AAA games Archives - iXie Gaming

The Dichotomy between the Creators and the Sellers of a Videogame

Ishaq Ali — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:28:20 +0000

We live in a time where science, technology and innovations have made living on this planet more comfortable than ever before. So much so that in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we keep ourselves entertained through various forms of entertainment.
Amidst the shortage of toilet papers, savage memes, and cities under lockdown, one other trend in these times is companies giving away games for free or at heavy discounts. Games ranging from small indie projects to decent AAA titles are all part of the mix.
This is quite heart-warming to see and puts the gaming industry in a good light.
But if you put on your ‘money’ hat, you may wonder if these sales and giveaways were part of some of these companies’ plans to begin with, regardless of the current global situation. This may sound a bit rude, but such is the aggression embraced by game publishing companies that they lay out plans for such kind of sales far in advance in order to meet fiscal targets.
Any product on earth that goes through a large-scale production has two sides to them. Production and Marketing. And in most cases, these two entities go hand in hand leading to the success of the product in the market.

However, the same cannot be said in the world of Films and Videogames. We have seen various examples of a movie being ruined due to corporate meddling and the creative team not having the freedom to create what they envisioned. But this duality between the creators and the ones who fund them is far more evident and rampant in the videogame industry. When we take a step back look at the broader spectrum, we can understand why this dualism is so blatant in the games industry.

Like any product, creating and selling a videogame are two different things. One requires a keen creative eye, while the other needs a business-minded figure that is well versed with the various markets and trends.
These two qualities usually do not manifest side by side on most individuals. While the industry has seen some creative geniuses, who have also been financial gurus, they are few and far between. Mostly because there are various points of conflict between the two facets, particularly in the setting of creating a videogame. But one does require the other for the game to be critically and financially successful so that it makes way for more creative opportunities.
The creative process of a videogame is a marriage of Concept, Programming, Music and Art visualized by the team. The team remains committed to the original idea with a strong focus on creating the game as close to the visualised concept as possible.
In the current day and age, the creators involve the gaming community to take inputs so they can make a game that resonates with the player base. From the player’s point of view, this, in turn, have them be even more a part of the project than just spending a few hours with it.
All of this said, the above mostly happens with smaller-scale titles made by small studios and sometimes lone individuals and not the big AAA games. The big games follow a similar path but with a different set of rules which are dictated by the publisher.

The publishing company usually takes a route where market trends take top priority. While they encourage concepts for big games and supply finances to facilitate the team with the resource to build those games, there have been various examples of companies restricting developers to genres that are trending and thus restricting artistic freedom.
And within these genres, they tend to implement mechanics that are shoehorned and effect the core idea of the game. Shadow of War is a good example of this.
The game was a mess because of Videogame monetization methods being implemented to the very core of the game’s mechanics. The game was later removed of all such elements and balanced out to reflect what would probably have been what the creators originally intended.
This made it a much better game. But the game’s reputation was tarnished during the release, which is when a game typically gains the bulk of its user base. So, the damage remains done, which is a shame for such an excellent game.
We can add so examples to this list like, Star Wars Battlefront 2, all of the recent NBA 2K games (which still have microtransactions in it) etc, but you get the point. With the above set of issues, there is the ever-present pressure of finishing the game to meet fiscal deadlines, which once again results in unfinished messes like Assassins Creed Unity, and more recently WWE 2K20.

The rift between the two sides sometimes damages the end product and the creators to an irredeemable degree. Many creators and studios who were once revelled for their games have been the face of controversy over questionable game mechanics that were aimed squarely at the interest of what the publishing company wants to achieve.
And in most cases, these mechanics would not have been part of the creators’ vision for the game. But the disruption doesn’t stop there.
Publishers like EA have a reputation of buying out studios only to close them when they see that it makes financial sense to the company. This is justified from a business point of view, taking into account that they are answerable to the stakeholders. And in most cases, the resources from the dissolved studios have been utilised in the company’s various other projects, with few instances of layoffs.

But the fact remains that a group of people who were part of a creative team, which EA once saw potential in, have now been dismantled and the inherent creativity that existed in the team is now lost.
There are various examples like this by various companies if we turn the pages of history. And the truth is that publishing companies are a necessity for the creative process of a videogame to run its course and engage with the player.

But all is not bleak and sombre.
The gaming community is one of the most outspoken communities out there. Big companies have started to take note and have realised that their reputation is as equally important as the dollars they make. EA which once cancelled an Amy Hennig led single-player Star Wars title in favour of making a multiplayer live service game, has now made up for it with Star wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Ubisoft who once released the unfinished Assassin’s Creed Unity to meet the release deadline is now willing to take a year’s break in order to put out a better product. Then we have companies like Sony and Microsoft, who provide complete creative freedom for their studios’ project while funding the game.
With the process of making a game-changing with time, and the industry trends changing alongside, who knows how the future of creators is going to be. It is good to see that companies are learning from their mistakes and that gives hope. Hope that someday the creatives and corporates work like a well-oiled machine and produce even more excellent games that will have us talking for years to come. It may sound cliché, but it is something that the industry needs right now.
At iXie gaming, we have worked on several titles over the years and have vast experience in various traditional game testing methods and unconventional methods such as Ad-hoc and destructive testing. We would love to hear more about your game in the comment section.

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5 Games That Surprised Us This Generation

Ishaq Ali — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 01:14:26 +0000

The feeling of having played a surprisingly good game is priceless. But, in a time where most games are designed to make the most money and sequels make the most sense for companies, such surprises are few and far between. However, there have been quite a few surprises in the recent past that we will remember fondly for years to come. From games that delivered something fresh by shifting genres to games that were assumed to be passable that turned out to be amazing, the five games featured in this list have surprised us in one way or another. Let’s take a look.

Apex Legends

Dropping out of nowhere, Apex legends invaded the Battle Royale scene early this year and have been on quite a roll since. Serving as one of the better BR games out there, rivalling the likes of full-priced games like Call of Duty and Battlefield in quality, this free to play game blends hero-based tactical shooting with squad-based gameplay, encouraging strong co-op strategy. The myriad of ‘quality of life’ features, like the ping system, that Apex had on day one also meant that this game was less about resource management and more about core survival within the length of the match.

With far superior gunplay and mobility than the likes of PUBG and Fortnite, Apex Legends carries the DNA of Titanfall, the universe in which the game takes place. The game has also kept things fresh for the most part by adding new heroes and a complete revamp of the map with its ongoing third season. As expressed by its developers, this game has a long roadmap. So, here’s hoping that Apex will stay just as awesome in the years to come.

Resident Evil VII

Sony’s 2016 E3 press conference will be remembered for a lot of things. And perhaps one of the reveals that made the show so good was that of Resident Evil VII. After the disappointment that was RE6, Capcom had to shake things up with the franchise. And shake things up it did. Gone was the action-centric third-person shooter with huge corporate propaganda for its story. RE VII was a new and important step for the series as it ventured into first-person horror territory. Secluding the events to a creepy mansion and a family of hostiles to defend yourself from, the game delivered the chills in spades.

The near photo-realistic visuals only elevated the cringe factor, and in the best way possible. Like God of War 2018 for its franchise, RE VII turned the tide of a dying series and breathed new life to it. A special mention also goes to the Resident Evil 2 remake, which was a bold and fresh take on a beloved classic, one that also turned out to be one of the best games in the series. However, the spot on this list goes RE VII solely for its role in revitalising the Resident Evil Brand.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey released to a relatively indifferent fanbase during a crowded holiday season. The game’s E3 showing earlier that year was not all that impressive and the whole demo felt like something out of a run of the mill, yearly iteration, albeit sticking to its rebooted structure. But things changed just a couple of hours into the game. By the time you are done with your missions is Kefalonia and head into the open seas with the title of the game appearing on the screen, you know that this is one very special game.

Following siblings Alexios and Kassandra, the story ranges from real-world issues like plagues and famine to the mythical to the downright hilarious. And it is this playful approach that acts as one of the strengths of the game. Throw in some RPG elements for good measure and a rather interesting skill tree full of abilities and perks to unlock and revamped combat, and you have a game that offers dozens of hours of gameplay while hardly ever feeling stale.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Developer Ninja Theory has always intrigued me, mostly because of how good they are at making amazing story-driven action games, but also partly due to the fact that they haven’t been able to succeed in a big way despite all that talent showcased in their games. Heavenly Sword, which was an early title for a struggling PS3, failed to find a large audience due to the PS3’s install base at the time. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was overlooked at a time when multiplayer games were booming and were all the rage. So much so that every game had to have some sort of MP option added to it. DMC, despite being a stellar game, was not received well by the Devil May Cry fan base. All amazing games in their own right, but not very successful.

All of that changed with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Going independent, Ninja Theory made the best of what was available in terms of resources and focused all of their efforts on creating a solid and memorable experience within a shorter runtime. The amount of research done by the team on psychosis, which is a key theme in the game, shows their dedication towards authenticity in their creation. The end product looked nothing short of a big-budget AAA title, and the game as a whole was fantastic. All the accolades and awards the game has since won are all well deserved.

Nier: Automata

Platinum games are no stranger to making ridiculously awesome action games. But they truly outdid themselves with Nier: Automata. A brainchild of director Yoko Taro, the game bends the rules of game design in every way possible. From its unique approach to storytelling to its tendency to turn genre conventions on its head, Nier: Automata kept throwing surprises at every opportunity. An open-world RPG at heart, the game featured combat that is reminiscent of any Platinum Games title, only somehow better.

The thought-provoking story is just one of its many strengths, along with a fantastic score and a beautiful yet unsettling world. Considering Platinum’s track record, this game did garner some hype prior to release. But all expectations were blown away by the sheer weirdness and absurdity at play and I mean that in the best way possible. Nier: Automata was one hell of a thrill ride through and through. One that will still have you hooked right from the get-go. No wonder this game is considered a masterpiece by many.

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The State of AAA Games during an Industry Evolution

Ishaq Ali — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 06:41:08 +0000

Video games today come in many way shapes and forms. From the short and sweet indie titles to large scale Battle Royale games, video games have evolved quite rapidly in the last 15 years. And one of the products of this evolution is the term AAA Gaming. AAA games span across multiple genres and, of course, attract large audiences. But with rising game development costs and little to no margin for error, these games do evoke a sense of ‘high risk equals high reward’. And probably that is why there has been a notion, for years now, that AAA games are dying. But take a closer look and that seems to be very far from the truth.

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The birth of ‘AAA’ Games.

To understand this better we need to look at what does a AAA game mean and go to its roots. Back in the PS1/PS2 days, videogames were just video games. Regardless of the length of the game, or the scope of it or how cinematic or silly it looked, they were just games sold on discs. This meant that Parappa the rapper would be looked at the same way as say, Shadow of the Colossus (PS2). Granted they are completely different games in terms of genre, scope and almost everything else, but they were still games. Nothing distinguished them based on their status. But put out two games of similar scope and scale today and one will be AAA production, possible only made by a large studio. So how did this begin? The answer lies within the 7th generation of consoles, where the industry shifted from SD to HD, thus embracing new standards in quality and gameplay in games. This also meant a huge increase in the cost of production for these games. Unfortunately, this eventually led to the end of most mid-tier studios and publishers who had had 2 or more games that had failed in this generation. And the ones who survived keep making big budget games today. Also, during this transition was the rise of indie games. The kind of games made by teams of a few people who felt fresh took a lot of creative risks and resonated with the audience. So, this helped draw a line between the two sides of the industry and term AAA gaming started been thrown in more than ever for the ones made by the big studios.

Why are they ‘Dying’?

Naturally, big budget means big risks and it also meant that most companies that put these games out have investors to answer for. This meant that the AAA companies had very little room for error and had to come with creative ways to keep their companies afloat. Too many studios who stuck to the traditional way of making and selling games had to shut their doors during the PS3/360 era. Enter the idea of DLC. Thanks to the capabilities of the 7th gen consoles and the internet infrastructure at the time, studios could now release optional post-launch content for the users to buy. We all know the rest though. This evolved into micro-transactions which evolved into loot boxes, which of course resulted in some very nasty controversies. Even games as recent as Mortal Kombat 11, a game in which you can feel the amount of love and care put into making it, has fallen prey to such practices. Perhaps this, more than anything, is what has led people to believe that these sorts of games are dying. That the risk is too high for companies and the interest for these game within the audience is fading, and this becomes a tough proposition in order to maintain sustainability and keep the companies afloat. And both statements are true to some degree. And if we look at the situation from that perspective, the future does look bleak.

The future of AAA games is bright

The ups and downs that followed big budget games throughout 7th and 8th generation of consoles is mind-boggling and is something for the history books. But if corporations are good at one thing, they are at taking notes. Although not many may change their practices, some of them are looking at ways in which games are not affected by design to accommodate microtransactions and loot boxes. To see a game like Borderlands 3, a game which can be perfect to make a boatload of money using micro-transactions, be announced with the quotes “There will be no micro-transaction or loot boxes” is very encouraging. Then there are companies like Sony, who have excelled in creating amazing big budget games and making that a successful business model, while steering clear from what is considered questionable business practices. There is no doubt that Sony is only going to double down on these games for their next console. This then points towards Microsoft who have had quite the lesson on the importance of good games and have invested heavily in creating multiple teams of talented individuals who will all be working on exclusive games for the next Xbox. Not to forget the new players like Google and Amazon’s inevitable entry into the market. All of these companies, at least Google out of the two, for now, are investing in studios to make games for their platforms. And the focus for all companies is to put out better games than their competitors.

Above all, us gamers do love our big budget games when they are done right and do not try to nickel and dime us. All of this only points to a better future for AAA games. And it will be exciting to see where the industry is headed in the next generation. Here’s hoping that it’s in the right direction.

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