General Games Industry News and shizz

shoesonwrong · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 22:01

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

Srsly? You need to stop dirty talking nerds!

Oh THAT'S my problem. I knew it was something.

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 22:02

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

Srsly? You need to stop dirty talking nerds! I don't get any requests from randoms generally, only from people on here/Twitter, and now I'm full up and keep having to turn people down

Just checked mine on the xbox site and I'm showing as having 99, but I'm pretty sure there's still one or two on here I've not added yet (as I didn't want to fill it completely so I didn't have to turn people down either) so the increase will certainly be welcome.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

shoesonwrong wrote:

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

Srsly? You need to stop dirty talking nerds!

Oh THAT'S my problem. I knew it was something.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

YAY!

http://www.vg247.com/2010/10/14/xbox-li ... 0-friends/

Microsoft have now denied it (from Major Nelson's Twitter)

Quote:

Let me straighten things out: We will not be expanding the friends list as a part of the next Xbox LIVE Update.

Although that doesnt mean it isnt going to happen.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1779

I trimmed from 100 down to whatever it is now (my guess is 50). I was getting a bit sick of seeing 25 people online and only ever really gaming with 5 or so from any selection.

Now what they need are folders so you can group your friends in categories.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

zaphod79 wrote:

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

YAY!

http://www.vg247.com/2010/10/14/xbox-li ... 0-friends/

Microsoft have now denied it (from Major Nelson's Twitter)

Quote:

Let me straighten things out: We will not be expanding the friends list as a part of the next Xbox LIVE Update.

Although that doesnt mean it isnt going to happen.

The fuck?!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Rock Paper Shotgun, wot I freelance for, just won the GMA for best games blog.

Rest of the results here.

edit: typo fixed.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:58

LewieP wrote:

Rock Paper Shotgun, wot I freelance for, just one the GMA for best games blog.

Rest of the results here.

eh?

Edit: Oh, Won. I see.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Games Media Award.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:01

Ir was more the won/one confusion that got me. In that they're completely different words, in the process completely removing any verb to make it make sense.

Malc74 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 14:05

Kotaku reporting that Krome Studios have gone splat.
A sad day if it's true (Game Room notwithstanding) as their Melbourne studio used to be Melbourne House/Beam Software.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

Malc74 wrote:

Kotaku reporting that Krome Studios have gone splat.
A sad day if it's true (Game Room notwithstanding) as their Melbourne studio used to be Melbourne House/Beam Software.

Its a real shame , and although game room is 'rubbish' , i dont blame them for it - the emulation aned presentation works , its just been a crappy set of uninteresting games for the wrong prices

I do wonder if Game room will just be left to 'rot' ?

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

Now confirmed : http://uk.psp.ign.com/articles/112/1128471p1.html

Quote:

The Australian games industry has received yet another blow, with confirmation that Brisbane-based development house Krome Studios has closed its doors.

A source close to Krome has confirmed that all remaining staff have been let go as of Friday, October 15, although there is the possibility that a skeleton-crew may be rehired as contractors to finish off any existing work.

The news comes after what has been quite troubled times for Krome, with the global financial crisis, amongst other woes resulting in 50 employees being let go back in April last year, with a further 60 in November.

Our source revealed that the likely reason for the studio's ultimate demise was a combination of Krome putting too many resources into establishing new IPs that weren't successful, alongside titles based on established licensed underperforming.

Formed in 1999, the local studio has been behind the likes of the recently released Blade Kitten, the PS2 and Wii versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and the much loved Ty the Tasmanian Tiger franchise.

With this news, we must bid farewell to what once was one of the country's largest video game developers, with offices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. Stay tuned to IGN for more news on the matter as it hits.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 16:10

Vaz tables his fifth early day motion against games. The dirty beggar.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 16:14

Oh and EA have released an "Indie Bundle" on Steam. That's nice of the huge mega-global corporation. They're dead *retch* indie *hworgh*.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 16:29

Dimrill wrote:

Vaz tables his fifth early day motion against games. The dirty beggar.

Five shits in a morning beats me.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 3:35

Oof. 42% sales drop in the US compared to the same period last year.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 14:03

Judge rules that it really was Silicon Knights' fault that Too Human was shit. I think the writing may be on the wall for them now, after Too Human and that abominable X-men game.

myp · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 15:10

Dimrill wrote:

Judge rules that it really was Silicon Knights' fault that Too Human was shit. I think the writing may be on the wall for them now, after Too Human and that abominable X-men game.

Shame, Eternal Darkness was so good.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

They've just cut about 3/4 of their staff too, haven't they?

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Dimrill wrote:

Judge rules that it really was Silicon Knights' fault that Too Human was shit. I think the writing may be on the wall for them now, after Too Human and that abominable X-men game.

I hadn't heard about that lawsuit. Saying that Epic was "sabotaging efforts by Silicon Knights and others to develop their own video games" is thoroughly fucking bizarre given that they make a shedload of cash by licensing their engine to other people for the express purposes of making games. I'd be really curious to know what led to that claim as it's so self-evidently bonkers there must be something more to the issue.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I gather that part of SK's claims were that Epic didn't provide them the documentation that they had been promised. Or that the documentation they were provided didn't match up to what they were told they'd get.

Bear in mind that Too Human (the version that actually shipped) would have started development on a pretty early version of UE3.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 15:44

Apparently earlier in the month a judge ruled that the maximum compensation Silicon Knights were entitled to if they won would be $1.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

LewieP wrote:

I gather that part of SK's claims were that Epic didn't provide them the documentation that they had been promised. Or that the documentation they were provided didn't match up to what they were told they'd get.

Bear in mind that Too Human (the version that actually shipped) would have started development on a pretty early version of UE3.

Which is fair enough, but 'Epic fucked up by providing something that didn't match what the documentation said' is a far cry from 'Epic is purposely sabotaging their paying clients'. The former is certainly possible due to the usual changes that an engine would go through while still in development but the latter just sounds like the exact opposite of what a software vendor would want to do i.e. ensure products created using their software were unsuccessful.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:17

Bingo! Give that man a biscuit.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

While I certainly agree that retreading the same old stuff is unappealing, the push for fresh ideas gave us the Wiimote/Kinect/Move. We need fresh ideas that aren't stupid.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Craster wrote:

While I certainly agree that retreading the same old stuff is unappealing, the push for fresh ideas gave us the Wiimote/Kinect/Move. We need fresh ideas that aren't stupid.

Surely though there's a difference between fresh idea in game design (what yer man in the article is talking about) and fresh ideas in interfaces (which produces bullshit like the examples you've given)? Trying to weld motion controls, or whatever, to games in scenarios where a traditional control pad already works very well isn't a fresh idea, it's just flat our ruining something that currently works fine just for the sake of it. Creating new IP and ideas for game mechanics though is always welcome.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:27

Motion controls: it was worth trying.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Dimrill wrote:

Motion controls: it was worth trying.

Yeah, I don't disagree with that. It seems to have stuck though.

Bamba wrote:

Craster wrote:

While I certainly agree that retreading the same old stuff is unappealing, the push for fresh ideas gave us the Wiimote/Kinect/Move. We need fresh ideas that aren't stupid.

Surely though there's a difference between fresh idea in game design (what yer man in the article is talking about) and fresh ideas in interfaces (which produces bullshit like the examples you've given)? Trying to weld motion controls, or whatever, to games in scenarios where a traditional control pad already works very well isn't a fresh idea, it's just flat our ruining something that currently works fine just for the sake of it. Creating new IP and ideas for game mechanics though is always welcome.

Agreed - but if all your devs are off working out how to integrate the Sega Vibrobutt into their games, there's less time available for innovation within games mechanics themselves. I'm not arguing with the guy in the article, I'm just saying that fresh ideas aren't always for the good.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:46

Dimrill wrote:

Bingo! Give that man a biscuit.

Says man responsible for five Assassin's Creed games in as many years.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:48

Name me another game that's like Assassin's Creed.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:49

Dimrill wrote:

Name me another game that's like Assassin's Creed.

Assassin's Creed 2

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Dimrill wrote:

Name me another game that's like Assassin's Creed.

The other four Assassin's Creed games? The original one was, well, original; but then knocking out shedloads of variations on that theme over the years is hardly "take[ing] a risk on your products and gamers". Which is fine as every publisher does a certain amount of that, but it does add a faint whiff of hypocrisy to yer Ubisoft guy's quotes.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Like I said last week. You innovate, then you sit on your laurels for 5+ years raking in the profits of that innovation if it went well. At some point you'll need to get round to innovating again, but probably not until the revenue dries up.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:57

Dimrill wrote:

Motion controls: it was worth trying.

As before, Im surprised quite how much they work on the games i have on the vita given tje shiteness of wii,sixaxis and kinect.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:58

Craster wrote:

Like I said last week. You innovate, then you sit on your laurels for 5+ years raking in the profits of that innovation if it went well. At some point you'll need to get round to innovating again, but probably not until the revenue dries up.

Indeed. If you try to be innovative with all of your titles, you won't make much money (probably). Having a cash cow like AC, MW, GOW, BF, FIFA etc should free your company to produce some innovative games that may or may not be a success.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:03

Dimrill wrote:

Name me another game that's like Assassin's Creed.

Splinter Cell, Thief, Manhunt?

Dimrill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:03

Yes, Assassin's Creed should stop being a series of games and turn into a shooting racing 5D MMO gamepocalypse MIND puzzleathon.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:08

Dimrill wrote:

Yes, Assassin's Creed should stop being a series of games and turn into a shooting racing 5D MMO gamepocalypse MIND puzzleathon.

I'm not saying it should. I'm saying the guy responsible for them shouldn't moan that there's no fresh ideas when he's helping to propagate sequelmania.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:16

Who is allowed to say it then?

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Dimrill wrote:

Who is allowed to say it then?

Everyone else.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:36

It just sounds like a turkey saying he's going to vote for Christmas, but then doing the opposite.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:37

What?

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:38

Zardoz wrote:

What?

Ramadan.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:41

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Zardoz wrote:

What?

Ramadan.

Do doo do do do

throughsilver · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6197

Craster wrote:

While I certainly agree that retreading the same old stuff is unappealing, the push for fresh ideas gave us the Wiimote/Kinect/Move. We need fresh ideas that aren't stupid.

Wiimote isn't the same as Kinect and Move. It made a hell of a lot of money.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Didn't say it wasn't good for hardware manufacturers. But other than a very few exceptions, it's led to shit games or decent games being ruined by adding in motion control features.

Also, Kinect's made the most out of all of them, hasn't it? Biggest selling peripheral in history or something, I believe.

throughsilver · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6197

Craster wrote:

Didn't say it wasn't good for hardware manufacturers. But other than a very few exceptions, it's led to shit games or decent games being ruined by adding in motion control features.

Also, Kinect's made the most out of all of them, hasn't it? Biggest selling peripheral in history or something, I believe.

Damn. More than R.O.B?

Grim... · **Posted:** Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:32

Fastest selling electrical device, our something equally unlikely.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Grim... wrote:

Fastest selling electrical device, our something equally unlikely.

Until the iPhone 4S, which I think has to have eclipsed it. http://www.tuaw.com/2012/01/29/will-the ... elling-co/

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