Rob Fahey writes a column at gameindustry.biz about the Game Industry being mean to customers with the removing of pre-owned and sharing that doesn’t solve the AAA business model problems. In the comments section, the lead designer of Avalanche and the Editor in chief of the website go back and forth.
The editor in chief says…
The only real area where there’s been innovation has been in this, the ways to take things away from consumers. Talk about the advantages to you, personally, all you want, as you have done, but the numbers industry-wide are down, and have not improved since the implementation of DRM, online passes and the like. What else has there been? The freemium model makes for almost inarguably inferior games, as well as a sketchy business model in most applications, as developer after developer has complained that they do not like having to put cost efficiency into their design process. The only people who speak highly about freemium are beancounters. Even some of the things that can be done with Kinect come with *HUMONGOUS* strings, if you’re at all familiar with their terms of service.
The last time I went to Game Industry . Biz, I recall them (or quoting people) lionizing the freemium model and how wonderful Kinect is. The editor-in-chief (and even Fahey) are on my wave thought now which I find surprising and disturbing. I worry when I see my sentiments shared with people in the Game Industry. It makes me think I’m not being cutting edge enough!
Freemium models also bring out the worst type of customers: those who want something for nothing. You want quality customers. This is why you don’t give away the product for free.
On this site, no one really seems to talk about what games they like. The most prolific commenters have been people – and sadly, you enter into this group, Andreas – who have a horse in the race and a bone to pick. I hate to paint you with this brush, but it’s people like Bruce scream about the death of AAA and console gaming because he has a financial stake in its death. There’s so much money at stake in this industry now that it’s all anyone can look at; the games themselves that brought us here have become secondary.
He is so exactly right. The Game Industry operates by ‘Industry FIRST, gaming SECOND’ mentality. The importance of business (in anything) is so you can continue to do what you love. If people actually loved gaming, they wouldn’t have gone this far on the AAA model. I find this distinction very critical when you compare the typical Game Industry to someone like Nintendo. Nintendo cares about business too. But their business sense brought them to the Wii. Nintendo’s love of games guides their business-sense.
I don’t sense any love of games from the Game Industry. The only thing the Game Industry loves is the industry. In any interview, the Game Industry keeps talking industry. The only talk about games is how it affects the industry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone in the Game Industry talk about games without bringing in the industry.
I’ve often remarked that the Game Industry doesn’t refer to any games pre-PlayStation. I suppose the 8-bit, 16-bit and arcades were the Land Before Time in the Game Industry Universe.
It’s amazing how much the language has shifted since the Xbox One reveal. Everywhere I read, a gaming message forum, Rob Fahey’s column, anywhere, it’s like I’m reading myself. Everyone is shaking a fist at “The Game Industry”, attacking Microsoft (and in some cases, Sony), talking about the upcoming crash, and worry about what is happening to gaming. If this continues, I’m going to have to find something else to talk about. (For example, I could talk Blue Ocean and disruption until everyone was doing it, and then I had to talk about something else.)
I can’t believe it. I think after E3 and the launches, the hardcore are enthusiastically going to be riding dirty on the Xbone. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone forgets all this and things become status quo after E3.
But the editor is right. The Game Industry never talks about games they like to play. I thought they don’t want to give PR to their competitors, but they won’t even talk about ancient games.
I will do what you guys won’t. I will proudly stand up and say, “I love playing Yar’s Revenge!”
It’s still more fun than most games out today. And I think in their hearts, the people in the Game Industry know this.