Champion game designer Will Wright has claimed that those in the console business are “running scared” of emerging business models, especially free-to-play games. Set your knees to jerk-mode!
“I think all the console guys are running scared,” he told GI.biz. “Not so much because of the hardware, but because of the business models, free-to-play and that kind of thing, have shifted underneath them.”
He also said there are more opportunities outside of consoles now, more ways for studios to get their games out there, if they know what to exploit.
“It used to be big companies doing triple-A titles on consoles is where all the money is. It’s shaken things up quite a bit with all these platforms. In some sense all the little mammals — small developers, new companies — have an opportunity right now to fill new niches that are expanding rapidly. They might be small opportunities now, but they very well could be huge opportunities in the not-too-distant future.”
While many gamers will want to protect their favorite consumer products from the mean man’s nasty words, he’s got a point. Consoles have a lot of competition now, and I often wonder if the major publishers know how to counteract it. Certainly, sticking to old business models and treating consumers like shit doesn’t seem to be helping. Maybe they should — gasp — try new things.
