But how will it look on PS3 and 360 hardware? We all know they showed it off on a high end PC, which may come back to bite them if the graphics aren't really pushing the hardware of the current consoles. Of course, I'm assuming this will be a current gen game.
So, let's move past the graphics. What will make this game a successful? It certainly can't get by on visuals alone. It needs to outdo not only past Star Wars games, but also games in the same genre. I'll be watching this one, if only to see if it can provide an enjoyable game.
The first two Microsoft consoles didn't offer much in their libraries that I couldn't get on Sony consoles, so I've never felt the need to own either. That said, if Microsoft can deliver in the next gen, then I've got no problems jumping into the Xbox community.
Honestly, I think the real pressure is on Nintendo. They are the first to launch, and thus set the bar. However, the Wii U looks to be repeating the strategy of the Wii, which could hurt Nintendo. Clearly, they can't honestly expect the casual consumer to stick around for another console generation, as it isn't cost effective. That leaves the core gamers: the ones who have made Nintendo the giant it is today. But what can they offer us? Last year's E3 really only promises a comparable experience to what we already have on the 360 and PS3, with the addition of their 'tablet' control scheme. The Wii may have sold like hotcakes, but it arguably has the most notoriety among the gaming community (a game console that's not aimed at 'real' gamers, if you will). I don't think Nintendo can keep its core fanbase happy with just Mario/Pokemon/Zelda anymore.
With regard to the next generation in general, I really don't care for this 'entertainment center' mentality. Perhaps my views are merely archaic, but I don't need a device that does everything. I don't mind dedicated hardware, which is why I have an HD camcorder, an mp3 player, and game consoles. I don't need or want a game console to surf the internet or watch movies, just as I don't need a $400+ cellular phone to do that either (no smartphones for me...I barely use the $20 phone I have now).
I want these devs to stop pushing for technological advancement. Every time the technology of the generation plateaus. you've got people crying for new tech.
You don't need state of the art hardware to make great games. Is it really that hard just to change your approach to make the most of what is already available?
My only experience with game design is with pre-built environments like RPG Maker 2000 and Sphere. That said, people are still out there making use of RPG Maker 2k, when it's several 'generations' behind (succeeded by XP and VX). We just find new ways to work within the limitations of the platform, and I think devs should do the same.
Are they seriously trying to say that they've done all they can do on the 360 and PS3? If that's the case...maybe they need to bring in some new blood. There's no need for this "arms race" among devs, since technical achievement isn't the be-all end-all when it comes to game design.
Considering how much the loan was for, even selling in numbers like Black Ops probably wouldn't have made Amalur profitable for the company.
It's a damn shame, because Amalur delivered a game that was well worth the year I waited for it. It looks like unless someone wealthy steps in to staunch the wound, 38 Studios is done.
@deershadow @ToTs_00 I wouldn't count of Capcom giving us a 'Super' Edition with Dragon's Dogma, given that it's a new IP. Add to the fact that it lacks any sort of multiplayer component (and there have been a lot of people complaining about it), and I don't see the game doing well at all.
But perhaps most important of all: it's not Street Fighter. And Capcom has shown recently that if it isn't Street Fighter related, then they can't be bothered. Look what happened with Operation Raccoon City (which actually sold better than Street Fighter x Tekken) and Megaman (both Legends 3 and Universe got canned).
@Smokescreened84 Amalur was a game I was waiting on for over a year, and it did not disappoint.
Unfortunately, your assessment of "a new IP that doesn't do the COD thing" failing seems fairly rooted in reality. We're in the age of big budget development, and devs are too focused on pushing the hardware than trying to innovate. As a result, they seek to compensate those high dev costs by trying to make as much profit as possible, and they look to the industries "million sellers" for that. Shooters are probably the most popular genre now, so that's what we are seeing. To top it off, Call of Duty gains astronomically high profits with every new iteration...so of course devs figure that imitating it is their ticket to big profits as well.
@moldyspud @R083R70 Indeed. We are letting them know ahead of time that a lot of us won't tolerate it, so they shouldn't even waste the time considering it.
@thewastedyouth That's an interesting idea, but unfortunately, saving the developers money likely won't save us any money. They say games are this high due to costs, but it's the same as it was in the SNES/Genesis area. Are they trying to tell me that Chrono Trigger and Skyrim cost similarly in development? Even when costs come down from removing physical media and such from the equation, I doubt they'll be passing on the savings to us. I've been buying used games almost as long as I've been gaming. The main difference now is that there is Gamestop, who specializes in it. However, I do it to save money, so buying games directly from other games accomplishes that, and denies Gamestop my business. Blocking used games is a delusion. If hackers can find ways to make consoles play other software and backups, they could feasibly find a way around "always-connected" DRM and such. And like always, the only ones the DRM will end up stopping are legit gamers.
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