One other point that I'd add to the monetization aspect is loot boxes, especially in EA's sports games, which have no business having loot boxes to begin with.
All sadly true. Fortnite is only fun if you like FPS. These days I need a game I can pause and go deal with something (usually my dogs causing a ruckus or needing to go out).
I have some hopes for some good games coming out and am enjoying some new ones recently. Not a fan of the "visual novel" approach, but LOVED Dispatch. Have heard many good things about Expedition 33. Huge Dragon Age fan and what happened to Failguard was tragic, but I have hesitant levels of optimism about the new Mass Effect. Feeling good about Exodus, Osiris Rising and the new Star Wars OR game with Casey Hudson in the saddle. And I've a small collection of games I will always revisit.
That's true. I've already noticed great indy devs not using steam. Like StarSector has it's own website and no desire to be on steam. Same with Vintage story.
Razorfist/The Rageaholic over on YouTube made much the same point a few years back: the accurate dynamic is that companies “Go Broke” behind the scenes and loudly “Get Woke” as a desperation play to get just enough subsidies and social media brownie-points to pull through one more quarter or dev-cycle as they pad out their resumes & polish their pandering skills.
“The Plastic Age” has genuinely been the most insightful and engaging series of media commentary I’ve come across in the current decade. I don’t know if I’m still burnt-out from the short-sightedness of the OG Gamergate days or just old & autistic, but seeing more people begin to seriously peel back the real mental ruts and business idiocy behind the kneejerk Culture War bleating has reignited my enthusiasm for reading and listening to analysis.
That and the fact that, for whatever reason, the Progs have received a massive second wind of obnoxiousness & hysteria across this current summer. I’m idly curious what’s triggering that.
Recenty released EA's "skate." online platform is exactly what no one wanted. We wanted the sequel to Skate 3, the smash hit from 15 years ago. Now it's online non-sense a la Fortnite on a skateboard.
My kid loves Skate 3 single player and the freecam for replays with cars and pedestrians.
The online version of replay does work but it's still buggy.
No pedestrians online, only cars.
I stopped playing Fornite over 2 years ago. Just not worth my time.
Huh. I don't know a thing about Fortnite. As a game. Sounds a lot like FarmVille to me. As a game.
Yeah. I liked FarmVille. I like chatting with other players.
It was one of the first battle royale style games. Drop in, grab gear, and hunt others as the battlefield boundary contracts over time.
I strongly prefer my single player games.
One other point that I'd add to the monetization aspect is loot boxes, especially in EA's sports games, which have no business having loot boxes to begin with.
All sadly true. Fortnite is only fun if you like FPS. These days I need a game I can pause and go deal with something (usually my dogs causing a ruckus or needing to go out).
Great take.
Epic fell into Fortnite, taking its failed Fortnite Save The World, copied PubG, and added a fun factor. My kids were devoted. And it blew up.
Then it changed. It went from being a teen and young adult player base to a place with little kids. Most of my kids refused to play any more.
Chasing the live-service model was like chasing the on-line multiplayer model, and the open-world model.
I read recently that most hours on Steam are games that are over 10 years old.
My young adult sons are huge retro gamers, playing games from 1995 to 2014 mostly.
The industry is dead. It needs a new model.
Fortnite as the unholy offspring of console-based Everquest and Sim City amuses me.
Where do Minecraft and Roblox fit into this?
Fortnite as the unholy offspring of console-based Everquest and Sim City amuses me.
Where do Minecraft and Roblox fit into this?
Fortnite as the unholy offspring of console-based Everquest and Sim City amuses me.
Where do Minecraft and Roblox fit into this?
I have some hopes for some good games coming out and am enjoying some new ones recently. Not a fan of the "visual novel" approach, but LOVED Dispatch. Have heard many good things about Expedition 33. Huge Dragon Age fan and what happened to Failguard was tragic, but I have hesitant levels of optimism about the new Mass Effect. Feeling good about Exodus, Osiris Rising and the new Star Wars OR game with Casey Hudson in the saddle. And I've a small collection of games I will always revisit.
This is the best time for indy gaming.
For now it is, yes. And it all depends on Gabe Newell's heart continuing to beat.
That's true. I've already noticed great indy devs not using steam. Like StarSector has it's own website and no desire to be on steam. Same with Vintage story.
Razorfist/The Rageaholic over on YouTube made much the same point a few years back: the accurate dynamic is that companies “Go Broke” behind the scenes and loudly “Get Woke” as a desperation play to get just enough subsidies and social media brownie-points to pull through one more quarter or dev-cycle as they pad out their resumes & polish their pandering skills.
“The Plastic Age” has genuinely been the most insightful and engaging series of media commentary I’ve come across in the current decade. I don’t know if I’m still burnt-out from the short-sightedness of the OG Gamergate days or just old & autistic, but seeing more people begin to seriously peel back the real mental ruts and business idiocy behind the kneejerk Culture War bleating has reignited my enthusiasm for reading and listening to analysis.
That and the fact that, for whatever reason, the Progs have received a massive second wind of obnoxiousness & hysteria across this current summer. I’m idly curious what’s triggering that.
Fantastic article.
Recenty released EA's "skate." online platform is exactly what no one wanted. We wanted the sequel to Skate 3, the smash hit from 15 years ago. Now it's online non-sense a la Fortnite on a skateboard.
My kid loves Skate 3 single player and the freecam for replays with cars and pedestrians.
The online version of replay does work but it's still buggy.
No pedestrians online, only cars.
I stopped playing Fornite over 2 years ago. Just not worth my time.