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Video Game Industry Thread: November's done, post in the new thread

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  • VikingViking Registered User regular
    Everybody's favourite 'bad story' whipping boy should come to mind. Indigo Prophecy may not have been a great story, but it was supposed to be more than what we ended up with.
    Interestingly the less of that games story you experience the better it is, dropping the second half of the game makes it a lot better.

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  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    I thought everyone's favorite was LA Noire.

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  • Xenogears of BoreXenogears of Bore Registered User regular
    Why are we talking about Heavy Rain?

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  • SynthesisSynthesis Honda Today! Registered User regular
    Aegeri wrote:
    Spoit wrote:
    Nintendo is hardly alone in treating Australia and New Zealand horribly

    They treat us especially shit. At least with Microsoft and Sony if there is a major exclusive game important to that system, we get it when the rest of the world does. Unlike Nintendo, who doesn't bother releasing major games like Mario: Galaxy in this region on time. Our one saving grace is that at least we got Xenoblade! That game really is worth all the angst over it, because it probably is one of the better JRPGs this generation and really makes me miss my Wii (from what I've played of it).

    The most logical reason I can think of to this practice is that Nintendo desperately does not want to make money in Oceania. The thought of it makes them physically ill.

    Everywhere else? No, that's fine. Awesome, in fact. Not Oceania though.

  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    I don't think I've ever actually purchased a game primarily for its story. There are games that I've picked up partly to see where things continue from a previous game, but the main draw for me has always been gameplay and "fun factor" more than anything.

    If a game that I buy actually happens to have a story that is entertaining because its fucking crazy, funny, or happens to genuinely be well written (or some combination thereof), it always just sort of a nice bonus!

    Rehab on
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  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    Rehab wrote:
    I don't think I've ever actually purchased a game primarily for its story. There are games that I've picked up partly to see where things continue from a previous game, but the main draw for me has always been gameplay and "fun factor" more than anything.

    If a game that I buy actually happens to have a story that is entertaining because its fucking crazy, funny, or happens to genuinely be well written (or some combination thereof), it always just sort of a nice bonus!

    PST? Vampire: colons?

    Spoit on
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  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    One problem with focusing on a story is that all games really do have a narrative separate from the plot that's explicitly spelled out in the cutscenes or script.

    It's why so many people couldn't get past the dissonance of GTA4. The narrative of what you actually do doesn't match up with what the writers say your character would do. (Well, and the writers also made your character do things they said you wouldn't do, so.)

    Merging the player's actions with the story you want to tell is probably one of the bigger challenges in game design. It's one reason why Bastion was so well received - a relatively simple gameplay system that keeps you on track and doesn't allow you to do anything out of character, and a narrator whose job is easier for it.

    UncleSporky on
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  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    I bought each chapter in the Gabriel Knight series for the story.

    The gameplay was rote adventure game fodder and really just served as a vehicle for the great writing of Jane Jensen.

    The death of Sierra pisses me off for many reasons, but losing a real ending to my favorite video game story of all time is at the top of the list.

    Fuck you, Vivendi.

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  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    Spoit wrote:
    Rehab wrote:
    I don't think I've ever actually purchased a game primarily for its story. There are games that I've picked up partly to see where things continue from a previous game, but the main draw for me has always been gameplay and "fun factor" more than anything.

    If a game that I buy actually happens to have a story that is entertaining because its fucking crazy, funny, or happens to genuinely be well written (or some combination thereof), it always just sort of a nice bonus!

    PST? Vampire: colons?

    . . . what?

    NNID: Rehab0
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    shryke wrote:
    Sheep wrote:
    Part of the problem could be said to stem from the fact that the narrative of a game is tied heavily into the game itself. And when they cut some of the game, the narrative pretty much goes with it.

    I'm gonna stick with Cloudeagle and say it's probably because most people can't write a story for shit.

    I said 'part'.

    Yeah, while most game stories aren't great to begin with, the game design process seems to often play havoc on any sort of quality narrative.

    Like, hey, we cut this section for time. Oops, guess the story makes no fucking sense anymore!

    Everybody's favourite 'bad story' whipping boy should come to mind. Indigo Prophecy may not have been a great story, but it was supposed to be more than what we ended up with.

    And no surprises here, but Heavy Rain had exactly the same problem. Cutting "paranormal" sequences between Ethans blackouts that would explain aspects of the plot and why he turns up with the damn origami figures constantly.

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  • Xenogears of BoreXenogears of Bore Registered User regular
    Heavy Rain tricks you into thinking it has a halfway decent plot but it falls apart under any scruntiny.

    Just like folding paper cranes during a downpour.

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  • OldSlackerOldSlacker Registered User regular
    Rehab wrote:
    Spoit wrote:
    Rehab wrote:
    I don't think I've ever actually purchased a game primarily for its story. There are games that I've picked up partly to see where things continue from a previous game, but the main draw for me has always been gameplay and "fun factor" more than anything.

    If a game that I buy actually happens to have a story that is entertaining because its fucking crazy, funny, or happens to genuinely be well written (or some combination thereof), it always just sort of a nice bonus!

    PST? Vampire: colons?

    . . . what?

    Planescape Torment; Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    Heavy Rain tricks you into thinking it has a halfway decent plot but it falls apart under any scruntiny.

    Just like folding paper cranes during a downpour.

    The best thing is the director felt all the cuts and such made the plot better for being more mysterious. Then again, I can somewhat forgive Heavy Rain for the moments it did get right and the fact it's one of the ONLY games that ever made me cringe, but it's plot is just beyond stupid. Especially the numerous holes in it (like swiss cheese in fact) and the ridiculously dumb justifications (which just make said plot holes even dumber).

    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • chocoboliciouschocobolicious Registered User regular
    So what games had genuinely good stories? Pst, Bastion, Bioshock? Skies of Arcadia (often cliche but well done cliche, I say.), uhh.. Mario & Luigi: Bowsers inside story (Yes, I'm serious. It was good.) Windwaker? Ill stick To the Moon in here too.

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  • The WolfmanThe Wolfman Registered User regular
    So what games had genuinely good stories? Pst, Bastion, Bioshock? Skies of Arcadia (often cliche but well done cliche, I say.), uhh.. Mario & Luigi: Bowsers inside story (Yes, I'm serious. It was good.) Windwaker? Ill stick To the Moon in here too.

    It would depend how exactly you want to qualify "genuinely good". As general as a simply interesting story that hooks the player, or one that has absolutely no plot holes or any other funny business when put under the microscope? Though to be fair I don't think you could ever find a story that would totally hold up to complete scrutiny.

    How 'bout the Ace Attorney games? Never did get around to playing the Apollo one, but all the others had me on the edge of my seat every single damn time.

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  • Local H JayLocal H Jay Registered User regular
    portal 2, but just because of the dialouge and excellent 'twist'

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  • chocoboliciouschocobolicious Registered User regular
    I think its a given that even great stories will likely not hold up under the microscope, so I'm more just wondering at games that were generally appealing or just well written. Such as, yes, the dialogue in Portal 1 and 2.

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  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    Rehab wrote:
    Spoit wrote:
    Rehab wrote:
    I don't think I've ever actually purchased a game primarily for its story. There are games that I've picked up partly to see where things continue from a previous game, but the main draw for me has always been gameplay and "fun factor" more than anything.

    If a game that I buy actually happens to have a story that is entertaining because its fucking crazy, funny, or happens to genuinely be well written (or some combination thereof), it always just sort of a nice bonus!

    PST? Vampire: colons?

    . . . what?

    Planescape Torment; Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

    Christ that is a long name.

    I was actually sort of thinking about Suda 51 storylines when I wrote that (minus the well written). Kojima as well.

    Rehab on
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  • Dr Mario KartDr Mario Kart Games Dealer Austin, TXRegistered User regular
    Some games feel like they have good stories but are bad at telling them. Or would that make it a plot? I dont know.

  • Ninja Snarl PNinja Snarl P My helmet is my burden. Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
    Rehab wrote:
    I was actually sort of thinking about Suda 51 storylines when I wrote that (minus the well written). Kojima as well.

    I dunno, I was really starting to dig Deadly Premonition's story before I got sidetracked to other stuff. I'd probably classify Suda51 as "awesomely quirky with potential for greatness". The fact that I kept playing Deadly Premonition despite the atrocious gameplay is pretty remarkable.

    Kojima I would just classify as a first-rate hack who wouldn't know a good story anymore if murdered his entire family and made him watch. Makes me think of that guy who wrote Other M and thought it was fantastic, yet wanted the Metroid Prime stuff completely removed from the canon because he hated it all.

  • mere_immortalmere_immortal So tasty!Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    Speaking of stories there was a pretty good opinion piece in Eurogamer the other day about how Dark Souls and Skyrim deliver their stories.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-07-telling-tales-skyrim-and-dark-souls-article

    I don't fully agree with the comments about Skyrim, I do enjoy reading the mountains of books but Dark Souls does do an awesome job of making you feel part of a real and dangerous world.

    mere_immortal on
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  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    Kojima I would just classify as a first-rate hack who wouldn't know a good story anymore if it murdered his entire family and made him watch.

    That story would have to be careful though, no matter how good, as I feel Kojima would want revenge with a vengeance.

    Revengeance even, I daresay!

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  • Ninja Snarl PNinja Snarl P My helmet is my burden. Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
    Rehab wrote:
    Kojima I would just classify as a first-rate hack who wouldn't know a good story anymore if it murdered his entire family and made him watch.

    That story would have to be careful though, no matter how good, as I feel Kojima would want revenge with a vengeance.

    Revengeance even, I daresay!

    Damn. Well played.

  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    edited December 2011
    http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/4065/article/obsidian-s-chris-avellone-i-hope-digital-distribution-stabs-the-used-game-market-in-the-heart/
    . "Of course, one of the greatest things about digital distribution is what it does to reduce the used game market," said Avellone in an interview with IndustryGamers. "I hope digital distirbution stabs the used game market in the heart."

    Avellone further praised digital distribution for the flexibility it offers game developers.

    "One of the things I enjoyed with Fallout: New Vegas was that digital distribution of the DLC made things more flexible in terms of getting the content done. You didn't have to worry about production times for discs, and so you could take an extra week if you needed that to get things right," he said.

    Before people go into rage mode here (and the interesting thing about this). Obsidian and Chris Avellone don't actually recieve ANY money from sales so the reasoning behind his opinion is probably not greed.

    My guess is that (also considering he is hoping for a return of more hardcore rpg mechanics in the same article) it is because of niche games beeing more affected by how "proffessional" the second hand market has gotten in comparison to popular games who don't really need every sale.

    Of course you can also ask him personally per E-Mail [email protected]

    C2B on
  • Undead ScottsmanUndead Scottsman Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    shryke wrote:
    Sheep wrote:
    Part of the problem could be said to stem from the fact that the narrative of a game is tied heavily into the game itself. And when they cut some of the game, the narrative pretty much goes with it.

    I'm gonna stick with Cloudeagle and say it's probably because most people can't write a story for shit.

    I said 'part'.

    Yeah, while most game stories aren't great to begin with, the game design process seems to often play havoc on any sort of quality narrative.

    Like, hey, we cut this section for time. Oops, guess the story makes no fucking sense anymore!

    Everybody's favourite 'bad story' whipping boy should come to mind. Indigo Prophecy may not have been a great story, but it was supposed to be more than what we ended up with.

    Reminds me how the start of the fifth act of Gears of War 1 made absolutely no sense because they cut the part that explains
    1. Why you suddenly need to get onto a moving train
    2. Why the bomb mentioned at the beginning of the game is on the train
    3. Why the train has tons of badguys on it.

    Without that section, you literally just show up at a train station for no reason and after you kill the bad guys, you just wander around until you trigger the cutscene where you jump onto the train without any real leadup. Or reason.

    Undead Scottsman on
  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    C2B wrote:
    http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/4065/article/obsidian-s-chris-avellone-i-hope-digital-distribution-stabs-the-used-game-market-in-the-heart/
    . "Of course, one of the greatest things about digital distribution is what it does to reduce the used game market," said Avellone in an interview with IndustryGamers. "I hope digital distirbution stabs the used game market in the heart."

    Avellone further praised digital distribution for the flexibility it offers game developers.

    "One of the things I enjoyed with Fallout: New Vegas was that digital distribution of the DLC made things more flexible in terms of getting the content done. You didn't have to worry about production times for discs, and so you could take an extra week if you needed that to get things right," he said.

    Before people go into rage mode here (and the interesting thing about this). Obsidian and Chris Avellone don't actually recieve ANY money from sales so the reasoning behind his opinion is probably not greed.

    My guess is that (also considering he is hoping for a return of more hardcore rpg mechanics in the same article) it is because of niche games beeing more affected by how "proffessional" the second hand market has gotten in comparison to popular games who don't really need every sale.

    Of course you can also ask him personally per E-Mail [email protected]

    As was said before, it's obvious their beef is really with GameStop and how their practices specifically have made the second hand market so big, but are too scared to call them out on it.

    Last thing I want is a future where I no longer have the option to resell my games that I bought. Games have no right to be a special case that books, DVDs, cars and paintings aren't.

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  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    It's funny how publishers/developers hate gamestop and the used market and have started doing those incredibly annoying online pass junk, but then bend over backward to offer them the choicest pre order DLC. Or exclusively release games or even accessories through them. Or that whole Onlive Deus Ex mess

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  • The WolfmanThe Wolfman Registered User regular
    Spoit wrote:
    It's funny how publishers/developers hate gamestop and the used market and have started doing those incredibly annoying online pass junk, but then bend over backward to offer them the choicest pre order DLC. Or exclusively release games or even accessories through them. Or that whole Onlive Deus Ex mess

    Exactly. Don't tell me you're butthurt that Gamestop is taking all your money with their used sales with the same mouth you're using to blow them with all this preorder shit. Most of the time I have to shop at Gamestop to get the preorder bonus. If that didn't exist, I'd be more apt to buy the game at another store, like Best Buy. Thus, I'm far less likely to buy used games because I'm not in the store in the first place.

    Don't give me a reason to shop there, and I won't shop there. Shocking logic!

    "The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
  • chocoboliciouschocobolicious Registered User regular
    Speaking of stories there was a pretty good opinion piece in Eurogamer the other day about how Dark Souls and Skyrim deliver their stories.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-07-telling-tales-skyrim-and-dark-souls-article

    I don't fully agree with the comments about Skyrim, I do enjoy reading the mountains of books but Dark Souls does do an awesome job of making you feel part of a real and dangerous world.

    Skyrim's main narrative is pretty weak. Surprisingly weak. A lot of the sidequests have better characters and narrative than the main story.

    Dark Souls, on the other hand, is a fantastic example of telling a pretty damn amazing story with the minimum of actual storytelling. It's an experience!

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  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    edited December 2011
    Spoit wrote:
    Exactly. Don't tell me you're butthurt that Gamestop is taking all your money with their used sales with the same mouth you're using to blow them with all this preorder shit. Most of the time I have to shop at Gamestop to get the preorder bonus. If that didn't exist, I'd be more apt to buy the game at another store, like Best Buy. Thus, I'm far less likely to buy used games because I'm not in the store in the first place.

    Don't give me a reason to shop there, and I won't shop there. Shocking logic!

    I didn't want to start another "We lose money, thats why we hate gamestop" discussion. The thing I wanted to discuss is what other reasons are there for disliking the used game market.

    Again, Obsidian doesn't earn ANYTHING on sales (so far). It goes all to the publisher. So, what reason does Avallone have to dislike the used game market as much?

    C2B on
  • darkwarriorvadarkwarriorva Senior Keyboard Basher, Touch Thingy Specialist Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    C2B wrote:
    Spoit wrote:
    Exactly. Don't tell me you're butthurt that Gamestop is taking all your money with their used sales with the same mouth you're using to blow them with all this preorder shit. Most of the time I have to shop at Gamestop to get the preorder bonus. If that didn't exist, I'd be more apt to buy the game at another store, like Best Buy. Thus, I'm far less likely to buy used games because I'm not in the store in the first place.

    Don't give me a reason to shop there, and I won't shop there. Shocking logic!

    I didn't want to start another "We lose money, thats why we hate gamestop" discussion. The thing I wanted to discuss is what other reasons are there for disliking the used game market.

    Again, Obsidian doesn't earn ANYTHING on sales (so far). It goes all to the publisher. So, what reason does Avallone have to dislike the used game market as much?

    It still comes down to money and sales in my view. He wants the used market to go away so that future used sales won't impact his future game releases. I would think that nearly any developer who comes out against used game sales is more or less making the same argument. It always comes down to money. He could be saying that he wants fellow developers to reap the benefits of sales that instead go to used game sellers, but that's talking about money as well. I've never heard an "artistic integrity"-like argument against used games, and even if I did, I'm not sure how one could back that up. Not that I'm attributing that to Avellone, I'm just trying to think of other anti-used reasoning from developers that isn't money related.

    And as I usually say when developers rail against used games, I'm sure they feel the same way about the used cars, books, and houses they surely don't own....

    darkwarriorva on
  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    edited December 2011
    It still comes down to money and sales in my view. He wants the used market to go away so that future used sales won't impact his future game releases. I would think that nearly any developer who comes out against used game sales is more or less making the same argument. It always comes down to money. He could be saying that he wants fellow developers to reap the benefits of sales that instead go to used game sellers, but that's talking about money as well. I've never heard an "artistic integrity"-like argument against used games, and even if I did, I'm not sure how one could back that up. Not that I'm attributing that to Avellone, I'm just trying to think of other anti-used reasoning from developers that isn't money related.

    Indirectly? Yes.

    But still, he (or his company) doesn't make any money on it anyway. And I doubt he would care for money he is never going to recieve.

    So what possible reasons are there for him to take the whole thing so personal?

    My own conclusion is in the context of that interview as I said. In it he speaks about self-distributing and the return of more hardcore crpg principles. Taken in that another question opens.



    Which sort of games does the Used Games Market/Gamestop actually hurt most?

    And that sadly comes down to niche games that are struggeling for sales anyway. Not the big, popular ones (Especially MP Games). Leading publishers to take even less risks regarding games.

    Thats probably also why he compliments the DD Market since services like Steam contributed to the growth of more niche (indie) games.


    Edit: Just saying that I don't agree with him himself but I see where he's coming from.

    C2B on
  • urahonkyurahonky Registered User regular
    He hates the used game market because if his publisher doesn't get any money then he doesn't get any money. It's a simple as that.

  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    edited December 2011
    urahonky wrote:
    He hates the used game market because if his publisher doesn't get any money then he doesn't get any money. It's a simple as that.

    But, HE (And his company) DOESN'T GET ANY MONEY ANYWAY

    They are contractors, they are paid during development and thats it.

    C2B on
  • Magic PinkMagic Pink Tur-Boner-Fed Registered User regular
    C2B wrote:
    urahonky wrote:
    He hates the used game market because if his publisher doesn't get any money then he doesn't get any money. It's a simple as that.

    But, HE (And his company) DOESN'T GET ANY MONEY ANYWAY

    If the publisher does not get enough money from your game then they will not publish any more of your games and you will not get any money EVER.

  • chocoboliciouschocobolicious Registered User regular
    Hurting the niche market is about all used game sales do, really.

    Which is sad, since its the market that needs the most help. Oh well. Least you can't sell used PC games.

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  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    Magic Pink wrote:
    If the publisher does not get enough money from your game then they will not publish any more of your games and you will not get any money EVER.

    Yep, but as he himself states in the interview thats not much of a problem for them at the moment.

  • urahonkyurahonky Registered User regular
    edited December 2011
    Look. I get what you're saying C2B. But if/when a publisher is hurting for money who are the first to get cut? Contractors.

    e: And by cut, I mean: not hired.

    urahonky on
  • darkwarriorvadarkwarriorva Senior Keyboard Basher, Touch Thingy Specialist Registered User regular
    C2B wrote:
    It still comes down to money and sales in my view. He wants the used market to go away so that future used sales won't impact his future game releases. I would think that nearly any developer who comes out against used game sales is more or less making the same argument. It always comes down to money. He could be saying that he wants fellow developers to reap the benefits of sales that instead go to used game sellers, but that's talking about money as well. I've never heard an "artistic integrity"-like argument against used games, and even if I did, I'm not sure how one could back that up. Not that I'm attributing that to Avellone, I'm just trying to think of other anti-used reasoning from developers that isn't money related.

    Indirectly? Maybe.

    But still, he (or his company) doesn't make any money on it anyway. And I doubt he would care for money he is never going to recieve.

    So what possible reasons are there for him to take the whole thing so personal?

    My own conclusion is in the context of that interview as I said. In it he speaks about self-distributing and the return of more hardcore crpg principles. Taken in that another question opens.



    Which sort of games does the Used Games Market/Gamestop actually hurt most?

    And that sadly comes down to niche games that are struggeling for sales anyway. Not the big, popular ones (Especially MP Games). Thats probably also why he compliments the DD Market since services like Steam contributed to the growth of more niche (indie) games.


    Edit: Just saying that I don't agree with him himself but I see where he's coming from.

    Yeah, understood, it's just a point of discussion.

    When you say which games are "hurt" the most, what kind of hurt are we talking about? It sounds like it still comes down to sales and money, directly.

    I think digital distribution, regardless of the used games market, opens up more potential for niche games to find success. I'm partly betting my future on it, even. If the used games market was gone tomorrow, all those sales would not directly move over to current games. Some would, probably, but not all. Either way, I don't see the used market going away.

    Also of note is how the biggest draw of used games (price) can also be applied to most smartphone games, who also aggressively compete on price. Not on the same level of quality, generally, but I think some of these devs have more to worry about than just used games. For myself, I'm not going to whine about the used market if any of my games end up not selling.

  • C2BC2B SwitzerlandRegistered User regular
    urahonky wrote:
    Look. I get what you're saying C2B. But if/when a publisher is hurting for money who are the first to get cut? Contractors.

    e: And by cut, I mean: not hired.

    Yeah, that I can agree on. Its also more what I was referring to with my "indirectly" comment. And as I stated in the post before its not really Obsidians problem at the moment especially since they recently managed to cut costs down immensly on game production which gets them more contracts.

    I really just wanted to discuss reasons apart from the "money" reason and what used games can influence since I still think its a very interesting subject. The niche market as stated. What else?

This discussion has been closed.