In an interview with Develop, Rockstar's Sam Houser has been discussing the success of the Grand Theft Auto series, revealing that the studio's products aren't focus tested like other games, and that they don't develop with the mystical hardcore/casual divide in mind.
"We always tried to make games that anyone could pick up and play. They may, over time, reveal a lot of structural and mechanical complexity," stated Houser. "But the first mission of more or less any Rockstar game is very easy and engaging for a reason – because new people playing the game have to be gently led into the world of 3D action games, or open world racing games or whatever. This is the way we try to cater for a mass-market."
The Rockstar co-founder admitted that the hardcore/casual divide "doesn't make sense," to his company, stating that: "Good games will usually sell and be popular, bad games will struggle – of any type or genre or style." He added that it will be the big, high impact games that lead the industry as it evolves into a mainstream medium, and also criticized those companies that focus test and pander to a specific demographic, calling such activities "an anathema to creativity."
Houser says a lot of things that make sense (GTA has always been popular with people who game "casually"), but sadly his suggestion that good games tend to do well while bad games suffer isn't as true as it should be. We've seen plenty of excellent titles die in terms of sales while utter trash invariably tops the charts. The mainstream market has no eye for quality, which is why poor movie licenses sell and Big Brother is a highly rated TV show. Watered down, bland, shallow crap is what mostly shifts, because that's what people like.
Contest:
9:45 AM on 08.16.2008
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Also, when did Samit become a playable character in Bully?
Also, this hardcore-casual marketing nonsense needs to die. It simply seems like a tool, filtered into the gaming community from corporate offices, to artificially divide and give kudos to those who devote their time to this consumerist hobby.
Everybody needs a justification for their actions, especially one that is as mindless as gaming, if you boil it down to its base elements, and the 'Hardcore' label seems to serve its purpose well for its intended audience. Kinda like 360 achievements. Though, I find it interesting this is being brought up on 'Destructoid, the hardcore gaming community'...
For every RE or Bioshock experience, it can be just as much fun to fool around with something simple like Tetris or Guitar Hero.
My only gripe, is that there seems to be a lack of balance these days. I understand that businesses need to make money, and therefor cater to the largest audience, but it sometimes leaves us -- the supposed 'bread and butter' of the industry-- out in the cold.
I feel sorry for the hardcore gamer on a budget, who thought that the Wii was going serve all their needs.
I think that sums up the mainstream quite nicely. At this point, profit matters more than quality, and until that changes, and people raise their standards, then things may change.
His other comment about bad games not selling that well is not always the case. As in other medium like movies such as say There Will Be Blood,, or No Country For Old Men which are great movies, but don't appeal to the majority of the general public. A movie like Meet The Spartans will fill more seats than say a Woody Allen or Coen Brothers flick. Its sad, but as it stands thats where we are.
its like in music when people like a band thats good, and the band blows up then they toss it to the side...weak. like why are you in this? for you, or cause the game is tight? both right, its a fine line
bottom line if a game is good its good and its gonna satisfy the geeks that are down for this shit and the kool aid drinkers will want a taste cause it looks refreshing. they gotta put some bows and ties and shit make sure it smells good. wow i'm kinda hung over. kool aid is tight too, but "aint no vitamins in that shit" there gotta be something deep about it
its like in music when people like a band thats good, and the band blows up then they toss it to the side...weak. like why are you in this? for you, or cause the game is tight? both right, its a fine line
bottom line if a game is good its good and its gonna satisfy the geeks that are down for this shit and the kool aid drinkers will want a taste cause it looks refreshing. they gotta put some bows and ties and shit make sure it smells good. wow i'm kinda hung over. kool aid is tight too, but "aint no vitamins in that shit" there gotta be something deep about it
and sure. shit licensed games will always sell over a million, but they will never do the ridiculous numbers that good games with good marketing (CoD4, BioShock, GTA4, etc.) can do.
GTA4 being the exception to that rule then. Also, while I understand the reasoning behind having the first few missions as simple fetch and carry stuff to ease people into the controls, how many people havnt worked it out after 6 hours, when the missions are still as retard simple?
Lets face it, GTA is a casual game. The only difficulties come not from the complexity of what you have to do but from the poor controls/game mechanics. GTA4 is basically a collection of mini games for adults.
I think some companies don't market the games they release sometimes. For whatever reasons, mostly involving money I'm sure. Like a movie company that limits the release of their new film and runs no ads for it. (Midnight Meat Train, anyone?) Makes no sense to me, but somewhere their is an office filled with suits making decisions only they understand.
I'd like to see some better viral marketing for games. The Dark Knight really did well to bring itself to the internet goers and look at them rolling in extra $$$. Spend money to make money does work sometimes.
Also, I haven't played anything on my Wii for months. Thanks, Nintendo!