Former Sony, Atari Execs Invest Heavily in Sci-Fi Browser RPG

[Tom Goldman]

Former Sony, Atari Execs Invest Heavily in Sci-Fi Browser RPG


Phil Harrison and London Venture Partners are banking on the popularity of free-to-play browser RPG Gunshine.

Former Sony and Atari executive Phil Harrison made headlines when he joined an investment group called London Venture Partners with other former game company executives such as ex-Atari CEO David Gardner and ex-Criterion CEO David Lau-Kee. London Venture Partners recently revealed its first investment, a free-to-play browser-based RPG called Gunshine.

The type of investment isn't surprising considering earlier comments made by Harrison where he said that the future of gaming is in web browsers [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105859-Harrison-Gamings-Future-is-the-Web-Browser-Not-Consoles], not consoles. Gunshine is apparently the first step toward that future for London Venture Partners.

The game looks like the first two Fallout [http://www.amazon.com/Fallout-Trilogy-3-Pack-Compilation-Pc/dp/B001V9PTVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297891616&sr=8-2] titles combined with the wonders of social networking. It's independent of portals like Facebook, but players can invite their Facebook or Twitter friends easily, and they'll want to because the game supports up to four-player co-op.

Players begin by creating a tank, damage dealer, or healer, and then go on to equip "mindboggling" amounts of equipment and learn new skills. Through this sort of customization, Gunshine developer Supercell says that every character in the game will be unique. It also says that there is an "endless amount of quests," providing "years" of gameplay. Players can choose to support 10 different warring factions in Gunshine's city.

The basics of Gunshine make it sound like an interesting social game, and the trailer looks pretty fun as players take down foes with anything from Gatling guns to samurai swords. It's still in an early stage, but was launched for the purpose of acquiring feedback.

With the high profile backing of London Venture Partners, said to have put a "significant" investment into Gunshine, it may become even Gunshinier as it moves through beta. If you'd like to check it out, the official website is here [http://www.gunshine.net/].

Source: Gamasutra [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33063/BrowserBased_Gunshinenet_London_Venture_Partners_First_Investment.php]


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[Art Axiv]

They lost me on "Gather your friends from Facebook".
Why does EVERYTHING have to be incorporated with it.

 

[knhirt]

Oh, man. Closed beta?
Wake me when I can play.

 

[Vrach]

so.........wait..........a "social" game that makes me actually interested in playing?


I........no, Im definately not dead............


and it has coop for people you invite to it? actual coop?

have I found a browser based RPG that might be good?

My thoughts exactly, this should be awesome for me and my best mate to play considering his lack of a proper gaming machine ^^

But yeah, looks really impressive for a browser RPG. Not that I think the future is in it (there is future in it, but it's not THE future of games), but yeah, nice step forward, coupled with EA's Battlefield Heroes, this makes an interesting push into browser gaming

 

[Tom Goldman]

They lost me on "Gather your friends from Facebook".
Why does EVERYTHING have to be incorporated with it.

To bring in more money.

 

[Timbydude]

I don't understand why this guy thinks that the future of gaming is in WEB browsers. It's the most arbitrary prediction I've ever heard, and it's almost blatantly incorrect.

For example, this game doesn't look bad, and it might actually be fun, but why would I play this when far superior Action-RPGs have already been released for systems that were designed for gaming?

 

[manythings]

They lost me on "Gather your friends from Facebook".
Why does EVERYTHING have to be incorporated with it.

Because everyone (well ENOUGH of everyone) has a facebook. I extricated myself from it last year but BioWare keep trying to make me go back.

I don't understand why this guy thinks that the future of gaming is in WEB browsers. It's the most arbitrary prediction I've ever heard, and it's almost blatantly incorrect.

For example, this game doesn't look bad, and it might actually be fun, but why would I play this when far superior Action-RPGs have already been released for systems that were designed for gaming?

You're one guy though. For all you know for every one of us who don't care (I don't see anything I would be interested in) there are 10, 50 or even 100 people who do care.

 

[The Rascal King]

Why do I want to play this game? Nay, why do I want to spend money on this game? Curse you, subliminal advertising ploys!

....I'm gonna play the shit out of this game.

 

[Art Axiv]

They lost me on "Gather your friends from Facebook".
Why does EVERYTHING have to be incorporated with it.

To bring in more money.

Well obviously every decision a businessman would make would lead to creating more money, but more or less I was talking about the trend now. I mean, look, even Starcraft has Facebook in it now. Its not necessarily "evil"... unless we will use friends as cash bonuses or other resources, then yeah, I can live with an OPTIONAL facebook button.

Yes Sir, one additional feature does not hurt anyone.

 

[Timbydude]

You're one guy though. For all you know for every one of us who don't care (I don't see anything I would be interested in) there are 10, 50 or even 100 people who do care.

Right, and I'm taking into account that other people could care about this. It's just that, honestly, they have no reason to. It's a poor business decision. They're trying to appeal to a hardcore market through a decidedly casual medium. Hardcore gamers do play browser games, but if you're going to make a game for them, there's really no reason to limit it to a browser when you could expand it slightly and make a lot more money through Steam et al.

 

[manythings]

You're one guy though. For all you know for every one of us who don't care (I don't see anything I would be interested in) there are 10, 50 or even 100 people who do care.

Right, and I'm taking into account that other people could care about this. It's just that, honestly, they have no reason to. It's a poor business decision. They're trying to appeal to a hardcore market through a decidedly casual medium. Hardcore gamers do play browser games, but if you're going to make a game for them, there's really no reason to limit it to a browser when you could expand it slightly and make a lot more money through Steam et al.

Invest vs. returns. Zynga is a billion dollar company because they make about $1 million on a daily basis with a near zero investment. If this game has maybe ten times the investment vs. one tenth of the returns that Zynga has it will still pay off in a big way.

 

[Jake Martinez]

I don't understand why this guy thinks that the future of gaming is in WEB browsers. It's the most arbitrary prediction I've ever heard, and it's almost blatantly incorrect.

For example, this game doesn't look bad, and it might actually be fun, but why would I play this when far superior Action-RPGs have already been released for systems that were designed for gaming?

It might be web browsers, or remote "dumb terminals" (Like OnLive), but he's right in essence - the future of commercial gaming is delivering content anywhere to the customer regardless of what device they have with them.

Just think about it - the console is a barrier for the publisher/developer between them and the customer. I'm certain they would all love to cut out not only the middle man (distribution), but also keep the prerequisites for purchasing their programs down to the minimum. It just makes sense because of the broader market appeal.

And really, it's not like this is a new idea either. People have been contemplating interactive media through the television pretty much as soon as it was invented. This is the same concept, just updated for the internet age.

 

[LondonBeer]

Looks kinda pants having enjoyed BSGO this looks like a red headed step child.