Train2Game blog readers may have seen a post last month in which Ninja Theory Creative Chief Tameem Antoniades praised the ‘digital revolution’ and the creativity it brings.
Perhaps understandably, he also believes that the traditional Triple-A retail model is in fact harming creativity in the games industry.
“If you’re paying 60 bucks for a game, you want it to give you everything under the sun,” Antoniades told Gamasutra.
“It seems like Hollywood’s got much more diversity than the games industry has. And I don’t know exactly why this is, but I suspect it’s the publishing, retail model of 40 pounds, 50, 60 bucks a game doesn’t allow players to take chances with their money.
“It doesn’t allow publishers or developers to take risks. And the only way you can be sure to sell to someone is to sell them something familiar.”
As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Ninja Theory’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was critically well received, but failed to make the impact needed at retail. As a result, the game won’t be getting a sequel.
However, the Ninja Theory chief believes that innovative games do sell, but the current retail and publishing model makes it difficult.
“I think that ultimately innovation does sell, and messaging is needed,” he said.
“But somehow there’s not enough diversity, I think, in our business models to create interesting, alternative games. At least on the triple-A side of things, the top end market. You’re not seeing very high end innovation happening.” Antoniades concluded.
Yesterday, the Train2Game blog reported that Bioware believe mobile games do let game developers take risks.
So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Antoniades comments? Is the traditional retail model and the need to be successful stifling creativity in the games industry?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
[Source: Gamasutra]
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