Tag: Game Developers

Bobby Kotick Strikes Back…Against Double Fine Tim Schafer

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has taken a beating from the enthusiast press, gamers, and several high-profile developers. Last July, Double Fine founder Tim Schafer had some colorful words for the man, calling him a “total prick” and a “dick”. Now it’s Kotick’s turn to strike back! In a recent interview with Edge magazine, Kotick said:

Tim Schafer. The guy comes out and says I’m a prick. I’ve never met him in my life — I’ve never had anything to do with him. I never had any involvement in the Vivendi project that they were doing, Brutal Legend, other than I was in one meeting where the guys looked at it and said, ‘He’s late, he’s missed every milestone, he’s overspent the budget and it doesn’t seem like a good game. We’re going to cancel it.’

And do you know what? That seemed like a sensible thing to do. And it turns out, he was late, he missed every milestone, the game was not a particularly good game.

While I disagree with Kotick’s assessment that Brutal Legend is not a particularly good game, his other points are completely valid. Several of my industry contacts have told me about the game’s numerous delays and overspending. Still, I can’t help but think that these comments will just add to Kotick’s “evil” reputation. Although his argument is legitimate, he’ll still be seen as the big CEO of a huge corporation picking on an independent developer.

Any thought’s on Kotick’s latest?

Source via CVG

Hideo Kojima Wants to Reveal Next Game at TGS 2011

Konami’s Hideo Kojima has been busy overlording the upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, but he’s working on his own stuff too. According to Andriasang, the Metal Gear Solid developer wants to reveal his next game at Tokyo Game Show 2011. Here’s his translated tweet:

I think it would be nice if next year I can do not just editing, but introduce my own new game (game design, script and direction).

What do you think Kojima is up to? Another MGS title? Something new or exciting? Or perhaps it’s the return of Policenauts! Kindly post your theories in the comments section.

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Capcom’s Keiji Inafune Hates Japanese Game Development, Capcom

Late last night I read this fascinating NY Times interview with Capcom global head of production Keiji Inafune. Since 1987, Inafune has helped create some of Capcom’s best games. It was shocking to hear him go off on Capcom and the Japanese game development scene. Check out this opening salvo:

I look around T.G.S., and everyone’s making awful games. Japan is at least five years behind.

It’s like we’re still making games for the last generation of game consoles.

Capcom is barely keeping up. The ideas, game play, design — there’s no diversity, no originality.

Wow…just wow.

I hold Inafune in the highest regard, but I’m not sure that I completely agree with him here. Certainly the videogame business — particularly game development — has shifted to the West. I’ve always chalked that up to the popularity of first-person shooters (and Japanese developers’ inability to make good games in the genre) and Microsoft’s gaming efforts. Gaming has been mainstream in Japan far longer than it has in America. The types of games that are popular have changed since the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox brought more Westerners into the mix. Personally, I’d love it if more Japanese developers made awesome turn-based RPGs…but perhaps I’m just old.

Read the entire interview if you have a moment. It’s really good. When you’re done, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Inafune’s words. Shout it out (please) in the comments section!

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Namco Bandai Confirms Keita Takahashi’s Departure

According to Gamasutra, Namco Bandai has officially confirmed the (much rumored) departure of Keita Takahashi. Best known as the creative force behind Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy, Takahashi has a reputation for making refreshingly unique and original games.

His departure isn’t too surprising. He’s currently working on designing parks for children and seems more interested in that than videogames. As recently as last month he seemed disenchanted with the direction the gaming business is headed. He told CVG:

I’m actually not thinking about a future in games. It’s not that I’m not interested in them, but I want to try lots of different things. At E3 I saw people putting on speeches but I thought the future seemed a bit dark. The 3D games didn’t spark my interest. I think motion control’s a bit old now, I don’t think those games are the future. It all seemed a bit dull.

I sincerely hope Takahashi ends up making games again. In an industry full of copycats and countless World War II shooters, Takahashi always had something cheerful and original to offer. Are any of you guys going to miss him?

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Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Developer Diary 1

Here’s a cool developer diary from Ubisoft Montreal on Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Once you get past the silly concept of the team trying to look menacing in their hoodies, the content is very cool. This installment goes over the game’s background and story. The gang wants you to know that this isn’t AC 2.5, but a full-on sequel that continues Ezio Auditore’s story.

Check it out and let me know what you think (please)! And don’t forget how special the game’s special edition is.

Power Gig: Rise of the Six String Developer Diary 2

In Seven45 Studios’ second developer diary for Power Gig: Rise of the Six String, design director Jack Davis goes over the game’s clans. In addition to using real instruments, Power Gig differentiates itself from the competition by integrating a heavy storyline. Find out how the clans fit into the game’s world and story in this video. After you check it out, let me know what you think (please)!

Power Gig: Rise of the Six String Developer Diary

Seven45 Studios has released a developer diary on its upcoming game, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. This music game uses a real guitar as its controller. Design director Jack Davis goes over the story and world in this dev diary.

With its unique controls and story mode, will Power Gig be able to take a slice of the pie that’s dominated by Guitar Hero and Rock Band? I’d love hear your thoughts on the matter.

Double Fine Tim Schafer Goes Off on Activision Bobby Kotick

At the recent Develop conference, Double Fine founder Tim Schafer had some scathing words for Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. As many of you know, Brutal Legend was stuck in limbo for a ridiculous period of time, partially due to Kotick not believing in the franchise’s sequel potential. Crave quoted Schafer as saying:

His obligation is to his shareholders. Well, he doesn’t have to be as much of a dick about it, does he? I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick. It seems like it would be possible. It’s not something he’s interested in.

Hopefully he’ll go back to another industry scene. He could go to an industry that makes more money. Ball bearings… something that suits his passions more. Weapons manufacturing?

That’s just funny, funny stuff…and part of the reason it’s funny is because it’s true. Crave has more quotes from Super Tim and I highly recommend checking them out. Wait a minute…that guy owes me an interview. Maybe I’ll head to San Francisco soon.

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Coffee Talk #177: Your Videogame Development “Big Three”

With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh creating the “big three” with the Miami Heat, people are coming up with all sorts of killer combos. Whether you’re talking about triumvirates in sports, television, or adult films, it’s fun to dream up “big three” combinations. Let’s do the same for videogame development! Who would be your videogame dream team?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Intelligentsia’s Finca San Jose Nicaragua, Mel Gibson’s anger, or the RAW mystery GM, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh creating the “big three” with the Miami Heat, people are coming up with all sorts of killer combos. Whether you’re talking about triumvirates in sports, television, or adult films, it’s fun to dream up “big three” combinations. Let’s do the same for videogame development! Who would be your videogame dream team?

Perhaps a combination of Square Enix’s art direction, BioWare’s storytelling, and Epic’s gameplay would work for you. Maybe you’d love Cliff Bleszinski, Hideo Kojima, and Tomonobu Itagaki to collaborate on a videogame. The possibilities are endless! So let’s play this game. Come up with a combination of three developers — companies or individual designers — that would make your dream team.

Activision Turned Infinity Ward into a Police State: You Buy It?

According to Kotaku, 40 past and present Infinity Ward employees have filed suit against Activision for a slew of reasons, including turning the work environment into a “police state”. Here’s my favorite passage from the article:

The suit says that had Activision not fired West and Zampella, withheld the bonus, created a hostile work place, not created a “police state-like atmosphere” they would have stayed on with the publisher.

I’m sure things were bad at Infinity Ward, but calling it a police state is ridiculous. Do these guys and gals know what it’s like to live in North Korea? I’ve avoided writing about the Activision/Infinity Ward issue because I really don’t think it’s that interesting and the enthusiast press has presented an overblown description of the situation. The “police state” line cracked me up though. No matter how bad it was, I’m positive it was nothing like living in communist Cuba.

What do you think of the situation? Do you think it was police-state bad? Do you care? Do you want more stories on this? Or can I happily ignore it?

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