There is, but they have other priorities. It will probably take a while until it arrives (if it finally does), the other updates come first.
Ken LevineI have a question: do you guys think that Microsoft will "just" keep buying studios or is it likely that they will also build more from scratch like they are doing with The Initiative? And if so, who would you like to see leading new studios
They will probably only build a studio if they have a person or team to build it around, so probably acquisitions mostly. While Amy would be a good choice as a creative director/narrative director, based off some of the reporting of her projects it would be best to have a different studio head and have an experienced producer. Maybe they could attract someone like Chris Avellone out of freelance work, there is probably quite a few people they could pull from other publishers.I have a question: do you guys think that Microsoft will "just" keep buying studios or is it likely that they will also build more from scratch like they are doing with The Initiative? And if so, who would you like to see leading new studios? I personally was hoping they'd do with Amy Henig what they are doing with Gallagher, but she went in a different direction after leaving EA. Perhaps give resources to one of the many Japanese legends who aren't doing anything relevant?
Ken's busy working on his "narrative legos" game with T2.
It would be a huge mistake, in my opinion. I had to write a profile on him for an article a few years back. He is a very toxic boss, terrible at managing people or resources. Most of the tech and ideas of System Shock 2 were "borrowed" from Looking Glass (it's a very interesting story, Edge magazine wrote about it a few years ago). Then he made Bioshock, which is basically the System Shock 2 concept in a different setting. Very overrated developer, in my opinion.
I dont see a real reason for them to build from scratch a small to medium studio and not aim for a AAA studio, headed by a veteran and someone that has proven themselves.I have a question: do you guys think that Microsoft will "just" keep buying studios or is it likely that they will also build more from scratch like they are doing with The Initiative? And if so, who would you like to see leading new studios? I personally was hoping they'd do with Amy Henig what they are doing with Gallagher, but she went in a different direction after leaving EA. Perhaps give resources to one of the many Japanese legends who aren't doing anything relevant?
Matt Booty recently said "Our view on studios and partners includes three general categories: long-term partners that we can bring in to the fold and help them grow to their next level, smaller studios built around creative leaders and the ability to explore unique stories and characters, and lastly, starting new projects around proven veteran leaders"I have a question: do you guys think that Microsoft will "just" keep buying studios or is it likely that they will also build more from scratch like they are doing with The Initiative? And if so, who would you like to see leading new studios? I personally was hoping they'd do with Amy Henig what they are doing with Gallagher, but she went in a different direction after leaving EA. Perhaps give resources to one of the many Japanese legends who aren't doing anything relevant?
I have been saying this. It would make a lot of sense. I believe we will see a lot happen within the next 12 months.I think you're more likely to see Microsoft grow their big studios into two major dev teams like Playground games.
I think you're more likely to see Microsoft grow their big studios into two major dev teams like Playground games.
You're right in regards to making high quality, large scale games in a timely manner. I think the help of external studios is going to be a necessity. I think PG's success/failure in this will act as a barometer for how Microsoft evolves their first party studios. It could be instead of growing their big studios into 2 major dev teams, they simply grow their small studios into big ones.I think studios having two full teams that can make games concurrently is a dead dream, very dead. Naught Dog is an excellent example of this, with TLOU the intention was to have two studios but that shit was finished very quickly, the number of bodies needed to make an AAA game is simply huge. Guerrilla Games had so many external studios helping with Horizon and now they are going up to 400, but the reason is to have games not take 7 years to make. You can see with the Halo: Infinite announcement today that the number of bodies needed for a game is getting pretty silly, 1000 person developments are becoming the norm.
Playground also aren't going to make a small game with Fable, it is very obviously going to be an open world game which by the nature of the genre will need a huge number of people working on it. The best I feel we can hope for is one full production being in place and then there is a second smaller team, getting things rolling for the next game. I would assume that is what is happening with Playground right now, a small team is there getting the Fable world ready. It is going to be mighty interesting to see what happens with PG, they are not going to abandon Horizon and have a Fable game to make. They are either going to have a HUGE number of external studios helping or the studio is easily going to be the biggest first party going around.
Matt booty already said they are looking to start up new studios with industry veterans.I have a question: do you guys think that Microsoft will "just" keep buying studios or is it likely that they will also build more from scratch like they are doing with The Initiative? And if so, who would you like to see leading new studios? I personally was hoping they'd do with Amy Henig what they are doing with Gallagher, but she went in a different direction after leaving EA. Perhaps give resources to one of the many Japanese legends who aren't doing anything relevant?
Playground has two studios, one dedicated to Horizon, the other to Fable. I assume the majority of MS's studios have a large team and small pre-pro team set-up, the end goal for the Fable studio currently is 200. PG is run very lean and efficient, but with next-gen coming they are probably going to have to grow a lot more.I think studios having two full teams that can make games concurrently is a dead dream, very dead. Naught Dog is an excellent example of this, with TLOU the intention was to have two studios but that shit was finished very quickly, the number of bodies needed to make an AAA game is simply huge. Guerrilla Games had so many external studios helping with Horizon and now they are going up to 400, but the reason is to have games not take 7 years to make. You can see with the Halo: Infinite announcement today that the number of bodies needed for a game is getting pretty silly, 1000 person developments are becoming the norm.
Playground also aren't going to make a small game with Fable, it is very obviously going to be an open world game which by the nature of the genre will need a huge number of people working on it. The best I feel we can hope for is one full production being in place and then there is a second smaller team, getting things rolling for the next game. I would assume that is what is happening with Playground right now, a small team is there getting the Fable world ready. It is going to be mighty interesting to see what happens with PG, they are not going to abandon Horizon and have a Fable game to make. They are either going to have a HUGE number of external studios helping or the studio is easily going to be the biggest first party going around.
So, uh... why did they approach Sony in the first place, then?If this is the case than why wouldn't marvel cut out the middle man with the sequel. If they approached Sony and Sony gave it to a 3rd party wouldn't it make sense for them to just bypass Sony and go straight to insomniac next time. That way Spider-Man 2 could be on switch, pc, and Xbox.
If what ur saying is true than it make zero sense for marvel to even talk to Sony again about Spider-Man 2.... there would be no need.
Yeah, feels like MS wants to hit the ground running with Scarlet.I like how early next gen appears stacked, a complete opposite to the start of this gen. 2013, 2014 and 2015 to some extent were barren and unremarkable years (more so for the PS4).
I hope they pick another 2-3 small to med studios... esp Moon!
Small to med studios are more innovative.
It's obvious Marvel's partnership with Sony with the Spider Man IP from the movies trickled down to the game. I don't care what anybody at Sony or Insomniac claim.So, uh... why did they approach Sony in the first place, then?
Because that makes no sense at all and it reeks of a fabricated fairy tale.I don't know why some people still think the Marvel-Playstation partnership with Spider-Man is because of that Sony owns the film rights. It's not.
Marvel approached Playstation, they wanted Playstation to develop a Marvel game and treat it the same way they treat their own first party games. Playstation approached Insomniac and let them choose a character, Insomniac chose Spider-Man.
Everything Spider-Man is in the hands of Insomniac and Playstation for the forseeable future as stated by Marvel.
you mean the movie right with Marvel for forseeable futureBecause that makes no sense at all and it reeks of a fabricated fairy tale.
The game will be in Sony hands for the forseeable future because the Spiderman movie rights will be in Sony hands for the forseeable future.
I don't know about that. I think it made sense now because Marvel and Sony were capable of coming to a deal for Spider man to be in the MCU for a 5 picture deal. I think the future will be determined by a number of factors such as if a new deal is made or not, and/or how well this game sells. Huge game sales on PS4 could keep it an exclusive for Sony's platform for a while regardless if Sony and Marvel reup their movie deal or not.Because that makes no sense at all and it reeks of a fabricated fairy tale.
The game will be in Sony hands for the forseeable future because the Spiderman movie rights will be in Sony hands for the forseeable future.
I think it's more of a stretch to believe this is all a big coincidence.Why in the world would anyone fabricate a story about how Spider-Man PS4 came to be? You guys are really stretching here.
Yup, couple that with their focus on backwards/forward compatibility and it's a great feeling to know that these games will be playable on future hardware whenever you decide to jump in.Yeah, feels like MS wants to hit the ground running with Scarlet.
What's cool is that they're not throwing in the towel for this gen. We're still getting Gears 5, Halo Infinite etc.
79 million consoles soldSo, uh... why did they approach Sony in the first place, then?
I think their partnership had way more to do with having one of their global popular IP's exclusive to one platform than Marvel simply wanting a high quality game and willing to sacrifice other platforms.While Sony owning the rights to the Spider Man movies definitely influences the decision, I think that it has more to do with Marvel wanting the games to be of high quality. The only way to ensure that is by going with the company that has done just that since Bloodborne. When you look at how Activision treated the Spider Man license, I would be running for Sony as well. For the first time in a long time, if not forever, there will finally be an excellent Spider Man game. I definitely believe that it's more of a quality thing than anything else simply because if it wasn't, why not have one of the internal studios work on the game instead of Insomniac which is not owned by Sony and could decide that they just want to make one great game and that's it? That's too much of a risk in my eyes so it's definitely more due to Marvel wanting the game to be of high quality.
The present wouldn't have any bearing in the past when this deal was made. At the earliest this deal had to have been made 3-5 years ago.
I like how early next gen appears stacked, a complete opposite to the start of this gen. 2013, 2014 and 2015 to some extent were barren and unremarkable years (more so for the PS4).
That's true. But Playstation's massive sales lead has been obvious for a long time now.The present wouldn't have any bearing in the past when this deal was made. At the earliest this deal had to have been made 3-5 years ago.
I think their partnership had way more to do with having one of their global popular IP's exclusive to one platform than Marvel simply wanting a high quality game and willing to sacrifice other platforms.
Can't really agree here. I loved 2013-2016 exclusive-wise.I like how early next gen appears stacked, a complete opposite to the start of this gen. 2013, 2014 and 2015 to some extent were barren and unremarkable years (more so for the PS4).
Doesn't have to be part of the movie deal for Sony and Marvel's partnership with Spider Man trickle down to video games.. Sony also has their own Spider Man film releasing later this year. Its all in synergy to the Spider Man IP, which both Marvel and Sony are invested in.That's true. But Playstation's massive sales lead has been obvious for a long time now.
The only way I can see this relating to the movies is if it was part of the deal to get Spider-man in the MCU. Marvel get Spider-man in their movies, he gets super popular again because they know how to make superhero movies, Sony gets to ride the coat tails with a super successful game.
Talk about strawman arguments. I'm not salty the game won't be available on my preferred platform of choice. I'm contesting this notion from you that it was MORE to do with Marvel wanting a high quality game. Sony is only the publisher to this game. The quality comes from an independent studio in Insomniac.What are they really sacrificing though? Majority of gamers who play on Xbox One aren't going to run to buy Spider Man. Maybe 2M max and if the game was multi-platform, it would probably be bad and thus, sell even less than that because Spider Man or not, for the first time ever, im actually interested and buying the game because I know the quality will be there. If it was just another Activision or multi-platform cash grab, I wouldn't even give it a second look.
To be perfectly honest, I much rather prefer Spider Man being exclusive to Sony and getting an excellent game that im guaranteed to buy as opposed to just another multi-platform licensed cash grab ala Activision. Wouldn't you? I want high quality. I don't want shit.
I can understand Xbox One only owners being salty but if you really want to play the game, buy a PS4, play the game to completion and trade it all in if PS4 isn't for you. Hell, I bought Xbox One for ROTTR because I didn't want to wait a year. I bought an Xbox One X because I want the best and 2019 should be excellent when it comes to exclusives. Fuck the console wars bullshit. It's all about if the game is of high quality and how badly you want to play it. Also, when you look at Insomniac, majority if not almost all of their success has been on the PlayStation platform. It's just what it is.
As for the game itself, I for one can't wait. Six more weeks to go. Looks great and the swinging is said to be so fluid and responsive. Overall, the game looks to be of high quality and simply, a lot of fun to play.
I think it's more a marketing problem than a quality problem. A friend told me that if Quantum Break was published by Sony, it would be a 90+ game on metacritic. After playing it, I totally agree.The main difference isn't quantity at all, it's quality. Sony's published games (internal or external) have simply been of a higher quality and since Bloodborne, way more consistent. Unless the games simply aren't appealing or interesting to you, I don't see how any year has been barren.
My main thing is that I simply want to see Microsoft's published games be of a higher quality next gen than what they have been this gen. I'll easily take two high quality games in a year over five above average games. That's what im hoping will happen from all the studios for next gen.
I think it's more a marketing problem than a quality problem. A friend told me that if Quantum Break was published by Sony, it would be a 90+ game on metacritic. After playing it, I totally agree.
Halo Wars 2 and Quantum Break are excellent games. Sunset Overdrive too. I really think that the metascore of these games is a shame.
Talk about strawman arguments. I'm not salty the game won't be available on my preferred platform of choice. I'm contesting this notion from you that it was MORE to do with Marvel wanting a high quality game. Sony is only the publisher to this game. The quality comes from an independent studio in Insomniac.
So if Marvel was simply concerned with quality they could've used a third party publisher like Activision and contracted Insominiac to develop it and have their global popular IP video game on multiple platforms. Kinda like Activision publishing From Software's next game on multiple platforms while maintaining the quality of Bloodborne. It's almost as if there were other more obvious factors why this union between Sony, Marvel, and a Spiderman video game PS4 exclusive occured during the same time Sony, Marvel, and Spiderman are in a MCU deal.
Also PC is part of that multiple platform I was refferring to.
Playful
Certain Affinity
Ruffian Games
And Microsoft Studios would be complete imo.
I think it's more a marketing problem than a quality problem. A friend told me that if Quantum Break was published by Sony, it would be a 90+ game on metacritic. After playing it, I totally agree.
Halo Wars 2 and Quantum Break are excellent games. Sunset Overdrive too. I really think that the metascore of these games is a shame.
You are forgetting a big part of the deal,Marvel approached Sony for a big game than Sony went to Insomniac who has decided to make Spider-Man they could have chosen another Marvel ip but they choiced spider man. So your suspicious about the movie rights are wrongTalk about strawman arguments. I'm not salty the game won't be available on my preferred platform of choice. I'm contesting this notion from you that it was MORE to do with Marvel wanting a high quality game. Sony is only the publisher to this game. The quality comes from an independent studio in Insomniac.
So if Marvel was simply concerned with quality they could've used a third party publisher like Activision and contracted Insominiac to develop it and have their global popular IP video game on multiple platforms. Kinda like Activision publishing From Software's next game on multiple platforms while maintaining the quality of Bloodborne. It's almost as if there were other more obvious factors why this union between Sony, Marvel, and a Spiderman video game PS4 exclusive occured during the same time Sony, Marvel, and Spiderman are in a MCU deal.
Also PC is part of that multiple platform I was refferring to.
I've heard the story and don't believe Sony, who don't fund IP's they don't own hence them passing on Insomniac's Sunset Overdrive, would happily license any expensive Marvel IP Insomniac wanted to choose and fund it's development out of the kindness of their heart. It's no coincidence that the IP that was chosen happens to be the one Marvel IP Sony has a vested interest in theatrically. To believe otherwise would be naive.You are forgetting a big part of the deal,Marvel approached Sony for a big game than Sony went to Insomniac who has decided to make Spider-Man they could have chosen another Marvel ip but they choiced spider man. So your suspicious about the movie rights are wrong
Insomniac said the part about the Spider-Man choice if you don't want to believe even them do what you wantI've heard the story and don't believe Sony, who don't fund IP's they don't own hence them passing on Insomniac's Sunset Overdrive, would happily license any expensive Marvel IP Insomniac wanted to choose and fund it's development out of the kindness of their heart. It's no coincidence that the IP that was chosen happens to be the one Marvel IP Sony has a vested interest in theatrically. To believe otherwise would be naive.
Of course I don't believe it because it doesn't make sense for Sony to license an IP they don't own and contract an Independent studio to make it when they don't fund IP's they don't own... unless there was something more to it.Insomniac said the part about the Spider-Man choice if you don't want to believe even them do what you want