The industry is rife with awful business practices. Day 1 DLC, pay to win games, micro-transactions, DRM, and greedy corporate behavior. This is now the norm, and it's easy to get discouraged. But some companies go against the grain, and dare to stand by pro-consumer practices. This thread is for them.
I can think of several companies that have positive consumer outlooks, but for the purpose of this thread, choose one, and explain what makes them special.
Personally, I'll choose From Software:
What companies serve as role models for you, and what actions should other companies emulate?
I can think of several companies that have positive consumer outlooks, but for the purpose of this thread, choose one, and explain what makes them special.
Personally, I'll choose From Software:
Miyazaki has made some of the best games in the last fifteen years, and he's done it with a smile. They're games that defy all the rules of game development, and in an industry that's terrified of risk, he gleefully innovates with every game he makes. His games are hard, and his stories vague and unclear. Every aspect of their design is there to challenge you. His mechanics are phenomenal, and he's one of the best writers in the industry. Furthermore, he insists that he doesn't want to create large franchises. Instead he believes that a game should be left alone after its premise is explored. Otherwise it will grow stale. Although Dark Souls 2 was created without his input or permission, he claims that Dark Souls 3 will end the series, and that he wants to focus on new types of games, instead of revisiting older titles. He's also expressed a distaste for yearly sequels. This would be enough to endear me to his company. Yet, it's the company culture that really impresses me.
Every time I read about From Soft, and Miyazaki, I have a big dumb grin on my face. Miyazaki started out as an uninspired worker in an average, dead end corporate job. After playing Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, Miyazaki changed careers in his late twenties, a rare move in Japan. The only company that would hire him was From Soft, a small company chiefly known for their Armored Core games. There, he was inspired by the development of a game called Demon Souls, which was quickly becoming a creative disaster. He claimed to know that, if he could just join the development team, he could salvage the project, and turn it into anything he wanted. He quickly changed every aspect of the game through sheer charisma, and became the project leader. Reinvigorated, the game became a cult success. After his followup games, he was promoted to president of From Soft.
Despite being president, he is intimately involved in every project, making sure it fits his vision. His staff also claims that he is very personable and friendly. His office is filled with geeky D&D material and Berserk paraphernalia. During interviews, he often criticizes the corporate culture of other companies, and dislikes their view of games. Meeting other company presidents, he says that "they're so weird" and detached, and that some of them served as inspiration for villains.
In a stagnant industry, it's refreshing to someone so passionate about game design. Someone who sees games as an art, and employees as people. Someone whose down to earth, and has a sense of humor, and who worked his way up from game design. The industry needs more people like Miyazaki, and more companies like From Soft.
Every time I read about From Soft, and Miyazaki, I have a big dumb grin on my face. Miyazaki started out as an uninspired worker in an average, dead end corporate job. After playing Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, Miyazaki changed careers in his late twenties, a rare move in Japan. The only company that would hire him was From Soft, a small company chiefly known for their Armored Core games. There, he was inspired by the development of a game called Demon Souls, which was quickly becoming a creative disaster. He claimed to know that, if he could just join the development team, he could salvage the project, and turn it into anything he wanted. He quickly changed every aspect of the game through sheer charisma, and became the project leader. Reinvigorated, the game became a cult success. After his followup games, he was promoted to president of From Soft.
Despite being president, he is intimately involved in every project, making sure it fits his vision. His staff also claims that he is very personable and friendly. His office is filled with geeky D&D material and Berserk paraphernalia. During interviews, he often criticizes the corporate culture of other companies, and dislikes their view of games. Meeting other company presidents, he says that "they're so weird" and detached, and that some of them served as inspiration for villains.
In a stagnant industry, it's refreshing to someone so passionate about game design. Someone who sees games as an art, and employees as people. Someone whose down to earth, and has a sense of humor, and who worked his way up from game design. The industry needs more people like Miyazaki, and more companies like From Soft.
What companies serve as role models for you, and what actions should other companies emulate?
