game-horizon-2013
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Sony, Microsoft going 'heavily' on free-to-play next-gen, says Epic VP Rein
Sony and Microsoft are telling developers they're "going heavily" on free-to-play and in-app purchasing models with their next-gen consoles, according to Epic Games VP Mark Rein. Speaking in a roundtable discussion at the UK's Game Horizon conference, Rein said both companies will take on the kinds of financial models seen on mobile devices. "The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these IAP-type business models," Rein told the audience, "So in case you don't know that I'm putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area." Roundtable chair Matt Martin of GamesIndustry International said that's what both platform holders are saying, but that "we still need to see some kind of evidence." Rein replied, "Well, I'm telling you. I'm telling you what they're telling developers."
Will Wright shares admiration for the three Ms: Miyamoto, Molyneux, Meier
Bespectacled brain Will Wright is one of the world's most revered game designers, both within the industry and in the more mainstream eye. But which game designers does he admire the most? Speaking at the Game Horizon conference in the UK via a video stream, Wright said he regards a great number of designers highly, including many up-and-comers. However, the Sims creator reserved special praise for three luminaries from his generation: Shigeru Miyamoto, Peter Molyneux, and Sid Meier. Nintendo veteran Miyamoto was "obviously" Wright's first choice. "He always takes the player first," Wright said. "Right off the bat he works with the controller, what does it feel like, how tactile and kinesthetic is what he's working on. He works from the inside out: 'what is the first five second player experience?' So his games have this craftsmanship behind them that's amazing and unique." The feeling is mutual; a few years back, Miyamoto said he was particularly impressed by Wright as "a very unique person and someone very special." Aw.
The Room unlocks 2 million sales
The Room has cracked 2 million sales since its launch in September 2012. Speaking at the Game Horizon conference in the UK, Fireproof Studios Commercial Director Barry Meade revealed the new milestone. The iOS and Android puzzler hit 1 million sales in January, shortly after earning Apple's iPad Game of the Year award. Meade put down the ex-Criterion devs' success to The Room being featured on Apple's store, and this generating word of mouth. He also noted originality as significant. "We did not want to do a better version of someone else's game, or an update of a genre," Meade told the audience at Game Horizon. "We thought we're not doing our jobs properly if we don't add to what's out there. As a game creator that's your responsibility. If you're not doing that, if you're chasing what other people are doing, you don't deserve success because you're not showing respect to the audience." Interior detectives can look forward to The Room getting a sequel this fall, with a free chapter due beforehand.
Will Wright's new IP focuses on players' individual, everyday lives
SimCity and Sims creator Will Wright elaborated on his next game at today's Game Horizon conference in the UK. Wright wants to bring gaming back to "normal, everyday life" with his new IP, and it'll be something "more mobile-based" than the likes of EA's SimCity. Wright, speaking via a video stream, said he wanted to make games that "are extremely relevant to the player, and extremely unique to each individual." To Wright, the ability to have different player experiences with single games is what makes the medium unique. "That really is the most important advantage that we have in games," Wright said, "And I don't really see us grabbing that and going down that path as fully as we could."
Ubisoft Reflections working on unannounced game, reveal at E3
Ubisoft Reflections is working on a game which will be announced at next month's E3 conference. Speaking at the UK's Game Horizon conference today, recently appointed managing director Pauline Jacquey said her studio's involved with another game in addition to Watch Dogs, which is due on November 19. "We work on Watch Dogs," Jacquey said, "We work on [Just Dance 4], and we work on something that I'm not supposed to tell you about. I wish that I could. It's going to be announced at E3." Jacquey prefaced her studio's recent résumé by saying Reflections collaborates internationally with other Ubisoft studios. Reflections co-developed a number of recent Ubisoft games, including Just Dance 4 and Far Cry 3. The last game the studio took the lead on is 2011's Driver: San Francisco. However, in a February GamesIndustry International interview, Jacquey said she also wants the UK-based Reflections to develop its "own games," going on to hint at a return to racing. "So I want this [collaborative international development] to be a very strong pillar of the studio," Jacquey told GamesIndustry International, "But yes, I want us to do our own games and I'm very interested in the evolution of the industry like free-to-play and digital and mobile. And that's something that I did already, in the past. Not very famous games, but still millions of players. So I don't know exactly which shape it could take, I've only been here for three months, but my intention is to have a very varied portfolio and collaboration will not just be what we do. "We already have interesting technology that we develop for the group that's linked to what we did in the past, driving. It's really cool, I think it's in the top technology you have at Ubisoft. And we have collaboration but we are already doing our own thing, but I can't talk about it."
