Quantic Dream's David Cage says he has yet to face a PS3 hardware limitation, believes industry lacks creativity; games too focused on violence.
The next generation of consoles won't be needed until 2017, according to Heavy Rain studio Quantic Dream founder David Cage. Speaking to Develop recently, Cage said existing platforms, like the PlayStation 3 (for which Quantic Dream develops exclusively), are powerful enough to remain relevant and capable for another half-decade.
"I'm not that interested in technology or the next generation of consoles," he said. "If we could continue with PlayStation 3 for another five years it would be fine with me."
Cage went on to explain that the main limitation is not in hardware (he says he's not yet found something the PS3 can't power), but rather a lack of creativity on the part of developers.
"As an industry we have pretty much have been building the same games for 50 years, despite the platforms changing," he said.
When the next generation of consoles do arrive, Cage expects them to have typical trappings of updated technology.
"What do I expect from the next generation of hardware? You know, the usual," he said. "More polys, and higher resolution texture maps, and horsepower, and stuff. Wow. It's so cool and exciting."
Cage also sounded off on the present market. He said the industry is oversupplied with first-person shooters and role-playing games and is too tilted towards violence.
"The industry is too far balanced towards kids and teenagers. It's too focused on violence," he said. "There should be games for all ages, all tastes. Whatever is possible with interactive entertainment should be explored, and I don't think we're seeing that right now."
The most recent title Cage and Quantic Dream put out was 2010's well-received adventure game Heavy Rain. Cage showed a tech demo--titled Kara--during the 2012 Game Developers Conference in March, but the developer said this has nothing to do with the company's next project.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
2 Like *Sigh* There's more to a computer/console than just the graphical power. Imagine how much more 'creative' devs could be with a more powerful processor & better ram. It's all about price anyways. If the next group of consoles are cheaper than the launch of our current ones, then many 'nay-sayers' will welcome the new consoles.
2 Like I don't care which system comes out next. I'm gonna milk this console and it's back log of games Iv'e never played for years to come.
I wouldn't mind waiting 5 years for a new xbox or playstation, because then I can save up my money for them when they come out. Anyways, my PC is good enough to handle most PC games on Ultra (only few exceptions such as Witcher 2 and Battlefield 3).
Ironic that David Cage would criticize the gaming industry for too much violence and yet he added to it with Farenheit/Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain.
2 Like Yep, there is no reason we NEED new consoles for the next five years. THEN hopefully after Glass-Steagall is past and a few years go by, the greatest depression we're still just entering will be over, allowing the masses to afford to buy products worthy of being called 'next generation'. That is IF we're lucky, which when you look around you have to realize, we aren't.
I have a 670 GTX, it's really cool. But is it REALLY a generation past the 360/ps3? No.
If people NEED to have something more, they already have many different versions to upgrade to. PC video cards have put out what about 6 of 'its' generations which all amount to about '1/2' of a console generation. If people want it, they can buy it, and enjoy it. But new consoles are not needed.
Five years sounds about right. If they really wanted to they could push it forward a year or so, and charge about 200 more for doing so. But that really wouldn't be very smart, especially when you consider the economy and they could do the same thing two years later and have an even better product, or split the difference and release the console into an actually recovering economy, not the fake pseudo metric we create to tell us the economy is recovering instead of still collapsing like it actually is.
It's absolutely asinine for them to be releasing a new console as the greatest depression is really only STARTING to kick into 2nd gear. This is a fact. If you don't know that, find new sources of news, or care to look in the first place.
No Glass-Steagall, NO CHANCE of a recovery. Good thing neither false side in America wants Glass-Steagall, even though the people OF both sides and more are demanding it....the ones who aren't fools that is.
Change we never got and still won't get no matter which presidential candidate you'll vote for. That is the only thing you can believe in.
Sounds like to me the guy from Heavy Rain actually has a head about him, funny that it comes from someone who actually pushed boundaries and creates a unique game.
He obviously doesn't need to rely on groupthink and looking for an inefficient and easy way to higher profits....new hardware. When you don't want to rely on your brains to win the game, what is left? Change the game (not in a fair way, but in one the masks your shortcomings).
I will not change my Icon picture. Tee Shirts were sold in Flea markets in Cuba with Che's iconic image on the front. , I got a thumbs up and positive reaction from Cubans wherever I wore that tee shirt in Cuba.
2 Like "The industry is too far balanced towards kids and teenagers. It's too focused on violence," he said
^^This...more developers need to realize that the gaming demographic changed years ago and if they want to make money they need to create interesting, creative, and thoughtful games that do not only rely on violence as the key theme.
Fix the current issues in the industry before concentrating on the next gen of consoles that developers won't be able to exploit for years...
1 Like we need upgrades to the current consoles for now, in my opinion. Since many people have little money, the new gen should be saved for a few years. If uncharted 3 can make a great leap in graphics, then why can't other games? we obviously have the technology. It's true that shooters dominate the market. I say bring back Crash Bandicoot, Full-scale war games, strategies, Platformers, Horror games... I could go on. I'd want a game that pulls me into a world, hands me some charismatic characters and sets me loose on something that pushes the boundries. Something fun and daring. Something that takes time and skill to beat.
2 Like (Not that there is many people reading this right now, So I'm going to have to post this video again, soon.)
Let me show you the tri-Ace Technical Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cuXgRVMvZ0
This demo is running in the Xbox 360. Amazing, no? BUT the problem is that it uses ALL 512MB of RAM! There is no space for anything else what-so-ever.
The point I'm making is: if they can do all that with just 512MB of RAM on 7 year old hardware, just imagine what they can do with 10GB of RAM on the PS4!
1 Like I was going to make a big post about how good games will be, then show some more tech demos, and pre-rendered videos to give an idea of what we'll get.... but I don't have the time, and I'm too lazy.
So, instead, I'm going to show you a gallery of zbrush's best, and I want you to know that games could look this good on the PS4:
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc-top-row-gallery.php?p=1
and here's some zbrush video, just to mak the point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgTBinucsfc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doJo-HCg3_A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNvIeZmAAY4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7jCzfhKbhg
2 Like He's right about the lack of innovation and that we don't need new consoles yet. I don't think he should be blaming violence though considering that Heavy Rain is far more disturbing/realistic than Mortal Kombat.
2 Like David Cage wants less immature violence and more "mature" nudity and exploitation of women like Heavy Rain. Yeah......Nice shower scene, David, very artistic.
1 Like Remember when everyone said the 16-bit era was "over" then games like Donkey Kong Country came out for the SNES and everyone was like "ZOMFG, THIZ R 16 BITZ?!" It's probably easier for developers to rely on raw system power than trying to be creative with programming to push a system. The games coming out now are still looking better and better. The last system that really milked it's graphical power was probably PS1, which still had games being released after PS2 and Xbox were released...it's just easier to move on to the next thing. Nothing is made to last anymore.
This has got to be a joke! Just get rid of consoles period! They are just ruining pc games by dumbing down the graphics and stuff just to be able to run on a slow console. Just terrible, what a joke.
6 Like I like David Cage and agree with him that the next-gen consoles aren't needed yet. I also agree with him on the oversupply of FPSs. But, the RPGs have been lacking this gen when it comes to consoles. Especially quality ones. So I'm not sure why he mentioned RPGs in that same sentence. RPGs are in no way oversupplied this gen.
Especially with all the bullcrap already about the enxt gen with always online, no physical media and what other marketing shams they'll think of to make it a worse consumer experience, I'll be happy to use the coming years to play the huge backlog of great PS3 and PC games I didn't have time for yet. Plus the rebirth of PC gaming with great, cheap or free and innovative titles that run on a small budget and therefore can allow themselves to be niche and take risks.
4 Like the need the for updated consoles is two years late already. While there are alot of people in the world who can't afford the next gen consoles the delay will hurt the video game industry, it needs to grow. Already games like gears 3, skyrim, and many more would have benefited from a newer hardware platform.
yes there is still plenty life left in the systems today, but it is not practical to wait until it has one foot in the grave before bringing out another system.
4 Like I think what we have right now is fine for a couple of more years. 2017 seems a bit long though.
1 Like Game Industry who is in hurry getting to next generation console need to be slapped across the head with 2 by 4 plank. Making games cost a ton already and fools themselves whinging about used games and not getting enough revenue say the games need to have better graphics. Are they serious?
Not only that we are not quite out of recession, that we, consumers don't blindly buy any games and consoles. There are number of decent companies getting laid off because it's hard to get by. I must say the majority of game industry is just delusional. David Cage is one of a few developers who seems to know what's going on in the industry.
Say whatever the hell you like about his games, but I agree with the man, the games need some more variety, especially triple A titles. His games are very flawed but at least he tries to experiment. Every games he is involved in, it honestly catches the eyes. Nowadays, hardly anything interesting catch my eyes. All I see are the same old 3rd action adventure, 3rd person shooter or 3rd person RPGs that are all sequels and only ones that I see that are actually mature I can count on my fingers.
"Games are art" my ass. These sort of reactions I read only seems to support my argument.
1 Like If we start a discussion about economy, I think it would be really futile to argue about video games since the world have bigger problems. Although, you are right about the lack of variety and the huge cost that the developers are facing today, so, the least we could do is to not buy generic games, sequels verging the "expansion" category, that would force them to invent new fresh ideas, but I think this is almost utopic since the most part of its customers are kids.
1 Like I agree that there is too much of a focus violence. On the other hand, 2017? Screw that noise, I want the next generation, now. Of course no one wants to spend more money but 5-6 years is plenty of time to justify the purchase. Most people spend more money eating out every couple months. It's been way too long since I've been truly blown away, I'm ready.
1 Like i would agree that we don't need a new xbox or ps for another few years at least maybe as long as this guy says
1 Like if only the industry had more people like this guy... this would be the number 1 form of media in the world. Unfortunately, certain "interests" must be served by providing more violence to the masses.
david stop drinking the playstation coolaid your game is not that great your also a hipocrit considering your game revolves around violence a fare better game than yours would be alan wake. dont get me wrong heavy rain was good but not great and does not appeal to the masses.
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@danusty Change and revolutions mostly come from within! Expat Cubans believe that the US will invade and make the change for them! It will not happen!!!
@danusty So dan are you an expat Cuban, who now lives in what you deem better times? i.e. the West? If you truly believe, you should be fighting within Cuba and leading an opposition based point of view!
@danusty Take on change dan, that is what is happening in Cuba!!!!!! Although you do not like it!
@danusty The expats chose change and left! Good luck to them. But the ordinary people of Cuba are now evolving and gaining!
@danusty Ohhh Dan!!!!! There are two sides to a story! Go visit Cuba and talk to the ordinary people like I did. They can speak English well, but I offered Spanish if they wanted to chat! They are a happy people, enjoying tourism and the contact with other nations! Times are a changing in Cuba.
@danusty Poverty is growing in England, it was a government priority, but is still growing! We are ashamed as a Western civilisation ! We have food banks and homeless people! As does the USA.
@danusty Those that flee a country and live in the so called lap of luxury, lose their reason to fight. Those that stay and fight, are like Che, heroes!
@danusty You are linking expat Cubans as past Jews, without a homeland? Errrrhhh Cuba is the Cubans homeland, go take you expats! But Cubans I talked to, are happy mostly! They have poverty just like us in civilised England, now growing! Tourism and oil may save Cuba and the Cubans! Not expats
@danusty Fleeing a country and not fighting from within, is the cowards approach. Many Cubans live good lives in the US now, , but if they were serious they would lead the new Cuban uprising on home soil
@danusty History sucks Dan. We can all learn from it, but Castro did the right thing at the time, he was misled by Russia. Thank god Kennedy was not allowed to do more on his pain killers and bad judgements, like The Bay of Pigs!
@danusty Visit Cuba, and talk to many people, out and about on the streets and in your hotel and on the bus you ride! I did and Che is regarded as a hero! That maybe bad, but they like him!
@danusty Sheesh!!! danusty are you an expat Cuban? Did you flee Cuba for a better life in Florida?
Castro did not want to run the country into the ground, he wanted change from capitalist and US domination. He wanted a better life for all the people. But he failed in many aspects, but succeeded in others! He was misled by the USSR.
@danusty Why are the admins allowing this off topic chat to go on? At least they should suspend or ban me and danusty! Or do people think this chat is interesting?
@danusty Since then, prices have risen, partly due to the market, but mostly because only six companies are running our energy supplies now and they rip us off!!!!!! A US company took over the company I worked for, they made a pigs ear of it!!!! And ended up bankrupt in the UK and had to sell to a German company. I worked for TXU. And before Eastern a top 100 stock in the UK stock market.
@danusty In the 1980?s and 90?s all our nationalised industries were sold off, like our Power Industry and Gas and Phones and Water , Steel but mostly utilities!
@danusty Nationalisation was the norm under our Labour government in the UK. Cuba under Castro had no choice too, as the US was running the country, and dictating their lives! It was at the time the right thing to do!
Because they had a repressive US sponsored puppet running the country!
@danusty you need to research more! Cuba is evolving, and realises they need to engage with the rest of the world. Canadians are involved in oil research, and are liked a lot by Cubans along with South Americans and us English visitors, from England and of course Russia and the Balkan states.
@danusty I talked to people in the streets of Cuba. It is more open than you think! A great education system and wonderful healthcare. They are more educated than the West. They want change, and to connect with the rest of the world! They are even thinking of allowing US citizens to visit again!
I?m English and live in England! My government under Blair committed war crimes too!
1 Like @danusty You attacked me. I just have Che as my icon pic. I visited Cuba and spoke to real people. Che is regarded as a hero. So Bush is a piece of shit too? He invaded Iraq, there were no weapons of mass destruction. Guantanamo Bay on Cuba is holding so called terrorists without habeas corpus. Torture and rendition state sponsored by the US. Obama when he was first elected stated that he would close Guantanamo Bay! State sponsored torture is worse than an individual.
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1 Like @myrepose Fortunately you also may want the company who you make the console for also learn from past mistakes too. You may learn for your mistakes but they probably don't.
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