The development cycle is very iterative, and incredibly time consuming, which is why games are now taking six and seven years to build, as they’ve gotten bigger and deeper," said Wilson, “So the first thing for us is how do we make that more efficient?”
I dunno maybe take a page from indie developers and make fun games that are innovative?
I’ll take quality over quantity every time.
I think the bigger takeaway from indie devs is to cut back on the graphical fidelity and stick with something stylized visually.
Even if you want some graphical “wow” factor, you can get a hell of a lot from good lighting and other shaders over a less detailed environment.
Ultimately I feel that’s what is making “mainstream” games take so damn long to develop: high quality “realistic” graphics take an absurd amount of work. The longer timelines mean bigger budgets, bigger budgets mean more incentive to “play it safe” and try to maximize appeal to the lowest common denominator in an attempt to break even.
When a game takes so many years and millions of dollars to make, there’s a lot less room to let them be a passion driven “art” based project. Why take a risk at something innovative that may fail at mind bending cost?
I completely agree with this. Graphical fidelity can be cutback for faster dev times and faster iterations.
I think the real issue is that EA is trying to make profitable games, not good ones.
And that they dont listen to their staff as much as they should when it comes to design decisions or needed development time.
Honestly, who needs absolute top of the line realistic graphics. Take Battlebit remastered or Hollow Knight. They don’t have the state of the art graphics, but give more value than any AAA game.
Stationeers simulates a whole load of physics to give you that true experience of setting up a moon base.
From the Depths is a naval and air building and combat game, with custom weapons and AI, destructible parts, and a war for an entire planet.
Barotrauma is an intense multiplayer survival-horror game in a submarine on another world.
None of these are lookers but man do they feel great if you’re into that kind of thing.
Yeah, there are many such games in AA and Indie space. Heavenly Bodies, Outer Wilds, Hardspace: Shipbreaker come to mind. Each of these games are completely different. That is why, I have been mostly focussing on playing older games or AA or Indie games. They are pretty fun and unique experiences, without dealing with unfair monetization practices or thousand other caviats.
…make fun games that are innovative?
How dare you?! DO YOU EVEN FHINK ABOUT THE INVESTORS?!!!?!! I think not! Smh…
Wow, that really is the title of the article.
The state of journalism these days
i liked it go direct to the point
I am also shocked, and applaud the journo who wrote it.
Behind all the flashy corporate speak this just sounds like EA wants a future where gamers pay them to develop content for EA games.
Bethesda: nervous chuckle
Don’t give them any ideas, EA is actually stupid enough to try that.
“Andrew Wilson had some bots, EA AI O.”
I have no idea why, but this made me chuckle.
Having to say two As in a row was weirdly harder than I thought
it is a bit. maybe that was why it was memorable.
Looks like the biggest business bro I’ve ever seen