Wednesday, October 18th 2017
EA Shutters Visceral Studios, Pivots on Unreleased Star Wars Game Design
The death knell is sounding in Visceral Games (creators of the Dead Space series), courtesy of EA. The publishing company has shuttered another one of its studios, and is looking to move employees from Visceral to what others remain. Apparently, the Star Wars game, which had a tentative release date for 2019, was shaping up as a "story-based, linear adventure game": not that much of a surprise, considering it was being helmed by Uncharted series veteran Amy Hennig. A development team from across EA Worldwide Studios will take over development, led by a team from EA Vancouver that was already working on the project.
Apparently, EA wasn't much enjoying the way the game was developing; usually, linear, story-based games don't lend themselves much for microtransactions or loot boxes, now do they? Citing "shifts in the marketplace", EA says that "It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design," so that it "allows for more variety and player agency." All in all, this sounds much like Destiny, or upcoming Bioware game Anthem. But it will also certainly lend itself better to further monetization, considering how it's one of the industry's most important sources of revenue.
Source:
EA Blogs
Apparently, EA wasn't much enjoying the way the game was developing; usually, linear, story-based games don't lend themselves much for microtransactions or loot boxes, now do they? Citing "shifts in the marketplace", EA says that "It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design," so that it "allows for more variety and player agency." All in all, this sounds much like Destiny, or upcoming Bioware game Anthem. But it will also certainly lend itself better to further monetization, considering how it's one of the industry's most important sources of revenue.
44 Comments on EA Shutters Visceral Studios, Pivots on Unreleased Star Wars Game Design
But it doesn't matter much how well they're doing. I stopped caring about their titles years ago and unless they drop their rehashes and Origin or take over the gaming world leaving me with no options, they're as good as dead to me.
I'm surprised about Activision though.
This is the only explanation for these kinds of shutdowns. At the same time, EA sacrifices so much talent that they will inevitably one day wonder where it all went. For cash flow EA is making great short term moves, but for long term sustainability, they are cutting their own wrists. With only one possible outcome: when the app craze bubble bursts, they will be forced to buy successful studios again to get back in the game, and their brand will be worth less than nothing. Or, the app bubble just keeps growing and EA becomes that publisher nobody really cares about regardless; because nothing it produces is memorable IP.
Inevitably EA is on course for that scenario. Will be fun to watch. As for the gaming market? No reason to be sad really, we need to ditch EA sooner rather than later. Let them have their annual sports game portfolio and leave the real games to that talent that got laid off and now works in independant studios. We have already seen how much good that does for our favorite pastime :)
Bottom line: if you make such radical moves as a company, shit just hit the fan, the business model is deemed wrong. Says alot about EA management and vision.Yeah man, I think it is actual, genuine fear. Especially in DS1, with its simplicity, small selection of weapons and its limited ammo and resources. I did feel the sequels sorta missed that, esp in part 3 when it becomes a mod your own guns fiesta.
I even watched the animated movies which were also good.
EA is scum
This is just an "evolution" in their thinking. They don't even make games on some other pretense anymore. They'll just gut everything that doesn't fit a narrow category.
edit: The news is also saying testers are responsible for this too. So I'm gonna blame them somewhat.
I also kind of hate these gamers on a personal level too. A lot of gamers are introverts and escapists and like interacting with stories. These multiplayer gamers are extroverts on some level... but yet they don't do traditional extroverted activities. They stay inside and play multiplayer games and interact on social media. They have a "need" for people still.. but for one reason or another, insist on living like introverts and stepping on my toes (or rather, my hobbies lol). I honestly think it's because they're ugly (both inside and out). But that need for social interaction still remains.
Enough of my ranting and pop psychology though. ;)
EA games actually ruined the "Star Wars" experience since their battlefront 1 and battlefront 2 don't have any anticheat engine,the game is overpopulated with cheaters and reporting them does absolutely nothing, also their support is non existent.I had the same experience with battlefield 4 and battlefield 1.
At least from me they are not getting any money ever again....
"Hey, you, Open world is the next-gen game type, and also sandbox self-generated and make it online"
"And also add put choices in dialogue, it creates false impression of choice"
"Oh, and collect things, many things,all kind of things, like flowers"
There's always a story, a basic red line to follow, but basically, most of "AAA games" of the last 5 years.
They don't care about gameplay, background (I mean lore), UX, replayability, details, puzzles (real one, not push cross near the big red sign for the 37th time), etc.
It's sure that your studio will end up 6 feet under in 5 to 10 year top if you deal with them.
I personally think that time of AAA games is over, especially for MMO (this type of game is burried). Co-playing games and good, rich solo games are to be the next face of the market for a lot of year.
Competitive games will also stay alive, by nature.
so much for unbiased news here, the user comments are even worse
I just can't stand even a second of that. I don't belong anywhere near this type of gaming space.