Support NeoGAF

[Gazunta]

Hi guys,

Besides designing The Best Game Of E3 2006 (tm), I also write a monthly (cough) column for Official Australian Xbox Magazine called "Developers Speak Out". In it, game developers answer questions from the readers - for example the last column asked "Why do game endings suck?" and my answer was "because you little bastards never finish your games, so why should we bother making good endings?". As you can see, it lacks the PR-spun bullshit that you see everywhere else. It's so readers get honest answers from the people who make the games they play.

Besides my ranting, I also have a "second opinion" - a 100-150 word piece from another developer who could have a completely different opinion on the matter.

This is where you come in. I'm after volunteers to write the second opinion bits. Since GAF is full to the brim with developers all over the world, I figure there's got to be at least some of you who want to voice your opinion in a high profile (well, in Australia anyway) mag like OAXM. You don't get paid (well, I'll buy you beer and hookers at E3) but you get to plug your game / company site in the mag. And hey, it's only 100-150 words, we all write more than that on GAF on a daily basis...

Send me a PM if you want in and I'll let you know what the topics are. This is open to developers on all systems, not just Xbox. Thanks!

 

[Red Blaster]

Hi guys,

Besides designing The Best Game Of E3 2006 (tm),

So you're Hideo Kojima, eh? I thought you didn't know English that well.

 

[Wario64]

whoa, game endings suck cause WE don't beat the games? :lol

usually people beat games that are really, really good or at least interesting. if we don't even bother finishing the game and the ending sucks, that basically means the developers knew the game sucked

 

[Red Blaster]

Agree with Wario there, people tend to finish interesting games that hold their attention. Though, some games have total cop-out endings. Some would argue MGS2 did, and a lot of people whine about Shenmue 2.

 

[Gazunta]

Well, my point was a bit more detailed than that, but I'm just trying to get across how you don't have to say safe stuff.

But it is true to a point - I've been told on a number of occasions by publishers that most of the budget for cutscenes should be on stuff that happens at the start of the game - because more people will see it than they will the stuff the end of the game.

Edit: I'm not saying that that's a good thing - far from it.

 

[Amir0x]

So you're Hideo Kojima, eh? I thought you didn't know English that well.

Well played.

 

[MarkRyan]

So the real answer (which is so unsafe to say that you couldn't actually say it in print) is that publishers push developers into blowing their efforts on the first part of the game, like putting a fresh coat of paint on an otherwise beater car?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Is there some sort of online archive of your articles?

 

[Gazunta]

So the real answer (which is so unsafe to say that you couldn't actually say it in print) is that publishers push developers into blowing their efforts on the first part of the game, like putting a fresh coat of paint on an otherwise beater car?

That was pretty much what I said in the article (Well except the beaten car part)

Musashi - you mean of my columns for OAXM? They're print only (at the moment, I'm trying to get them archives eventually on gazunta.com) A quick Google search with my name (Cameron Davis) should pop up a lot of the stuff I've done for gamespot, gamers.com, gaming age, ign, n64hq, hotgames, etc over the years if you want to check out what I've done previously.

 

[demi]

Gazunta, I beat your games. Do I still suck?

I love you.

 

[Trizten Dareeque]

How about cause 95% of games suck?

 

[Gazunta]

You will always rock, Demi.

(Wonders if anyone is going to answer this thread for the purposes it was created)

 

[TekunoRobby]

What about the thoughts of a Project Lead for a student staffed indie game team?

 

[Gazunta]

Tekuno - PM with me what you're working on. Sounds good

Anyone else? I've got a ton of spots free...

 

[Trizten Dareeque]

Yea I agree.

 

[TekunoRobby]

Sent the PM and thanks for the Opportunuty Gazunta! I normally don't like to promote myself but I figured it would present an interesting viewpoint for your article.

 

[Gazunta]

Hi guys,

This thread is being bumped because the last round went really well, and now I have a heap of new questions for you developers out there. We've got a HUGE amount of lead time now, so if you need to clear all this through your various powers that be, we now have time to sort that out.

PM me and we'll sort it out!