Ol' Trip seems to be cropping up a lot in the gaming sites I read these days. Not sure why, exactly... But I figured a few of you here would be interested in this interview.
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/05/int ... f_trip.php
Trip Hawkins interview
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Hmm.
I think his view that 6 billion people, and so far they (game makers) have been only selling to 100,000,000 is a bit dumb (or dumbed down)
Out of that 6billion, I'd wager only a billion are rich/stupid enough to be in a position to play games, and out of that billion only half are going to be marketable and a selling to a fifth of that half-billion seems about right. I think expecting an explosion into the starving masses is somewhat hopeful. What? A free iPhone with every bag of rice thrown from the back of battered Toyota pickup? Or Wii with UN Sanctions? hmmm (they aren't going to get a signal now are they?)
He's right in another way. I think game making is driven by risk assessment/accountants. "wider appeal" being the punchline or dumbing down being my way of putting it.
While that has lead, obviously, to the prominence of the casual gamer, it's also tainted games aimed at the hardcore gamer. I played Resident Evil 5 on normal mode and only died about 6 times in total. That's obviously not right.
I don't think he's a revolutionary anymore. I think he's a good strategist. I mean, produce the games cheaper, to a wider audience on a more common platform.
...doesn't help me mind you.
The fix to my problem? Slow everything down. Let's not rush to PS4, Wii2, Xbox 720. The longer they live as platforms, the cheaper they are to produce for. 10 years (in true Sony fanboy fashion) is probably about right. The cheaper they are to produce for, for the less the risk, the more the innovation. If the next gen comes in 18 months -- gaming is dead.
I think his view that 6 billion people, and so far they (game makers) have been only selling to 100,000,000 is a bit dumb (or dumbed down)
Out of that 6billion, I'd wager only a billion are rich/stupid enough to be in a position to play games, and out of that billion only half are going to be marketable and a selling to a fifth of that half-billion seems about right. I think expecting an explosion into the starving masses is somewhat hopeful. What? A free iPhone with every bag of rice thrown from the back of battered Toyota pickup? Or Wii with UN Sanctions? hmmm (they aren't going to get a signal now are they?)
He's right in another way. I think game making is driven by risk assessment/accountants. "wider appeal" being the punchline or dumbing down being my way of putting it.
While that has lead, obviously, to the prominence of the casual gamer, it's also tainted games aimed at the hardcore gamer. I played Resident Evil 5 on normal mode and only died about 6 times in total. That's obviously not right.
I don't think he's a revolutionary anymore. I think he's a good strategist. I mean, produce the games cheaper, to a wider audience on a more common platform.
...doesn't help me mind you.
The fix to my problem? Slow everything down. Let's not rush to PS4, Wii2, Xbox 720. The longer they live as platforms, the cheaper they are to produce for. 10 years (in true Sony fanboy fashion) is probably about right. The cheaper they are to produce for, for the less the risk, the more the innovation. If the next gen comes in 18 months -- gaming is dead.
