Games flopping is a good thing

[bvrakvs]

When big game companies and their highly popular games crash and burn, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, it can be a good thing. Why? Well, it clears the way for the little guys - the small, creative game developers who are itching to show the world what they’ve got. Without the big names hogging the spotlight, these underdogs have a chance to shine. They can take risks, think outside the box, and come up with some seriously cool games. This could kick off a golden age of gaming, with loads of awesome games for everyone to enjoy. Plus, when a big game flops, it’s a wake-up call for the industry. It shows what doesn’t work and pushes game developers to up their game. So, while no one wants to fail, sometimes it can lead to bigger and better things.

[Original Cast Recording]

That's one way to look at it.

Alternatively, losing a bunch of money on overly-long development cycles might make the industry even more conservative and risk-averse.

What lessons are learned depend on the outlook of the learner.

[bvrakvs]

NoMoreUnderscores() eredeti hozzászólása:

That's one way to look at it.

Alternatively, losing a bunch of money on overly-long development cycles might make the industry even more conservative and risk-averse.

What lessons are learned depend on the outlook of the learner.

With some luck, such companies will fail harder

[Apteryx]

Sure, but I won't be happy until WipEout dominates the racing scene again. Unfortunately, Sony kills the franchises that don't immediately demolish records, so my dream is next to impossible

[Abigail From Sneaky Squid Dept.]

The issues with this is that if a big game flops, the only people who are hurt are the people who actually worked on it as the company will just do another round of lay offs.

And if a company fold the groundlings are now out of a job while the higher up who are mostly likely responsible for the failures will just get a golden parachute into another executive job.

[Andros]

Games flopping has been a thing for awhile now

And I haven’t seen any improvement

[Morkonan]

bvræqvete eredeti hozzászólása:

When big game companies and their highly popular games crash and burn, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, it can be a good thing. Why? Well, it clears the way for the little guys - the small, creative game developers who are itching to show the world what they’ve got. ..

It's the small and medium sized producers that "fall," not the "Big Guys." Developers may get snatched up in a buyout and then dumped just for their IP/tech, but the Giants do not stumble over a failed game...

They fire employees to make their Quarterly returns look better and write off the losses.

With an online market-place, live-service model, and predatory transactions, even a game that fails in reviews and online presence can generate cash. So, with all these live-service cash-maarketplace games, they come with a built-in safety-net if they're just barely engaging enough to keep the Whales.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1325853/diablo-immortal-player-spending-app/

...Released in June 2022, Diablo Immortal is a free-to-play, MMO role-playing mobile game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase. The latest installment in the Diablo franchise is available on PC and mobile, and generated almost 100 million U.S. dollars through IAP revenues since its release, making it a financial success for Blizzard. First-month in-app player spending amounted to 42.2 million U.S. dollars. In January 2024, the app generated 6.23 million U.S. dollars in IAP revenues. Diablo Immortal's announcement at BlizzCon in 2018 drew a largely negative response, as the established audience base of the Diablo games is largely PC-based and was not too keen on a mobile title. After its launch, the game received mixed reviews with praise for graphics and combat but also harsh criticism regarding its monetization practices via microtransactions...

:/