The grinch who stole game design (Activision's Kotick) - Games

[QUOTE=Generic Monk;17345393]It's even more daunting when you look at it as a franchise, but there are a load of paid for track packs and peripherals out there developed specifically for the game. When you think that the game alone costs a ridiculous sum, unless you own a previous peripheral, which there's no guarantee it will work with anyway, coupled with all the track packs you might buy it' heinously expensive.[/QUOTE] Yes, but you can't just say "Oh it's a cash cow, Activision is a bad company for doing so". It's just money making and I don't understand why you are so upset over it. You aren't forced to buy Guitar Hero.

[QUOTE=Owner3;17345401]OH NO THESE EVIL DEVS ARE STEALING OUR MONEY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR A PR0 GAM3R LIKE MYSELF deal with it. don't buy the product.[/QUOTE] Way ahead of ya.

[QUOTE=thisispain;17345418]Yes, but you can't just say "Oh it's a cash cow, Activision is a bad company for doing so". It's just money making and I don't understand why you are so upset over it. You aren't forced to buy Guitar Hero.[/QUOTE] It's a good statement for money making, that's why it's in a discussion about stocks, but it's a spit in the face to game design.

[QUOTE=Owner3;17345401]OH NO THESE EVIL DEVS ARE STEALING OUR MONEY THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR A PR0 GAM3R LIKE MYSELF deal with it. don't buy the product.[/QUOTE] It would be hard when all your friends buy it and when the product is really cool

[QUOTE=thisispain;17345418]Yes, but you can't just say "Oh it's a cash cow, Activision is a bad company for doing so". It's just money making and I don't understand why you are so upset over it. You aren't forced to buy Guitar Hero.[/QUOTE] I'm not saying that Activision are bad for making money off it, I'm saying that the game can become expensive quickly. I'm not picking sides, although I don't think he should have put it in such a blunt way. Seems a little harsh I think, but hey, it's true, so I guess you can't hold that against him.

[QUOTE=tacoriffik;17345457]It would be hard when all your friends buy it and when the product is really cool[/QUOTE] Then that's your decision

[QUOTE=power-mad;17345348]You still didn't answer what he was trying to say. The company doesn't care to fire a man that will make them millions. It's not that they're out to be evil puppy kickers, it's just what's best. Besides, who quits their job when they're not having fun?[/QUOTE] You aren't getting it. PR is everything. After Spore, which sold horribly due to the terrible reputation that EA gathered at that point, their stocks dropped massively, and a whole bunch of people got fired. There's a reason why CEO's kiss ass towards everyone. It's because that's what is best for a company. Excuse me for being skeptical, but we are going off of nothing. [editline]05:15PM[/editline] [QUOTE=power-mad;17345440]It's a good statement for money making, that's why it's in a discussion about stocks, but it's a spit in the face to game design.[/QUOTE] How so?

Kotick's a Troll. I'm betting this is mostly bad speechgiving and gagwork.

[QUOTE=Generic Monk;17345483]I'm not saying that Activision are bad for making money off it, I'm saying that the game can become expensive quickly. I'm not picking sides, although I don't think he should have put it in such a blunt way. Seems a little harsh I think, but hey, it's true, so I guess you can't hold that against him.[/QUOTE] Cars are also expensive. Guitar Hero is a luxury item.

[QUOTE=power-mad;17345440]It's a good statement for money making, that's why it's in a discussion about stocks, but it's a spit in the face to game design.[/QUOTE] This is true. Devs will intentionally cripple their game and save the removed features for paid DLC or a full sequel. Business? Sure. But it ends up making lower quality games while earning them more money. Why can't fully featured high quality games get more money than the 6th Guitar Hero which will likely only have one or two new features? They're relying on the fact that everyone on earth knows what Guitar Hero, not on the quality of the game.

[QUOTE=Evil_Toaster;17345552]This is true. Devs will intentionally cripple their game and save the removed features for paid DLC or a full sequel. Business? Sure. But it ends up making lower quality games while earning them more money. Why can't fully featured high quality games get more money than the 6th Guitar Hero which will likely only have one or two new features? They're relying on the fact that everyone on earth knows what Guitar Hero, not on the quality of the game.[/QUOTE] But that's what people want. They don't do anything unless people want it. Supply-in-Demand.

[QUOTE=thisispain;17345506]You aren't getting it. PR is everything. After Spore, which sold horribly due to the terrible reputation that EA gathered at that point, their stocks dropped massively, and a whole bunch of people got fired. There's a reason why CEO's kiss ass towards everyone. It's because that's what is best for a company. Excuse me for being skeptical, but we are going off of nothing. [editline]05:15PM[/editline] How so?[/QUOTE] I said in the first post how I didn't have much I was going off, I was just pointing out how much of an asshole this guy was, and you said the quotes were probably a joke not to be taken seriously, and then I argued back. And how so? Is getting a popular franchise and milking it into a $500 a customer product the pinnacle of game design, regardless of hurting quality to achieve this?

[QUOTE=power-mad;17345713] And how so? Is getting a popular franchise and milking it into a $500 a customer product the pinnacle of game design, regardless of hurting quality to achieve this?[/QUOTE] They aren't going to be 500 dollars because Rock Band isn't that much. It's fucking illogical to put your price higher than your competition because no-one will buy your shit. And it's not hurting quality. I don't know what feature you expect from Guitar Hero, but people like playing Guitar Hero, [b]if they didn't, it wouldn't sell.[/b]

A huge chunk of his spech is missing here. He actually said that in times of economy crisis he wanted to ensure that an atmosphere of fear makes the people work harder. [editline]12:46AM[/editline] [QUOTE=thisispain;17345748]They aren't going to be 500 dollars because Rock Band isn't that much. It's fucking illogical to put your price higher than your competition because no-one will buy your shit. And it's not hurting quality. I don't know what feature you expect from Guitar Hero, but people like playing Guitar Hero, [b]if they didn't, it wouldn't sell.[/b][/QUOTE] True, but the guitar hero series is kind of a perpetuum mobile right now. People buy the shit because this kind of game was completely new, a guitar shaped controle, playing the songs and all and I have the feeling that people completely lost their sense of value when itcomes to this. Some might say that it's not to much but IMO theyjust wentblind for the prices. Look at the dozens or so different Guitar Heroes, Beatles, Rock and whatever. Sure that's not Activisions fault but here comes your point: It doesn't hurt quality, yes. But it damn well also doesn't improve it.

[QUOTE=thisispain;17345190]Of course stock people care. I don't know why you think all upper-corporate people fuck kids and shoot animals but even if we think completely based on the idea of money making, having unhappy employees is stupid. Companies keep employees happy so they don't quit. There's no logic to what you are saying.[/QUOTE] I'm thinking that's bullshit - high turnover rates are a GOAL for some companies; It ensures lower prices as you can string employees out in the rain on health care benefits, etc. Don't let the benefits kick in until the second year of labor, and make the first year an utter hell.

Who the fuck would pay 500 dollars to play a fake guitar? Then again I don't know why people pay any amount of money in the first place for that stupid "game".

[QUOTE=gnome;17348020]Who the fuck would pay 500 dollars to play a fake guitar? Then again I don't know why people pay any amount of money in the first place for that stupid "game".[/QUOTE] Why would you put game in quotes? It's a video game, whether you like it or not.

Because in my eyes a video game is an interactive experience. Guitar Hero is not. It's basically dance-dance revolution with your fingers. I know it's technically a video game, but that doesn't mean I have to consider it one.

[QUOTE=gnome;17348061]Because in my eyes a video game is an interactive experience. Guitar Hero is not. It's basically dance-dance revolution with your fingers. I know it's technically a video game, but that doesn't mean I have to consider it one.[/QUOTE] Whatev.

[QUOTE=gnome;17348061]Because in my eyes a video game is an interactive experience. Guitar Hero is not. It's basically dance-dance revolution with your fingers. I know it's technically a video game, but that doesn't mean I have to consider it one.[/QUOTE] So if it's not an interactive experience the game's playing itself like a tv show ? Great, I thought I sucked at it, but now that I know it ain't interactive, it ain't my fault because I can't interact with it. Anyway what's that big grudge you have against guitar hero/rock band

[QUOTE=Punjon;17347806]I'm thinking that's bullshit - high turnover rates are a GOAL for some companies; It ensures lower prices as you can string employees out in the rain on health care benefits, etc. Don't let the benefits kick in until the second year of labor, and make the first year an utter hell.[/QUOTE] Too bad Activision has a good job reputation. Again, many people leave EA to go work with Activision.

[QUOTE=thisispain;17348215]many people leave EA to go work with Activision.[/QUOTE] That's too bad.

[QUOTE=Batmoutarde;17348212]So if it's not an interactive experience the game's playing itself like a tv show ? Great, I thought I sucked at it, but now that I know it ain't interactive, it ain't my fault because I can't interact with it. Anyway what's that big grudge you have against guitar hero/rock band[/QUOTE] It's not an interactive experience because all you're doing is attempting to press one of four or five buttons in sync with music according to preset patterns. You either hit a note or you don't. How incredibly interactive. If people invested the amount of time they spent trying to perfect Dragon Force on expert on learning an actual instrument, they could be an actual musician by now.

[QUOTE=Evil_Toaster;17348310]That's too bad.[/QUOTE] Maybe now they'll make a new fucking Battlezone! :bang: [editline]08:21PM[/editline] [QUOTE=gnome;17348315]If people invested the amount of time they spent trying to perfect Dragon Force on expert on learning an actual instrument, they could be an actual musician by now.[/QUOTE] Hahahhahah no. Nowhere even close.

Well they'd know how to do something more useful than CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKITYCLICKCLICKCLICKITYCLICK.