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@theswitcher
True enough, I love to bag on bad games but its sad to see them then have to shut down because the game wasso terrible.
True enough, I love to bag on bad games but its sad to see them then have to shut down because the game wasso terrible.
Sucks that people lost their jobs but Bodyount was brutal.
I always wondered in video games companies, lets use Codemasters for example, if every single person truely believed that their game was "good".
I always wondered in video games companies, lets use Codemasters for example, if every single person truely believed that their game was "good".
Played Bodycount a bit. Much like Haze, the games biggest flaw seems to have been a lack of money/time to finish it, leaving a game that felt like it was a bunch of loose ends sloppily tied up.
And much like Haze developer Free Radical, the dev closes down after one bomb of a game. There just seems to be no room for error these days, every shot is a headshot.
And much like Haze developer Free Radical, the dev closes down after one bomb of a game. There just seems to be no room for error these days, every shot is a headshot.
@OneRed
Free Radical wasn't closed. That was widely misreported at the time. It was bought by Crytek. They're Crytek UK now. They worked on Crysis 2.
I saw this article and it immediately reminded me of Tony Ponce's (imo ridiculous) assertion that developers closing was some kind of commentary on the state of the industry and its demand for AAA or nothing. I recall, OneRed, that you and I conversed a bit in that thread as well and we differed on this topic. Not to rehash that same discussion, but if Bodycount had been anything resembling a decent game, they obviously wouldn't be in this predicament.
I get your point that a single misstep brought down a studio. That seems harsh, I admit. However, that's life. This was the studio's first game, as far as I'm aware, and it was a miserable failure. If they had some previous success, some indication that they were capable of doing better, things might have gone better for them, but they didn't, and you simply can't expect Codemasters to continue to pour resources into an unproven studio with a 0-for-1 track record.
There's nothing to infer from this news other than "money is a harsh mistress" and I think we all already knew that.
Free Radical wasn't closed. That was widely misreported at the time. It was bought by Crytek. They're Crytek UK now. They worked on Crysis 2.
I saw this article and it immediately reminded me of Tony Ponce's (imo ridiculous) assertion that developers closing was some kind of commentary on the state of the industry and its demand for AAA or nothing. I recall, OneRed, that you and I conversed a bit in that thread as well and we differed on this topic. Not to rehash that same discussion, but if Bodycount had been anything resembling a decent game, they obviously wouldn't be in this predicament.
I get your point that a single misstep brought down a studio. That seems harsh, I admit. However, that's life. This was the studio's first game, as far as I'm aware, and it was a miserable failure. If they had some previous success, some indication that they were capable of doing better, things might have gone better for them, but they didn't, and you simply can't expect Codemasters to continue to pour resources into an unproven studio with a 0-for-1 track record.
There's nothing to infer from this news other than "money is a harsh mistress" and I think we all already knew that.
@ OneRed
The difference between Free Radical and this though is that Free Radical was generally considered to be a good developer what with their Time Splitters series. Plus, they were working on Star Wars: Battlefront 3 and it was looking fantastic and would have sold tons.
While it sucks that this studio is going under, the effect is not nearly the same. We're still waiting for a really good Star Wars game let alone a sequel to Battlefront 2 after what happened. I mean, there's a reason why Free Radical was bought by Crytek instead of just vanishing entirely.
The difference between Free Radical and this though is that Free Radical was generally considered to be a good developer what with their Time Splitters series. Plus, they were working on Star Wars: Battlefront 3 and it was looking fantastic and would have sold tons.
While it sucks that this studio is going under, the effect is not nearly the same. We're still waiting for a really good Star Wars game let alone a sequel to Battlefront 2 after what happened. I mean, there's a reason why Free Radical was bought by Crytek instead of just vanishing entirely.
If only they realised sooner that their game in the current state was a bit shit, and not only were the controls horrible but so was the plot, the hit and miss "destruction" gimmick, the direction of the development, in fact the whole damn game from the concept up really needed taking back to the concept stage instead of releasing this middle of the road turdsquirrel that is apparently now roadkilled turdsquirrel. Also, Black had a more coherent plot, a better sense of direction and actually had pretty graphics/a decent colour scheme.
Just my 2 pence there.
Just my 2 pence there.
@tristrix
Split/second resembled a very good game and bizarre creations still got shut down due to lack of awesomely spectacular sales.
Split/second resembled a very good game and bizarre creations still got shut down due to lack of awesomely spectacular sales.
@tekbunny
That one I'll grant you. That fucking sucks, because I adored Split/Second. I don't think one example creates a pattern though. I think it creates serious doubts about the genitalia of Disney Interactive execs.
That one I'll grant you. That fucking sucks, because I adored Split/Second. I don't think one example creates a pattern though. I think it creates serious doubts about the genitalia of Disney Interactive execs.
Sucks for the people who lost work, but I don't think any amount of time or money given to a bad idea will improve anything. I remember seeing the demo show up on XBL and before downloading it, I checked out the screenshots. Looked so fucking generic, I didn't even bother with checking out the demo.
Maybe some people found their value and entertainment in it, but my impression from just looking at the screens was that someone was trying to sell me on the idea of betting on a three-legged horse to win the race.
Maybe some people found their value and entertainment in it, but my impression from just looking at the screens was that someone was trying to sell me on the idea of betting on a three-legged horse to win the race.
@tekbunny
Bizarre was Blur. Good game, but its poor sales certainly contributed to Bizarre's death.
Black Rock Studio was Split/Second. Supposedly a good game, but just like Blur, poor sales contributed to the studio's death.
Bizarre was Blur. Good game, but its poor sales certainly contributed to Bizarre's death.
Black Rock Studio was Split/Second. Supposedly a good game, but just like Blur, poor sales contributed to the studio's death.
The British games industry is royally f****d right now and it's not getting any better.
Codemasters should have freaking LEARNED after Operation Flashpoint, that you actually have to follow through and not half ass it to make a good game. Most people had probably never even heard of Bodycount, they just completely failed in all respects with it.
A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever. I guess Codemasters are just going to stick to making the same damn racing game as they've lost their balls.
Codemasters should have freaking LEARNED after Operation Flashpoint, that you actually have to follow through and not half ass it to make a good game. Most people had probably never even heard of Bodycount, they just completely failed in all respects with it.
A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever. I guess Codemasters are just going to stick to making the same damn racing game as they've lost their balls.
@Baines
A lot of that was poor planning, too. You had two very similar games release right on top of one another, so they divided sales. That's just stupid on someone's part. I get that both games were developed concurrently and independently, but someone should have been the bigger man and delayed release for their own good. Instead, they competed head-to-head to both their detriment.
A lot of that was poor planning, too. You had two very similar games release right on top of one another, so they divided sales. That's just stupid on someone's part. I get that both games were developed concurrently and independently, but someone should have been the bigger man and delayed release for their own good. Instead, they competed head-to-head to both their detriment.
The other thing that you guys need to remember is that LucasArts also pulled the plug on Battlefront 4 that Free Radical were developing, cutting even more funding and needing to be bought out then.
And if you like racing games, Codemasters aren't always "the same racing games", each one is fantabulous.
And if you like racing games, Codemasters aren't always "the same racing games", each one is fantabulous.
No offense to Codemasters, they've been with us for.. Well, just about forever.. But their games, including Bodycount, never make a huge impact on the industry as far as I could ever tell. Honestly, the only games I can really remember they've made half the time are those old Chess Master games, and its been -like- 15 years since I've played one.. But the funny thing is I get their news letter emails and from time to time they spam me with new info and Beta sign ups for what feels like way more time they they should.. But nothing they make is interesting at all. Sure, they published both Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online, but I had to look that up even to remember that, and both games are Turbine's babies, not theirs.
And take Bodycount. The game really looked super generic and I didn't need to pick up a controller to see it. Instead all I had to do was open an email meant to get me all jazzed up and juicy about the game, from the games creators, to see that, yep, just another lifeless experience. Sure, it sucks that people had to lose their jobs over this, and that's how the industry has to be, but.. I don't know.. Somethings got to give eventually and I can't really see how the company is staying afloat at all in this economy with the type of games they put out.
And take Bodycount. The game really looked super generic and I didn't need to pick up a controller to see it. Instead all I had to do was open an email meant to get me all jazzed up and juicy about the game, from the games creators, to see that, yep, just another lifeless experience. Sure, it sucks that people had to lose their jobs over this, and that's how the industry has to be, but.. I don't know.. Somethings got to give eventually and I can't really see how the company is staying afloat at all in this economy with the type of games they put out.
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