The game industry is doing “okay” in this bad economic time compared to other industries. Primarily, Nintendo is rocking the house with their games, hand-held’s and consoles while mobile developers are showing some great successes in the industry. Many success stories in our industry are based on small titles, downloadable games of the more “casual” style while a few larger titles are experiencing slower than expected sales trends.
We’ve mentioned this in the past, but the tough economy gives many smaller developers great opportunities for success. While big publishers struggle to look good in the eyes of the investor, tiny developers can produce quality titles for minimal cash investment and time to market. Ten years ago, smaller developers tried to compete with the big boys making larger titles, cloning successful titles or simply asking investors to put it on the line for their game. Today, developers can create a small iphone app, a cute WiiWare title or exploit the XNA efforts of Microsoft for Xbox Live Arcade and actually have a chance.
There are still challenges with these smaller developers when working in the WiiWare and XBLA publishing channels, your game marketing and promotion becomes highly reliant on Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony for PSN. Tom Prata, senior director of Nintendo of America talked to Gamespot about this issue:
“Finally, there’s the problem of promotion. It’s not enough to make a great game if nobody notices it. Prata specifically said Nintendo will be devoting more resources to support the promotion and development of WiiWare games in the future.” (gamespot)
Of course, in the world of smaller game titles and downloadable casual games, you’re going to be at risk of finding a lot of “shovelware” — products that are only released to make a quick dime, often based on some license or popular theme/character. The great game titles will, hopefully, rise to the top and show themselves off amongst all the wanna-be money makers.
Those smaller developers putting a huge passion into their titles actually have a chance in this new industry trend. Game makers, internationally, now have a chance to grasp a small piece of the industry and make their dreams come true. The core audience may see this as a trend of noisly low quality titles, but I believe the industry needs this change to grow a new generation of developers based on niche interests.
While many can wait for their next release of Madden the rest of us will continue to spend a little money to see what the future innovators are going to be bringing to the table.
@Call of Duty: Elite for Black Ops 2 will be free
What does that service bring anyway? Seriously, besides bragging rights? I get it when you get DLC for free or at a discount, due to being a member but still, the service itself … 😐
Then again, I’m the guy that is not sure whether to play or not free-mium games, so …
@Metro: Last Light dumping multiplayer
That’s not actually a bad thing. The strong point of the first Metro 2033 was the story, so I don’t see this as a disappointment. So sure, focus on what you do best. STALKER has multiplayer, but I never bothered with it.
To follow the off-topic, if a game has Co-Op and other MP modes, I would usually focus on Co-Op. And I’m not the only one: if you look at the server browser for the first Serious Sam games (First Encounter and Second Encounter) most servers with people in it are Co-Op. That’s gotta say something.
@Microsoft banning PEGI 18 apps from Windows 8 Store
Well, what can I say, they own the store so they can rule it as they want.
CroTeam’s pink scorpion: I like that sort of copy protection! Devs should do that more.
QOTW: I remember now! “Zombie Nation”.
The game has no zombies in it. You are a flying giant head, spitting … spit and eyeballs at your enemies. I liked the game, but the title … it just sets your expectations in the wrong direction.
*DING* You’ve got hate mail!
Dear Paul,
Stop asking for hate mail and then inflating your ego after Jonah tells you that the fans love you. Stop saying ‘I blame the parents’ when it doesn’t even fit the context. Don’t hate or love someone just because they like to play a certain game, it shows how biased you are. Finally, something for Jonah as well, stop interrupting somebody when you don’t agree with their point/opinion.
*DING*
In all seriousness, I didn’t have anything of value to comment this week.
@attempting hate mail
Dear Paul
You are annoying. I hope that when you are driving a car, you will crash into a schoolbus full of children and you will survive and they will all die in a horrible fire and that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
\hate mail
@Elite and Premium
Is it me or is COD trying to copy Battlefield because it’s subscription was more successful? I play Battlefield but never bought premium. That’s because I received one of it’s DLC as a pre-order bonus. That reduced the value of the package for me. Talk about catering for long time supporters.
@Kickstarter UK
I agree with Jordan. Never even knew it wasn’t available outside of US. In many ways it’s a good thing, because the UK government strangles all local creativity. They tax creators so much, that a large percentage of local stuff (like cartoons) are made abroad. Maybe removing the publisher will allow game developers to operate more easily.
@A single-player Metro
I hate it when they tack on multiplayer in otherwise good single-player games. Darkness is a great example. It’s usually bad unless they invest a lot of effort into it. Which takes manpower, time and money. Which makes single player worse off. They either have to balance well or concentrate on just one.
@Why do we even care. 99% of content on Windows 8 will be pirated anyway. I don’t think anyone will even know there is a store.
Microsoft should just integrate Piratebay into their core system. That and Steam.
@QOTW
Wish Metal Gear Solid: Revengance was already out. My spellcheck crashes every time I type that word. From the games I know, “Big Mutha Truckers: Truck Me Harder” comes to mind.
@Obsidian Project Eternity game:
Well Project Eternity has gotten over 4M and completed it’s Kickstarting funding. I am excited for this game, a call back to Isometric RPG games which I haven’t seen in a long time. I hope this not only helps Kickstarter become a more reputable option but also show that games other then FPS can not only make a profit but deserved to be made.
I really like one of the companions you’ll be getting a Cipher (Psychic) Detective, which seems very outside the norm of Wizard/Fighter/Thief/Cleric type classes.
Love the show keep up the good work guys.
@Metro: Last Light dumping multiplayer:
i hope they launch it as a free DLC if everything else fails on MP in “launchday”
@Microsoft banning PEGI 18 apps from Windows 8 Store:
if they dont like money, i can take some off their hands! and with the podcast kickstarter up and running, i know my 1st spending of this fictional huge sum of money i’ll soon have :3
no, but seriously, i can give this as a real ansewr to this issue: “they should not forbid steaks for everyone just because a baby can’t chew it” – mark twain
@QOTW:
Space Pirates and Zombies. i know, it is a good game and the name matches the gameplay, but it is still an awesome and weird name!
as of the time i am writing this feedback, it is monday and i was at college a few moments ago. i could not be drunk, but when i’m inhibriated by alcoholic beverages, i’ll give you guys a heads up
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/417021624/td-gaming-podcast