. I think I'll write a point by point rebuttal to that guys post and toss a link here when I'm done.
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*


Last edited by PraetorJudis on Thu May 12, 2005 11:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
Post Thu May 12, 2005 8:08 pm
 View user's profile
tolgerias
High Emperor
High Emperor




Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 770
Location: The Netherlands
   

quote:
Originally posted by PraetorJudis
Hm. I think I'll write a point by point rebuttal to that guys post and toss a link here when I'm done.


Would be fun to read, this guy is just to pessimistic about things!
_________________
If you can't debate without namecalling then don't bother visiting us. -Myrthos
Post Thu May 12, 2005 8:55 pm
 View user's profile
Amelia
City Guard
City Guard




Joined: 18 Jun 2004
Posts: 141
Location: Ong's Hat, New Jersey
   

I don't know. There are some real problems coming to light that the industry needs to take care of. For instance, the current distribution system inplace for games is broke out. Millions of dollars and thousands of hours are poured into games to be put on the shelves for several weeks and then, *poof*, they're gone to the back shelves or off the shelves completely. Two years of work and somehow now we have places like WalMart practically making decisions for publishers. They don't have a long timescale for peak sales so now every game has to be a 'blockbuster'. This stifles creativity as publishers aren't as willing to take risks on a game.

I don't think this spells death for gaming of any type but there are some issues that need to be confronted.
_________________
The real secret of magick is that the world is made of words. And that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish. -Terence Mckenna
Post Fri May 13, 2005 4:02 am
 View user's profile
Guest







   

PraetorJudis-

I agree with everything you said about my post above. Chalk it up to lack of sleep due to a two week old baby.

I also agree that "lazy" people is the correct term for those with a sense of entitlement towards the world. However, it does seem to be people in the arts (where I used to work and which I still love) that not only are people lazy, they become incensed that the world is not madly interested in whatever venture they have going next.

On a gaming note, I think you can look at the developers that set themselves up to not release games until they are done. Those tend to be the developers that are successful, and can after a period of time, define their own destinies. Blizzard is the master of its own destiny. Bioware is getting there. Spiderweb Software is there.

This guys post basically admitted that he set up his company to capitalize on the blockbuster title because he decided that making a lot of money was more important than making the best games he could. He may have felt trapped by the system, but there are more than enough examples of people being successful and having integrity.

He is, in laymans terms, a tool.
Post Fri May 13, 2005 7:48 am
 
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

quote:
There are some real problems coming to light that the industry needs to take care of


Amelia, I absolutely do not argue that the industry is broken. I also feel that "change is a-comin". Steam, Garage Games, Popcap, Three Rings, Spiderweb, all indicators that alternate routes are very possible.

quote:
He is, in laymans terms, a tool.


I absolutely concur. The problem seems to be that people are getting into games because it "represents big money." Then, when they find out that the big money is in publishing, not developing, they act like they were betrayed. I tell people that I'm designing a game and their first reaction invariably is, "Oh! There's a lot of money in that right now!" I typically stare at them blankly and say something along the lines of, "I just have these stories in my head that I need to get out."

If you make money your master, you don't have a right to scream when money makes you its b****.
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*
Post Fri May 13, 2005 8:19 am
 View user's profile
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

As promised, here's my response. I'm afraid I get a little heated.
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*
Post Fri May 13, 2005 11:55 am
 View user's profile
TheMadGamer
High Emperor
High Emperor




Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 487
Location: Southern California
Heh
   

While I'm always the first one to point out the stupidity when so called reviewers proclaim 'the death of PC gaming' I found this guy's post very insightful.

Clearly, he has a lot of experience with the financial forces within the PC gaming industry.

That he has a slightly pompous tone to his post shouldn't necessarily derail some of the excellent points he made.
_________________
The Poster Previously Known As NeptiOfPovar
Post Fri May 13, 2005 3:16 pm
 View user's profile
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

His points were valid in the context of the problems that face developers who wish to break the mold. His points were completely invalid in the context of supporting his argument. Not to mention that some of his "facts" were flat out wrong. For every point he brought up, there are counter examples that refute or disprove his claim. Add to the fact that his overarching point seemed to be that consumers of games have no right to complain about them, his post is pretty intolerable.

I feel that I gave him credit for the good points in my response, even when I was busy bashing the context.
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*
Post Fri May 13, 2005 3:24 pm
 View user's profile
tolgerias
High Emperor
High Emperor




Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 770
Location: The Netherlands
   

Good job on your article, praetor!
_________________
If you can't debate without namecalling then don't bother visiting us. -Myrthos
Post Fri May 13, 2005 5:58 pm
 View user's profile
PraetorJudis
Village Leader
Village Leader




Joined: 05 Sep 2001
Posts: 78
Location: MotherShip 2c457z
   

Thanks tolgerias!
_________________
*gniltrohc yawa srednaw*
Post Fri May 13, 2005 7:36 pm
 View user's profile
Raldor
Keeper of the Gates
Keeper of the Gates




Joined: 27 Sep 2001
Posts: 107
   

quote:
Originally posted by PraetorJudis
I'm afraid I get a little heated.


He deserves even more heat imo, but your tone drove the point home better than I would. Great response.

edit: and thanks for lots of interesting links to look at. I hadn't heard of most of these yet
Post Sat May 14, 2005 7:38 am
 View user's profile


Goto page 1, 2  Next
All times are GMT.
The time now is Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:34 am



Powered by phpBB © 2001 phpBB Group
 
 
 
All original content of this site is copyrighted by RPGWatch. Copying or reproducing of any part of this site is strictly prohibited. Taking anything from this site without authorisation will be considered stealing and we'll be forced to visit you and jump on your legs until you give it back.