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[b0bbyJ03]

MS shuttered multiple studios last generation, didn't open any to replace them, and are now suddenly in a mad scramble to open studios and push out early XB1 titles.

Investing strongly on the doorstep of a new generation isn't a commitment to first party software. Expanding your first party studios and supporting the console you have out with major new titles through the launch of your new console is a commitment to first party software.

Case in point: I don't know who the hell even works at Black Tusk so why would I have any interest in a game they're making? I'm not eagerly anticipating the next game from Nihilistic and they've at least made something before.

Meanwhile I know what Naughty Dog brings to the table. I know what Sucker Punch brings to the table. I know what Guerrilla Games is capable of. I know that at worst Sony has damn near a dozen very strong first party studios that turn out at least "good" games, with several of them more than capable of hitting a home run every time up to the plate.

MS could have had something like that, if they gave a shit about first party development. Instead they let Bungie walk because they just wanted a Halo cow to milk (and now have one with 343 apparently). They sunk the PGR franchise by not picking up Bizarre Creations once they were outside the X360's launch window. Shut down FASA and let Weismann take the IPs with him. Doomed Crackdown to irrelevance when they chose not to sign Realtime Worlds up for a multi-game commitment. Have had a massive talent exodus from Rare because they've changed corporate culture and restricted their freedom to create. Had a similarly massive talent exodus from Lionhead while face-stabbing the Fable brand with a mediocre 3rd game followed by a shitty Kinect spin off.

I could go on. Suffice to say these are not the actions of someone looking to build a strong first party division. Lip service and random dollar amounts thrown at the problem on the cusp of a new generation isn't enough to bait me in. Show the love all generation long if you want to claim a commitment to first party software.

Damn, I have nothing left to say

 

[RobotRocker]

MS shuttered multiple studios last generation, didn't open any to replace them, and are now suddenly in a mad scramble to open studios and push out early XB1 titles.

Investing strongly on the doorstep of a new generation isn't a commitment to first party software. Expanding your first party studios and supporting the console you have out with major new titles through the launch of your new console is a commitment to first party software.

Case in point: I don't know who the hell even works at Black Tusk so why would I have any interest in a game they're making? I'm not eagerly anticipating the next game from Nihilistic and they've at least made something before.

Meanwhile I know what Naughty Dog brings to the table. I know what Sucker Punch brings to the table. I know what Guerrilla Games is capable of. I know that at worst Sony has damn near a dozen very strong first party studios that turn out at least "good" games, with several of them more than capable of hitting a home run every time up to the plate.

MS could have had something like that, if they gave a shit about first party development. Instead they let Bungie walk because they just wanted a Halo cow to milk (and now have one with 343 apparently). They sunk the PGR franchise by not picking up Bizarre Creations once they were outside the X360's launch window. Shut down FASA and let Weismann take the IPs with him. Doomed Crackdown to irrelevance when they chose not to sign Realtime Worlds up for a multi-game commitment. Have had a massive talent exodus from Rare because they've changed corporate culture and restricted their freedom to create. Had a similarly massive talent exodus from Lionhead while face-stabbing the Fable brand with a mediocre 3rd game followed by a shitty Kinect spin off.

I could go on. Suffice to say these are not the actions of someone looking to build a strong first party division. Lip service and random dollar amounts thrown at the problem on the cusp of a new generation isn't enough to bait me in. Show the love all generation long if you want to claim a commitment to first party software.

Sony also went on it's own meltdown and killed Studio Liverpool despite it's greatest work of all time in Wipeout HD and shoving it all off to Evolution who's been showing diminishing returns. They Got rid of Incog, despite Warhawk being rather decent. Shut down Zipper after not really giving MAG a lot of support. Completely crapped on Eat Sleep Play and LightBox despite delivering two great games in Twisted Metal and Starhawk and seemed content to drive off Superbot as well.

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

 

[SolidSnakex]

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

Then Sony needs to stall more often if that means that they release games like The Last of Us when they do.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Are we really at the point where we're revising history and blaming MS for not buying studios or not locking developers who clearly had other plans into developing sequels?

Really?

 

[makingmusic476]

Sony also went on it's own meltdown and killed Studio Liverpool despite it's greatest work of all time in Wipeout HD and shoving it all off to Evolution who's been showing diminishing returns. They Got rid of Incog, despite Warhawk being rather decent. Shut down Zipper after not really giving MAG a lot of support. Completely crapped on Eat Sleep Play and LightBox despite delivering two great games in Twisted Metal and Starhawk and seemed content to drive off Superbot as well.

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

I thought Incognito was more a case of the developers steadily leaving over the course of a decade, with Warhawk being the last hurrah before the rest splitting between Lightbox and Eat, Sleep, Play.

 

[SolidSnakex]

I thought Incognito was more a case of the developers steadily leaving over the course of a decade, with Warhawk being the last hurrah before the rest splitting between Lightbox and Eat, Sleep, Play.

That's correct. They were basically a shell by that time so Sony just shut the studio down.

 

[Recon_NL]

MS shuttered multiple studios last generation, didn't open any to replace them, and are now suddenly in a mad scramble to open studios and push out early XB1 titles.

Investing strongly on the doorstep of a new generation isn't a commitment to first party software. Expanding your first party studios and supporting the console you have out with major new titles through the launch of your new console is a commitment to first party software.

Case in point: I don't know who the hell even works at Black Tusk so why would I have any interest in a game they're making? I'm not eagerly anticipating the next game from Nihilistic and they've at least made something before.

Meanwhile I know what Naughty Dog brings to the table. I know what Sucker Punch brings to the table. I know what Guerrilla Games is capable of. I know that at worst Sony has damn near a dozen very strong first party studios that turn out at least "good" games, with several of them more than capable of hitting a home run every time up to the plate.

MS could have had something like that, if they gave a shit about first party development. Instead they let Bungie walk because they just wanted a Halo cow to milk (and now have one with 343 apparently). They sunk the PGR franchise by not picking up Bizarre Creations once they were outside the X360's launch window. Shut down FASA and let Weismann take the IPs with him. Doomed Crackdown to irrelevance when they chose not to sign Realtime Worlds up for a multi-game commitment. Have had a massive talent exodus from Rare because they've changed corporate culture and restricted their freedom to create. Had a similarly massive talent exodus from Lionhead while face-stabbing the Fable brand with a mediocre 3rd game followed by a shitty Kinect spin off.

I could go on. Suffice to say these are not the actions of someone looking to build a strong first party division. Lip service and random dollar amounts thrown at the problem on the cusp of a new generation isn't enough to bait me in. Show the love all generation long if you want to claim a commitment to first party software.

My reaction after reading your post....Well done!

 

[Neuromancer]

Are we really at the point where we're revising history and blaming MS for not buying studios or not locking developers who clearly had other plans into developing sequels?

Really?

Realtime Worlds was all set to make Crackdown 2, but MS wasn't interested.

 

[kaching]

Incog imploded mostly by their own doing. Their ambition got ahead of their ability with Warhawk, so they only delivered half the game it was supposed to be. That half was fantastic, but it doesn't change the fact that it was a salvaged project. Meanwhile Jaffe starts going through a 2-3 yr long identity crisis about what kind of games he wants to make after GoW. There's some incredible talent on that team, but they just don't seem to scale well.

 

[Ricky_R]

Are we really at the point where we're revising history and blaming MS for not buying studios or not locking developers who clearly had other plans into developing sequels?

Really?

So you don't think that a history of lack of a long term commitment in first party offering is important?

 

[makingmusic476]

Realtime Worlds was all set to make Crackdown 2, but MS wasn't interested.

And I wouldn't say that the guys at FASA and Ensemble merely had "other plans".

 

[borghe]

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

Saying this less than a month after Last of Us and the GranTurismo 6 demo released is probably not going to help your case here... not to mention GoW:A and The Show '13 already out, and Beyond Two Souls and Puppeteer still yet to release this year.

Sony's first party output is absolutely monstrous this year.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Realtime Worlds was all set to make Crackdown 2, but MS wasn't interested.

You're going to have to source that as I remember them being pretty dead set on ABP. Pretty sure it was also announced before Crackdown was released too.

 

[genjiZERO]

Are we really at the point where we're revising history and blaming MS for not buying studios or not locking developers who clearly had other plans into developing sequels?

Really?

Buying studios and locking developers is not necessarily the same as cultivating first party development. They could fund studios from the ground up.

 

[Krilekk]

Realtime Worlds was all set to make Crackdown 2, but MS wasn't interested.

No, by the time Microsoft asked them for a sequel they were already busy with APB.

 

[Willy Wanka]

They are arguing that EDGE used to be biased towards the PS3. It's no that difficult to understand really. This is what makes the EDGE cover remarkable.

Edge have never had an anti-Sony bias. The notion is garbage, as is the 'evidence' that was posted in most Edge review score threads on here over the last few years.

 

[Wynnebeck]

Sony also went on it's own meltdown and killed Studio Liverpool despite it's greatest work of all time in Wipeout HD and shoving it all off to Evolution who's been showing diminishing returns. They Got rid of Incog, despite Warhawk being rather decent. Shut down Zipper after not really giving MAG a lot of support. Completely crapped on Eat Sleep Play and LightBox despite delivering two great games in Twisted Metal and Starhawk and seemed content to drive off Superbot as well.

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

You're kidding right? Sony still has the largest stable of first party studios in the industry with several of them turning out critical and financial hits, Naughty Dog being the prime example. Sony has only been shutting down studios that I guess they didn't deem financially viable not out of negligence which was on MS's part.

 

[Neuromancer]

You're going to have to source that as I remember them being pretty dead set on ABP. Pretty sure it was also announced before Crackdown was released too.

Q: One of the titles announced at E3 was Crackdown 2 - what are your thoughts on that game being developed by Ruffian?

David Jones (CEO of Real Time Worlds): Well, obviously we created the original, and you want to be associated with success, so we want to see it go on and do great things. It has such a strong following now, but it was one of those products that came out of nowhere, and I think that was indicative of some of the problems in the industry before - Microsoft didn't quite know what it was, didn't quite know how to market it. It was one of those sandbox games, and I think the success caught Microsoft by surprise a little bit.

We were always ready to start work on the sequel, and get cracking, but one of the big problems facing developers is that you have to know what you're working on about four or five months before your project ends - so at that point we tried to have a discussion, get things kicked off... but in the end we decided to plough ahead with APB.

The bottom line is that what we thought would happen is that a sequel would be done by a studio somewhere... maybe one of the internal studios, or others that they've worked with, and that would be the way it went forward.

I think it was unfortunate that it had to be with a start-up in Dundee... it is challenging to get enough developers in one region as it is, so that was the only little big of negativity to the story.

Q: And do you get on with Ruffian okay?

David Jones: Yeah, it's just one of those awkward moments. In terms of the franchise, as always - as with anything we've created - we're always keen to see it do great things. This is like a bump in the road... was there really no way it could have been done by one of the studios Microsoft shut down...?

Q: "Of all the gin-joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine..."

David Jones: Exactly. That was the only negative thing. I was a bit miffed at Microsoft that it happened that way, but you live and learn.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/realtime-worlds-david-jones

 

[Ryuuga]

Buying studios and locking developers is not necessarily the same as cultivating first party development. They could fund studios from the ground up.

Speaking of which is MS still in talks with Mistwalker?

 

[imtehman]

A bias isn't an all or nothing situation, it's just an imbalance of views over a given time. You could be right in that this may just be the small percent of none biased that emerges occasionally, BUT the cover is extraordinary nevertheless. It is the same as Polygon (you know, the site that gave TLOU 7.5), when they were less than kind about MSs DRM.

What makes this so remarkable is that it's laying out their stalls very early. We could be looking at a change of bias in favour of Sony (as opposed to not 'for' Sony). That's not the same as a biased towards another console by the way. That would be fanboyism. Just because you love something doesn't mean you automatically have to hate something else and visa versa.

obviously EDGE and POLYGON were both moneyhatted by MS until they, you know, stopped receiving paychecks and thats why the sudden change!!

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

at long last gaming journalism grew some balls and people are mad about it?

It's BECAUSE they grew balls, and the whole shebang is glorious.

 

[CTLance]

That Drek post is a thing of beauty. I wish I culd type goodly liek that.

 

[Facism]

Good post drek, thanks for that.

 

[quetz67]

MS shuttered multiple studios last generation, didn't open any to replace them, and are now suddenly in a mad scramble to open studios and push out early XB1 titles.

Investing strongly on the doorstep of a new generation isn't a commitment to first party software. Expanding your first party studios and supporting the console you have out with major new titles through the launch of your new console is a commitment to first party software.

Case in point: I don't know who the hell even works at Black Tusk so why would I have any interest in a game they're making? I'm not eagerly anticipating the next game from Nihilistic and they've at least made something before.

Meanwhile I know what Naughty Dog brings to the table. I know what Sucker Punch brings to the table. I know what Guerrilla Games is capable of. I know that at worst Sony has damn near a dozen very strong first party studios that turn out at least "good" games, with several of them more than capable of hitting a home run every time up to the plate.

MS could have had something like that, if they gave a shit about first party development. Instead they let Bungie walk because they just wanted a Halo cow to milk (and now have one with 343 apparently). They sunk the PGR franchise by not picking up Bizarre Creations once they were outside the X360's launch window. Shut down FASA and let Weismann take the IPs with him. Doomed Crackdown to irrelevance when they chose not to sign Realtime Worlds up for a multi-game commitment. Have had a massive talent exodus from Rare because they've changed corporate culture and restricted their freedom to create. Had a similarly massive talent exodus from Lionhead while face-stabbing the Fable brand with a mediocre 3rd game followed by a shitty Kinect spin off.

I could go on. Suffice to say these are not the actions of someone looking to build a strong first party division. Lip service and random dollar amounts thrown at the problem on the cusp of a new generation isn't enough to bait me in. Show the love all generation long if you want to claim a commitment to first party software.

Pretty much my reasoning which I just couldnt utter so eloquently. Moneyhats only get you so far and in generation 3 they should think about making money offf games instead of pushing it into them.

 

[abstract alien]

Drek
The voice of the people.

 

[RobotRocker]

Saying this less than a month after Last of Us and the GranTurismo 6 demo released is probably not going to help your case here... not to mention GoW:A and The Show '13 already out, and Beyond Two Souls and Puppeteer still yet to release this year.

Sony's first party output is absolutely monstrous this year.

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

yeah, i think we can wrap this one up...

 

[SolidSnakex]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

You've gotta be kidding. Sony's 2012 lineup is widely viewed as being mediocre at best, and many would call it bad without getting much of an argument from anyone.

 

[hokagespit]

Drek
The voice of the people.

 

[RadarScope1]

It's been quoted enough times that I don't need to do it again, but I just want to add to the "great post" chorus around Drek's summary of MS closing off opportunities for first party studio output.

The slowdown in out put the last two years had me hoping they would come out here in 2013 just before the new console launch with an absolutley smack down of new and cool IPs or highly desired sequels. Yeah, not so much, IMO of course. Sony's focus on nurturing talent over time and their open courting of indies looks to me like an MLB franchise fielding a quality big league club and refreshing the ranks with a solid farm system. They understand content, and that's why I'm loving my PS3 right now and am getting a PS4 day one. Still love my 360 but I'm waiting out MS's offering for a while once next gen hits. As others have said, they have to prove it to me. Show me the dragons!

 

[diffusionx]

I know what GG and Sucker Punch bring to the table... and I'm not interested. Same with Insomniac. I can live my life without ever playing another Insomniac title and be just fine.

So yea, actually I am actually more interested in seeing what this Black Tusk does than seeing yet another Infamous or Killzone or Insomniac title. It might be awesome. MS proved with 343 they are willing to sink top dollars and snag major talent into a studio.

Naughty Dog is great, of course, but I can pretty much guarantee I'll like the next Halo. So it's all subjective, obviously.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

What.

 

[SolidSnakex]

I know what GG and Sucker Punch bring to the table... and I'm not interested. Same with Insomniac. I can live my life without ever playing another Insomniac title and be just fine.

So yea, actually I am actually more interested in seeing what this Black Tusk does than seeing yet another Infamous or Killzone or Insomniac title. It might be awesome. MS proved with 343 they are willing to sink top dollars and snag major talent into a studio.

Naughty Dog is great, of course, but I can pretty much guarantee I'll like the next Halo. So it's all subjective, obviously.

I'm not particular sure why you're bringing up Insomniac considering that their only current game announced is exclusive to the Xbox One. There aren't even any rumors that they have anything in the works for Sony.

 

[Kinyou]

Isn't Bizarre Creations basically back as Playground Games? Forza Horizon was also an exclusive.

 

[Sephiroth503]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

Can't agree with the last line at all. There's nothing safe about putting out two new AAA IPs (TLOU and Beyond) in the year your successor console is launching, nevermind when a game like Beyond isn't exactly a mass market title either.

If Sony wanted they would've put GT6 out on PS4 straight away as well but they've chosen to hedge their bets on the PS3 install base and thus allowed Evolution to produce a new racing IP. Whether DriveClub will end up being any good is up in the air but I really don't think - of all the things you can criticise Sony for - their 1st Party performance is one of them.

 

[Crimson_Gold]

I know what GG and Sucker Punch bring to the table... and I'm not interested. Same with Insomniac. I can live my life without ever playing another Insomniac title and be just fine.

So yea, actually I am actually more interested in seeing what this Black Tusk does than seeing yet another Infamous or Killzone or Insomniac title. It might be awesome. MS proved with 343 they are willing to sink top dollars and snag major talent into a studio.

Naughty Dog is great, of course, but I can pretty much guarantee I'll like the next Halo. So it's all subjective, obviously.

I thought Insomniac was making an X1 title.

And yes, the preference for titles will always be subjective. The output of the various 1st parties is far more objective. Sony has a larger 1st party and releases more 1st party titles. MS may eventually create a 1st party portfolio to match Sony, but at this time there is no argument about the volume of each

 

[chogidogs]

What.

Yeah, that statement made me not about care about anything he has, had or will say.

 

[Ricky_R]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

haha wow.

 

[Neuromancer]

No, by the time Microsoft asked them for a sequel they were already busy with APB.

Right. 'By the time Microsoft asked them for a sequel.' You can't just have an entire team sitting around doing nothing, they had to move on for the sake of their company. MS dropped the ball, they had no idea Crackdown would be as good or as popular as it was.

 

[borghe]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

um............... opinions and all that.. but.... ummm......

edit - I mean god damn.. this is so so so far away from public and critical opinion... wow.. you have to know that MANY people are going to write you off at this point, right? Playing it "safe" by releasing your biggest titles of the gen on your system THE YEAR you are launching a new system? releasing games with non-sexualized female protagonists? A 3D platformer in an era where 3D platformers DON'T EXIST? You call all of that safe and uninspired?

wow..

 

[twobear]

Can't agree with the last line at all. There's nothing safe about putting out two new AAA IPs (TLOU and Beyond) in the year your successor console is launching, nevermind when a game like Beyond isn't exactly a mass market title either.

Uh, what? Of course there is. Sales of a new IP on an old console will be much larger than either a new or old IP on a new console.

 

[Odrion]

Sony also went on it's own meltdown and killed Studio Liverpool despite it's greatest work of all time in Wipeout HD and shoving it all off to Evolution who's been showing diminishing returns. They Got rid of Incog, despite Warhawk being rather decent. Shut down Zipper after not really giving MAG a lot of support. Completely crapped on Eat Sleep Play and LightBox despite delivering two great games in Twisted Metal and Starhawk and seemed content to drive off Superbot as well.

While Microsoft has it's own problems. Sony's not been doing an exceptional job either and their first parties seem to be be stalling lately. Both sides seem to be weak on the first party front and Sony's plenty guilty of closing down great studios or driving them off as well and I think it shows in both 1st party launch line ups being sparse.

Some of those studio closures are a bummer, but they all followed the trend of their game sales having diminishing returns until the point of a release flat out bombing.

Next gen Wipeout would've been great, but I'm going to bet it would've played the same as every other Wipeout game since 2004 and no one would've cared.

 

[Sid]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

Rangers,is dat you?

 

[makingmusic476]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

We already have one new IP announced for ps4 with more to be announced by Sony Santa Monica and Guerrilla Games, both of which have increased significantly in size alongside Naughty Dog. Plus, Sony has been commissioning stuff like SoulSacrifice for Vita, with word of a Demon's Souls II and other SCEJ projects yet to be announced.

Further, the Last of Us and Beyond are both new IPs, and even if Beyond looks kinda shitty, they're still evidence of Sony's willingness to invest in new ideas.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I know what GG and Sucker Punch bring to the table... and I'm not interested. Same with Insomniac. I can live my life without ever playing another Insomniac title and be just fine.

So yea, actually I am actually more interested in seeing what this Black Tusk does than seeing yet another Infamous or Killzone or Insomniac title. It might be awesome. MS proved with 343 they are willing to sink top dollars and snag major talent into a studio.

Naughty Dog is great, of course, but I can pretty much guarantee I'll like the next Halo. So it's all subjective, obviously.

Sounds to me like you just prefer Microsoft over Sony, since Sony is just as willing to sink top dollars into studios and snag top talent - and they have been doing so for years - yet you're dismissing it in favor of a logo.

I should note that there's nothing wrong with preferring one over the other - just be honest about it.

 

[Sephiroth503]

Uh, what? Of course there is. Sales of a new IP on an old console will be much larger than either a new or old IP on a new console.

The poster's argument is that their 1st party have stalled. I don't see new IPs as stalling by any stretch, when by virtue of a new IP alone you are not making a tried and trusted sequel.

 

[FlutterPuffs]

I don't mind journalists posting opinionated or sensationalist articles, just as long as it is filled with facts. Then it is up to me to agree with their opinion, or not.

You know, like what we are doing right now here.

Plus the fact is, Microsoft has unleashed unleashed clusterfuck after clusterfuck with the Windows 8 and the Xbox One reveal. Take this for example; if they hyped up the Azure Cloud as something that could not only act as dedicated servers for your games (which people has been wanting forever) but you could also offload some minor computing tasks to it, most of us might actually be impressed.

Instead they word it as 'a cloud with limitless potential' like we were idiots. How can you not get mad at a company that talk to their fans like they were 12 year olds? Now compare that to Sony, who even took the time to give talks and even released some of the specs at the PS4 reveal. While yes, that move is probably appreciated by a very small number of gamers, it generated so much positive word of mouth that it helped Sony be where it is now. Microsoft need to change. I know it treats the Xbox One more as a media centre than a gaming console, but that doesn't mean that it can't throw their fans a bone or two sometimes.

 

[90TilInfinity]

Isn't Bizarre Creations basically back as Playground Games? Forza Horizon was also an exclusive.

Bizarre employees are everywhere (including Playground). The PGR3/4/Blur lead and some others work for Evolution. Some went to Codemasters, some formed a studio called Hogrocket, some formed Lucid Games, etc etc.

 

[Ricky_R]

Puppeter and Last Of Us seem intriguing (Though considering how bad Uncharted 2 was, I'm not really rushing out to play Last Of Us) but GT 6 still looks like it has problems and Beyond: Two Souls looks comically bad. Sony's first parties are somewhat stalled now that output's slowed down thanks to Sony closing and driving off studios that were outputting great games for them and the rest are left to pick up the slack. Nothing spectacular seems to be coming out from them after having a great push in 2011 and 2012 with great new titles and they seem to be playing it safe rather than having risky new projects. Granted, a new generation is on the way but they don't have that willingness to take risks that they used to. That is why I think they have stalled. They are putting out a first party line up but one that's just safe and with some titles that don't inspire an awful lot of confidence.

Gotta quote this again for new page.

WOW!!!

 

[N2NOther]

MS shuttered multiple studios last generation, didn't open any to replace them, and are now suddenly in a mad scramble to open studios and push out early XB1 titles.

Investing strongly on the doorstep of a new generation isn't a commitment to first party software. Expanding your first party studios and supporting the console you have out with major new titles through the launch of your new console is a commitment to first party software.

Case in point: I don't know who the hell even works at Black Tusk so why would I have any interest in a game they're making? I'm not eagerly anticipating the next game from Nihilistic and they've at least made something before.

Meanwhile I know what Naughty Dog brings to the table. I know what Sucker Punch brings to the table. I know what Guerrilla Games is capable of. I know that at worst Sony has damn near a dozen very strong first party studios that turn out at least "good" games, with several of them more than capable of hitting a home run every time up to the plate.

MS could have had something like that, if they gave a shit about first party development. Instead they let Bungie walk because they just wanted a Halo cow to milk (and now have one with 343 apparently). They sunk the PGR franchise by not picking up Bizarre Creations once they were outside the X360's launch window. Shut down FASA and let Weismann take the IPs with him. Doomed Crackdown to irrelevance when they chose not to sign Realtime Worlds up for a multi-game commitment. Have had a massive talent exodus from Rare because they've changed corporate culture and restricted their freedom to create. Had a similarly massive talent exodus from Lionhead while face-stabbing the Fable brand with a mediocre 3rd game followed by a shitty Kinect spin off.

I could go on. Suffice to say these are not the actions of someone looking to build a strong first party division. Lip service and random dollar amounts thrown at the problem on the cusp of a new generation isn't enough to bait me in. Show the love all generation long if you want to claim a commitment to first party software.

This is a great post. Excellent insight into the first party situation on both sides.

I've been a multi-console guy since PS2. I bought the PS2 first and the Xbox later. This gen I went with 360 first and pretty much only played first party games on the PS3 (with rare affordable at the time excepfions). That being said, next gen I will be getting PS4 first because I like their message better, it's cheaper and ultimately their first party exclusives are more appealing. I'll still be getting an Xbox but not until Titanfall releases. I prefer achievements to trophies and my addition for COD will have to be satiated on PS4 this year but ill probably go back to the Xbox ecosystem for CoD and Borderlands and so on merely because that's where the bull of my MP interests and friends are.

My point is, MS has never had first party titles that have interested me. Well, except for Fable but I thought 2 was merely good, not great and only just now will I be getting into Fanble 3 cuz it was free.