Ubisoft Blames Industry Downturn on Lack of New Consoles
- Thread starter Scott Bullock
- Start date
I would think it probably has something to do with the whole global recession thing, more so then the consoles... Besides what is being held back with the current consoles? Maybe graphics to an extent. But other than that it's not really the consoles that are holding developers back. It's their inability to take any kind of risks.
Hungry Donner said:
I would argue that large and complex worlds require more development time, and complexity is one of those things that don't really offer much of a return on investment. For example, Bioware games have been becoming more and more linear over the years, but the company is still pulling in far more cash. Just looks at the huge gain in linearity between Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 and DA:O - DAII. It's not that we're not getting complexity because of limited hardware, it's just not profitable to produce on a large scale.
If consoles can handle GTA:IV, they can handle any complexity that publishers deem economically viable IMO. There are games out there that are amorphous masses of scripts and s--- *cough* Fallout: New Vegas *cough*, but it's instability was more of a product of a bad development house with only 2 QA people than hardware limitations.
Pretty much.
The thing is, customers are already balking at paying $60 for games, and Sony has amply demonstrated that they aren't all that keen on paying top dollar for someone else's idea of cutting edge tech, either.
If there's one thing certain, it's that games aren't going to get less expensive when they have to pay back the budget spent on creating those even more technically and graphically demanding titles.
My grim suspicion is that the next generation of hardware, whenever it does come about, isn't going to herald the end of a videogame downturn; it's going to presage the next video game industry crash.
I think we're where we need to be, economically speaking: putting out hardware that bolsters the capabilities of existing consoles (Kinect, Move) relatively inexpensive new hand-helds (3DS, NGP), and thinking of new, multipurpose devices as games platforms (iPhone, Android, and to a lesser extend tablets and netbooks).
Those realities aside, Guillemot's comments feel like blame-shifting. The conventional wisdom (as chronicled in any number of articles here at the Escapist, as well as elsewhere) is that the lack of innovation and tendency to stick with "tried and true" franchises see much of their guilt laid at the high cost of creating AAA-content, the need to have some certainty of making those costs back, and the general condensation of the number of big-name video game publishers. A new console under the tree, as I explained above, isn't going to help any of that.
I also rather feel that designers still aren't getting everything out of the existing hardware that they could. We usually see a revolution in the waning years of a console, games that make players go, "Wow, I didn't know [console x] could do that!" It's evident in games like Battletoads for the NES or God of War for the Playstation 2. This generation has, to a degree, fallen back on gimmicks as the selling point rather than innovations in programming. And today's games, to my jaded eye at least, don't really look or play significantly better than the ones of two years ago. Where's that last gasp of innovation?
If there's one thing certain, it's that games aren't going to get less expensive when they have to pay back the budget spent on creating those even more technically and graphically demanding titles.
My grim suspicion is that the next generation of hardware, whenever it does come about, isn't going to herald the end of a videogame downturn; it's going to presage the next video game industry crash.
I think we're where we need to be, economically speaking: putting out hardware that bolsters the capabilities of existing consoles (Kinect, Move) relatively inexpensive new hand-helds (3DS, NGP), and thinking of new, multipurpose devices as games platforms (iPhone, Android, and to a lesser extend tablets and netbooks).
Those realities aside, Guillemot's comments feel like blame-shifting. The conventional wisdom (as chronicled in any number of articles here at the Escapist, as well as elsewhere) is that the lack of innovation and tendency to stick with "tried and true" franchises see much of their guilt laid at the high cost of creating AAA-content, the need to have some certainty of making those costs back, and the general condensation of the number of big-name video game publishers. A new console under the tree, as I explained above, isn't going to help any of that.
I also rather feel that designers still aren't getting everything out of the existing hardware that they could. We usually see a revolution in the waning years of a console, games that make players go, "Wow, I didn't know [console x] could do that!" It's evident in games like Battletoads for the NES or God of War for the Playstation 2. This generation has, to a degree, fallen back on gimmicks as the selling point rather than innovations in programming. And today's games, to my jaded eye at least, don't really look or play significantly better than the ones of two years ago. Where's that last gasp of innovation?
The current console generation is lasting thanks to the plateau of realism it allows (aside from the Wii, but its success is due to gimmics like the Wii Fit and gilfriend games). Look at Mass Effect 2 or Red Dead Redemption. We are really enjoying great experiences in gaming without the need to churn out US$ 300,00 for a new console. SO what if there are new graphic cards that can deliver a shitload of polygons or a stupid US$ 5.000 PC could let you play Cyrisis 2 in a 3 monitor setup in 3D at 60 frames and HD... I rather have the developers figure out a way to crunch the games into existing hardware. So what if I can´t see real shadows in the scope of my sniper riffle at 3 miles away. I don't need it. Check Limbo for Xbla. Do you need a Radeon 5000 turbo powered GPU to run that amazing experience? Ubisoft's CEO, as we say in Brazil, lost a really good chance to keep his mouth shut.
"Corporation blames poor performance on something they cannot be blamed for"
I guess this instance of that daily happening is noteworthy because there is plenty of evidence of continuing economic growth in the games industry.
Ubi- "Not our fault, depression", People- "but data shows your industry's market is growing steadily", Ubi- "LA LA LA DEPRESSION NOT LISTENING"
Anyone who remains a shareholder after being told patently false crap like that is getting what they deserve when the company doesn't perform well.
I guess this instance of that daily happening is noteworthy because there is plenty of evidence of continuing economic growth in the games industry.
Ubi- "Not our fault, depression", People- "but data shows your industry's market is growing steadily", Ubi- "LA LA LA DEPRESSION NOT LISTENING"
Anyone who remains a shareholder after being told patently false crap like that is getting what they deserve when the company doesn't perform well.
has this man NEVER heard of lateral thinking? What he seems to be asking for is an easy way out in the method of creating new gaming experiences: just powering through it with more powerful hardware. In all honesty, that's the LAST thing you want. For crying out loud, the Mario Galaxy games are running on hardware FAR inferior to the 360 or PS3 and yet those games have more innovation and creativity in one level than most games on the HD Twins have in their entire campaigns. Seriously, this is why I love Nintendo so much: they think outside the box. LIKE A GAME MAKER SHOULD
So basically Ubi is planning to flood the market with shovelware with the release of new consoles, just like they did with the 3DS launch.
Also, I'm pretty sure the console market will pretty much crash if they release a new generation now, since video game prices will go even higher to recoup development costs - and even higher costs at this time of depression is the last thing this economy needs...
Also, I'm pretty sure the console market will pretty much crash if they release a new generation now, since video game prices will go even higher to recoup development costs - and even higher costs at this time of depression is the last thing this economy needs...
Yeah, I was only just able to afford my PS3, let alone the games for it. Don't they realize that technological limitations will FORCE them to be more creative? (Like with the fog in SH2?)
Garbage, previous generations of consoles have been caused by large hardware jumps making the games actually better, look better, play better, sound better.
Games like Heavy Rain and Mass Effect already show we're pretty damn close to the uncanny valley if we get any more real. Controllers are getting to the point where we simply cannot cram more buttons in and have to start thinking in terms of motion controls. 3D is available on both major players for people who want it.
We do not need further upgraded graphics, etc, when the potential of what we have isn't even vaugely being pushed.
Games like Heavy Rain and Mass Effect already show we're pretty damn close to the uncanny valley if we get any more real. Controllers are getting to the point where we simply cannot cram more buttons in and have to start thinking in terms of motion controls. 3D is available on both major players for people who want it.
We do not need further upgraded graphics, etc, when the potential of what we have isn't even vaugely being pushed.
One of the reasons there hasn't been any new consoles is that technology hasn't progressed to the point to warrant it. The amount of power being put out by new tech is only a fraction of what we used to see with new generation technology. Jumping from the NES to the SNES was literally more than double the potential. Jumping from what's in the PS3 or 360 to current gen processors and graphics is going to be close to a 20% variation. When you consider how much these companies lose with each system they sell (even more so on new consoles) can you really blame them? Even when we have games coming out this year that are continuing to push the systems to utilize more power (eg: Crysis 2 [not to say it was a good game, just that the graphics made a leap.]) Microsoft has at least been working on their new console though (or at least hiring for it), so I expect to see a new one around 2013-2015. I think they even announced that the 360 would have a 10 year life cycle. Sony is never far behind in this race, nor is Nintendo.
What I would really like to see is some new ideas for games. Even though I didn't enjoy Minecraft I applaud them for what they have done. It was a new idea and it has proven to be successful. A few more of these and maybe we will get some publishers willing to take a risk (hint, hint, if you want to guarantee the HC gamer crowd to jump your console support these new ideas).
Just my 2c
What I would really like to see is some new ideas for games. Even though I didn't enjoy Minecraft I applaud them for what they have done. It was a new idea and it has proven to be successful. A few more of these and maybe we will get some publishers willing to take a risk (hint, hint, if you want to guarantee the HC gamer crowd to jump your console support these new ideas).
Just my 2c
What? No no, the industry downturn is due to an economic downturn, stagnation in the actual games, and developers like Ubisoft shoving out constant sequals of not so incredible quality.
Technology isnt ready for a new console, at best it could make a slight upgrade, ay new consoles anytime soon would just be gimicky shit. I love when hugely wealthy CEOs complain that enough profit isnt being made and throw the blame onto everything else they can instead of themselves
Technology isnt ready for a new console, at best it could make a slight upgrade, ay new consoles anytime soon would just be gimicky shit. I love when hugely wealthy CEOs complain that enough profit isnt being made and throw the blame onto everything else they can instead of themselves
um fuck him. The downturn is due to the shitty economy. It could've been so much worse if new consoles came out. No one (well most people) have no disposable income. People are barely able to sell goods people need, like fuck new consoles would've sold