I once attended an interesting talk from game designer Ernest Adams who suggested that until game designers get the same level of recognition and respect as movie directors, then games still have a way to go before they can be considered art. Gears of War 2 designer Cliff Bleszinski might agree with that, given his recent comments on gaming visionaries.
"I don't think the industry values visionaries as much as it could. I really don't. As sad as it is, you're only as good as your last game, in many ways. In Hollywood, at least, you get movie jail for like a year, and you're out, and you get to try and make another good movie. In games, you screw up once, and no one ever wants to hear from you again. It's pretty sad.
Look at a guy like Ken Levine or [Peter] Molyneux or Chris Taylor or [Hideo] Kojima. I mean, we all need to celebrate these people."
I think he missed Denis Dyack from that list.
While Cliff makes an interesting point, I think if we're talking about the likes of Kojima or Molyneux, the industry is approaching that level where certain developers can survive a bad game. Besides, look at how groups like Sonic Team can churn out mountains of crap and still get to make titles. We're not quite there yet, but we're well on our way.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
5:42 PM on 10.13.2008
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People get celebrated because they consistently produce quality games and experiences. In due time, people will get the respect they deserve. Dude Huge just stopped sucking his mother's teet and made one popular mainstream game, yet he seems to pose for photo shoots on a weekly basis. I don't think he's qualified to speak on the subject.
I understand what is being said. Its shocking when a good title gets ignored and doesn't sell. I do think that the likes of Sonic Team need a real kick into touch, downtime to stop and think, why Sonic games have been going wrong and when to leave them alone and make something new.
The big industry guns will have a good turn over, but occassionally, when I see Itagaki push out Ninja Gaiden or Peter Molyneux talk about his new game guff, I wanna slap them. Some deserve more respect for their efforts than others.
But yeah, I agree with his point as long as he's speaking strictly from a business perspective. Publisher's barely provide funding for anything that isn't a sure thing anymore.
From a consumer's standpoint, I don't think most people even know who any of those people are.
Cliffy B, well apart from his eternal youthfulness really isn't that amazing.
When we praise a designer, we are actually praising the creativity; and as an art form but in its own way, videogames should regard creativity on par as individuality.
This guy's a crock of shit. He's just jealous nobody gives a fuck about him.
He didn't really mean visionaries going under, rather one person or group getting the boot because of one project they were on. Example, you all hate Gears and Cliffy B.
Game and point, now stfuajpg.
The thing we have to really look at is the fact that while gaming is as popular as ever, it's still a relatively new media, so it's only natural that we don't have superstar developers that have their work spanning generations. Another factor to consider is the technology used to make games is rapidly expanding, whereas film has been established for quite some time. So until gaming has superstar developers of a Steven Spielberg or Stanley Kubrick caliber, we're making do with established developers that have cult followings similar to Kevin Smith or Quentin Tarantino.
the only one.
his games have generally been agreed upon as damn good.
although his games always have their detractors, so too does good film, but beyond kojima I can't think of a single game designer worth "revering"
but everything kojima has touched that ive played, ive loved.
and has actually made me see the world a little differently when i was finished with it.
Actually, I kinda prefer individuals in game development not getting too big a spotlight. Keep that bullshit celebrity status in Hollywood. Just worry about making good games, and not getting fame.
Some things we cannot agree on.