Company News Feargus Urquhart talks about the decline of AAA and the future of Obsidian at KRI 2013

[twincast]

I can see the same thing happening to games. Each generation will probably add an extra A into the equation until, before we know it, people will be describing games as quintuple A without a hint of self awareness or irony.

I actually recall reading "AAAA" regarding next-gen console games a few months ago. I think it was by someone at Activision; may have been EA, MS or Ubisoft, though.

 

[Duraframe300]

I can see the same thing happening to games. Each generation will probably add an extra A into the equation until, before we know it, people will be describing games as quintuple A without a hint of self awareness or irony.

I actually recall reading "AAAA" regarding next-gen console games a few months ago. I think it was by someone at Activision; may have been EA, MS or Ubisoft, though.

Microsoft. It was on an offical job description of all things :patriot:

 

[Branm]

Obsidian Entertainment would be collaborating with Russian developer Allods Team in the development of their upcoming MMORPG, Skyforge.

Ouch, they must have been really desperate when they signed up for that.

Actually, none of what Feargus says sounds like Obsidian is in good shape business-wise.

Edit: Seriously. Mail.ru is worse than EA. And it is owned by high-profile Russian mobsters, btw.

THIS! WOuld love to hear somethign frm Obsidian reraging this. Will it have an impact on PE? And a MMO you serious? A russian MMO at that? Oh god help us all

 

[Infinitron]

In before Duraframe

 

[Maiandros]

i will admit that in my (typical) pessimism, i neglected to mention the other half side of the coin
Games such as these are the fast food of the MMO genre..a healthy 60-70% of the transient customer base is fully aware of the lack of quality, the over-monetisation, the lack of content and worst of all the immense grind they will be needing to go through. They will register either to temporarily feed their addiction, or to bridge the time gap between their 'last' favoured MMO and the one upcoming, but as of yet not released. They will arrive, remain and leave with their expectations low. That entails a certain lack of disappointment at what they encounter, or from whom it is being made. If you do not believe me, merely have a look at giants like Perfect World. They made this a science.
Unless Obsidian does the mistake of 'volunteering' extra ideas, designs, etc etc, and as such making themselves prominent, i do not necessarily see them getting a lot of negativity out of this. PR also can help, let's be honest. Anyway, barring some youngsters incapable of providing a valid Paypal/CC payment form and as such following the wake of such games, there really aren't many people in the West that take Eastern/Russian MMOs seriously. Mind you, seriously as in yes this shall be a time investment, seriously as in, yes, i intend to mingle and socialise and meet people to fuck around with (hopefully one will be female. Or a tranny. Maybe just young). They will excuse this move ---if--- Obsidian's involvement remains in the background.

That aside.. still shit in my book. I haven't played PE. So allow me to judge that -after- it comes out. I have played AP however. And the ones that came before it. Going from there to lalaland of the e-wallet, and for russian fucking mobsters at that, sets a new low. Still, they need the money, so i wish them well, and most of all i wish them smart. They try and play 'the genius' act there, they will get burned.

 

[Duraframe300]

In before Duraframe

Eh, I already said what needs to be said there.

To the question about P:E, though. No, won't have an impact (IMO).

It could have an impact on their other "AAA" projects though. As I said, they are currently fully booked (even if SP is in its later stages). Taking this project might actually put them over their capacity. Hopefully they don't fall into pitfalls.

Maiandros I mentioned this in passing before, but Obsidian has actually been talking about (and looking at) F2P and MMO's since a few years ago.

(While they still employed that contract agency it was even mentioned in a report IIRC)

 

[Maiandros]

we have a saying here at cavecountry home: 'teaching whoring to the whore'
Suffice it to say that my remarks are made -in light- of that conference, and what it signifies, as there are ways, and ways in which said colaborations/projects may be announced..let alone the wording with which they may be expressed..at aforementioned venues or elsewhere.

 

[Lady_Error]

This is why i think that they have been VERY surprised at the quality of Unity.

"Join Unity!"

"Meditate on the greatness of Unity!"

"Unity is the Future!"

- quotes from Fallout 1 (just finished)

 

[Zephyrean]

Mail.ru buying Feargus = Russian oligarch marrying a Western model.

Allods Online is shit for the internal market, 40k fantasy revenge fapficiton for illiterates who fail getting British satire forever.

Nothing good will come out of this.