Prophetic Silicon Knights boss Denis Dyack has made one of his bold predictions, suggesting that a series of big mergers, similar to ActiBlizzard, is heading our way. Comparing the games industry to 1930's Hollywood, the Nostradamus-in-glasses stated that big changes are coming and that there's nothing that can stop them.
"I think the industry is going through a paradigm change. And it’s not just North American companies, it’s all companies," stated Dyack, revealing that he knows the word "paradigm" and isn't afraid to use it. "The economy worldwide is kind of in crisis; demographics are changing and birth rates are declining. So is it easy out there? No it isn’t. Is it getting harder? Yes it is. But, if a lot of groups are not going to survive the paradigm shift, hopefully we’ll be one of those that do.
"I think if you draw parallels with the movie industry, you’ll see a lot of mergers and acquisitions that took place as it was forming in the ‘20s and ‘30s, which resulted in the six major studios that are still around today. That seems to be happening in our industry, so mergers and acquisitions are going to continue and there’s nothing that can stop it. It’s all about making the economics work."
A sobering reminder that as much as we talk about art and creativity, it's the almighty dollar that drives, rules and dominates this industry. I don't agree with everything that Dyack says (like when he says Too Human will be good), but this is definitely one of those times when he makes a lot of sense.
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:
7:31 AM on 08.18.2008
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I'd compare it to the music industry (eg. Sony + BMG = SonyBMG), although the mergers may be forced due to a global economic problem rather than an industry specific problem - ie. the music industry suffered due to online piracy, something that the games industry faces but not on such a grand scale.
It works on many levels: Not only does it mean a smaller design team etc etc but also general company stuff like finance, human resources and other similar departments. By merging, companies are given the opportunity to scale down and split these kind of departments to halve their costs.
Jim, don't know what to make of the new pic. Going for the hair?
Also i wonder if Patrick Bateman is handling any of these murders and executions... i mean mergers and aquisitions
it's spelled acquisition.
Qouth Star Wars: "The tighter your grip becomes, the more star systems that will slip through your fingers." In other words, more piracy and indy studios. It will destroy the industry, if things get bad enough.
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but people taking Dyack seriously. I mean, come on. Too Human.
(with apologies to T.S. Eliot)
point 1-
try thinking back to the 1950's- what kind of music was big - you go to the birth of rock and roll- 1960's hippie music, 1970's disco 1980's new wave and hair bands, 1990's well- it gets fuzzy, but there was some grunge in there 2000... nothing- a lot of bands from the previous 3 decades making new albums... there was no musical subculture- there were a bunch of little subcultures.
point 2 -
MTV when MTV was big in the 80's it was not only a subcultural phenomena, but it was something that became the news of the day- did you see so-and so's new video... big world premiere.... MTV news... it was not only built in advertising, but people hungered for it- MTV's subculture has gone by the wayside and seems to be an ongoing pound of reality shows about dating your ex or your your mom or pimping your mom or your mom's ex or some stupid crap- not videos or concert footage or anything of the sort
point 3 -
whether you point to hip hop or electronic music or punk- the major labels all missed the boat on trends, when labels like def jam, epitath, death row, nothing, TVT, sub pop etc. were the ones with the big bands of the day, the music industry took a big hands off approach and would only sign distribution deals- sometimes much better for the artist but it didn't allow a broader group of minds to push the trend lines in the industry.
there is more that I can go on with concerning late entry into technology, poor contracts and advertising as well as the "projected" numbers versus actual purchasers intent- but in the end what you come up with is that the music industry claiming piracy as the main thing that is causing the industry pain is really just an excuse for their poor planning and a creative way to try to get dumb people in the public to side with the fat cats in their hopes of expanding legal presidence to control IP with full extend of the legal system and enforcement with the backing of the public while stepping on their rights.
I say this both as someone who works in the legal industry and has worked with major IP cases in B2B cases and as an independent musician
If we do I hope it isn't something retarded like Electronic Artsville.
Thanks for that... I couldn't agree with you more on what you said.
I think piracy and downloading did effect the industry in a big way, BUT you're right when you mention that fact that big labels didn't grasp the idea of downloads until it was too late and Napster got in there first. Not sure right now who, but there was database and even a copyright protection system ready to launch before Napster offered free music. The fat cats were being sluggish and arrogant and, to be fair, got what they deserved.
Now bands are signed because they look the part or because of current trends and are dumped after one poor selling album, rather than having a chance to progress and fine tune their sound. It is a bull shit industry.
Myspace is a gift for bands but can also throw bands into a contract before the label realises they can't play for shit live.
MTV was blown out by Emap (in the UK anyway), who flooded us with The Box and other shitty channels where you call in and press the code for a video... MTV gave up and now don't show any videos. It brings a tear to my eye.
As for the eras, yeah, this decade will be remembered for the Myspace generation of musicians and probably R&B... Plus, the reforming of golden oldies.
Austin?
I came here to say that Portal was the equivalent of Casablanca, but whatever. Apparently it was that too human idiot that spoke, and the point seems no longer valid. Well, I think it's a good point. And it's fucking good to have someone speak everynow and then. Better some than others, but still.
I humbly request a reply button. The lack of such can no longer be ignored.