Are AAAs starting to change?

SEANMCAD

So I made a comment about the new Conan Exlies with a lot of assumptions based on ignorance. 
I suggested the game didnt have buildings nor destructible structures. well it very much does. 
I dont recall this type of building in a AAA game other than Fallout 4 that I can recall so my question is this:

Are AAA games changing now for the better?

cameltosis

All you can say for certain is that AAA games are changing, but that has always been true. 

All developers aim to create a unique selling point. Sometimes its just the IP, sometimes its graphics, sometimes its gameplay. Its how they convince you to stop playing old games and buy their new ones. 

Sometimes these changes are for the better, sometimes for the worse, it really depends on your own point of view. Personally, I think we've seen the most improvements in graphics, physics and user interfaces and the least amount of improvements in gameplay.

But, evolution happens in short, irregular jumps. 2000-2010 saw mass uptake in personal computers, broadband internet and ever bigger displays so we saw a corresponding evolution in AAA games. Since then, to me it feels like we've plateaued. The crazy cost of AAA development has seen many playing it safe, opting for improvements in graphics and game size instead of improvements / innovations to gameplay. 

however, that can only last so long before the community starts seeking innovation in gameplay. This is whats given rise to the indie scene so its only natural that the AAA scene starts making improvements too. As computers continue to improve in power, so do the opportunities to innovate, we just need creative people with inspiring visions backed by publishers willing to take a risk. 

SEANMCAD

cameltosis said:

All you can say for certain is that AAA games are changing, but that has always been true. 
..... 

I dont agree with this statement at all. In fact its one of my primary complains about AAA is that they dont change. The rest of your post requires one to agree with your first statement which to the very core of my DNA I do not

danwest58

AAA Publishers are changing but I feel they are also seeing that there are too many MMORPGs on the market for what truly is a niche market.  You cannot make a MMORPG and expect high returns on it like WOW.  The best you can do is make an MMORPG and make a consistent revenue stream for 5 to 10 years if you make a good game.  

I think it will take another 5 or so years until MMORPGS become something people want to play all the time again because the longevity has gone downhill and people just from F2P game to F2P game and a few B2P/P2P games.  So Publishers are thinking what can they do to make a good MMORPG with that consistent revenue stream. 

SEANMCAD

danwest58 said:

AAA Publishers are changing but I feel they are also seeing that there are too many MMORPGs on the market for what truly is a niche market.  You cannot make a MMORPG and expect high returns on it like WOW.  The best you can do is make an MMORPG and make a consistent revenue stream for 5 to 10 years if you make a good game.  

I think it will take another 5 or so years until MMORPGS become something people want to play all the time again because the longevity has gone downhill and people just from F2P game to F2P game and a few B2P/P2P games.  So Publishers are thinking what can they do to make a good MMORPG with that consistent revenue stream. 

as a side note I think one thing that developers might not grasp is that I bet most people play WoW for the social aspect. friends play etc.

I would think the only WoW killer out there would have to make it easier to get friendly with your friends cute female friend.

as an example

immodium

SEANMCAD said:

Are AAA games changing now for the better?

If by adding base building/survival mechanics to games no, they aren't changing for the better.

SEANMCAD

immodium said:

SEANMCAD said:

Are AAA games changing now for the better?

If by adding base building/survival mechanics to games no, they aren't changing for the better.

fair answer

CrazKanuk

I think this is, actually, the plight of MMORPGs. I mean take a look at some of the AAA games that are getting the best reviews right now, not MMORPGs. Overwatch, Uncharted 4, The Witcher, Dark Souls, Doom. There are all very simple games. Actually, you could almost classify them as tedious. Oh! Actually, come to think of it, what was Overwatch? Yup! Overwatch was Titan. Why did Titan die? Well, it was a much, much larger, more complex game, but it "just wasn't fun". In fact, I'd go as far as to say that, with some exceptions, AAA games are becoming more and more simple and short. 

What are MMORPGs doing? Getting bigger and more bloated, tacking on additional features, blowing up schedules. For the promise of what? Remove WoW and we're talking about, what? 250k subs at the absolute most? 

For what it's worth, I think that Shards Online is going to offer a great deal to the MMORPG genre. I'm thinking of it like Minecraft for D&D Folk. 

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SEANMCAD

blueturtle13 said:

AAA games, just like Indie games, are just games.

I cant disagree with you more.

The difference between those two camps from what I see is radically different in the majority of examples I see.

I think the rest of your post kinda requires the person to agree with your first sentence in order to get any traction out of it.

added: gamers often GROSSELY under estimate the power of advertising campaigns which involve much more then just adds

joeslowmoe

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

SEANMCAD

joeslowmoe said:

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

I am like an x-smoker. I used to drink heavy from the AAA koolaid so I know how the fanboies think

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SEANMCAD

blueturtle13 said:

SEANMCAD said:

blueturtle13 said:

AAA games, just like Indie games, are just games.

I cant disagree with you more.

The difference between those two camps from what I see is radically different in the majority of examples I see.

I think the rest of your post kinda requires the person to agree with your first sentence in order to get any traction out of it.

added: gamers often GROSSELY under estimate the power of advertising campaigns which involve much more then just adds

I never expected you to agree with it. Yet it is true. Many AAA titles are awesome and amazing titles. Just as many Indie games are awesome and amazing titles. Yet on the same hand there are many AAA titles that are crap. Just as there are many Indie games that are crap. Being AAA does not make it crap. Being Indie does not make it good.

yeah two different things.

1. are they the same quality
2. are the the same

indie game and AAA games are not alike, they are very different. They both might be great fun (at least to you) but they are radically different. I think you would have a hard time explain how they are the same and yet indies rarely ever have cut scenes and AAAs rarely have building features.

Are they both equally as fun? (you think so, I dont) but that is a different conversation from:
'AAA games, just like Indie games, are just games.' (implied being they mostly have the same features)

that statement is fundamentally not true and its not subjective, I can proove it.


I am not explaining this as well as I would like but I think you are smart enough to understand what I am saying and how I felt your statement implied what I am suggesting

joeslowmoe

SEANMCAD said:

joeslowmoe said:

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

I am like an x-smoker. I used to drink heavy from the AAA koolaid so I know how the fanboies think

You're just buying into a different type of propaganda.  Same shit, same toilet.

SEANMCAD

joeslowmoe said:

SEANMCAD said:

joeslowmoe said:

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

I am like an x-smoker. I used to drink heavy from the AAA koolaid so I know how the fanboies think

You're just buying into a different type of propaganda.  Same shit, same toilet.

no see that is just it and that is why when you sit where I do you see how blindly painfully bright and obvious the contrast is. its not minor its TITANTICALLY HUGE but the fact that people can look at it and not see it leads me to only think they are drunk on the koolaid

[Deleted User]

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joeslowmoe

SEANMCAD said:

joeslowmoe said:

SEANMCAD said:

joeslowmoe said:

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

I am like an x-smoker. I used to drink heavy from the AAA koolaid so I know how the fanboies think

You're just buying into a different type of propaganda.  Same shit, same toilet.

no see that is just it and that is why when you sit where I do you see how blindly painfully bright and obvious the contrast is. its not minor its TITANTICALLY HUGE but the fact that people can look at it and not see it leads me to only think they are drunk on the koolaid

Lol, another very cryptic message of your superiority.  Fascinating as ever.

You should really start selling magic beans.  I hear they're a hot commodity.

Also keep in mind then =/= than.  Please for the love of god.  Put some of your "superior" vision and intellect to use on basic grammar. 

SEANMCAD

blueturtle13 said:

SEANMCAD said:

blueturtle13 said:

SEANMCAD said:

blueturtle13 said:

AAA games, just like Indie games, are just games.

I cant disagree with you more.

The difference between those two camps from what I see is radically different in the majority of examples I see.

I think the rest of your post kinda requires the person to agree with your first sentence in order to get any traction out of it.

added: gamers often GROSSELY under estimate the power of advertising campaigns which involve much more then just adds

I never expected you to agree with it. Yet it is true. Many AAA titles are awesome and amazing titles. Just as many Indie games are awesome and amazing titles. Yet on the same hand there are many AAA titles that are crap. Just as there are many Indie games that are crap. Being AAA does not make it crap. Being Indie does not make it good.

yeah two different things.

1. are they the same quality
2. are the the same

indie game and AAA games are not alike, they are very different. They both might be great fun (at least to you) but they are radically different. I think you would have a hard time explain how they are the same and yet indies rarely ever have cut scenes and AAAs rarely have building features.

Are they both equally as fun? (you think so, I dont) but that is a different conversation from:
'AAA games, just like Indie games, are just games.' (implied being they mostly have the same features)

that statement is fundamentally not true and its not subjective, I can proove it.

No you can't because they are both games. That implies nothing. It is a simple statement of fact. AAA title is a game. An Indie title is a game. End of story.

So a AAA title has to have a building feature to be as a good as a supposedly superior Indie game?
I have played plenty of Indie games with cutscenes. Does that make them AAA?

We can agree to disagree.

Everyone here knows your stale AAA is bad point of view.
Many of us like games. Period. If it is good I will play it. If I have fun with it than I could care less what budget it had. 

them both being games and making that a full stop is like saying they are all like Tetris and it comes off as a way to just mute the arguement completely.

when dicussing the difference between different types of games you cant pulll the 'oh they are all games' card.

now..if you dont mind I would perfer you didnt respond to this post

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SEANMCAD

blueturtle13 said:

SEANMCAD said:

them both being games and making that a full stop is like saying they are all like Tetris and it comes off as a way to just mute the arguement completely.

when dicussing the difference between different types of games you cant pulll the 'oh they are all games' card.

now..if you dont mind I would perfer you didnt respond to this post

I play Top Spin games (AAA) and Tennis Elbow (Indie) Both Tennis, both games. Games are games.

I can respond to any post I please. No one cares what you want or do not want. If you do not want someone to respond, ignore them. Then you wont see the responses. Pretty simple solution kiddo.

yes I know you can respond to who you want to which is why I framed it as an Ask. I just letting you know that to be frank I really really do not like talking to you and on this specific sub topic I am done

I have said that AAA games and indie games are very different and I am not about to find myself in a debate over 'they are games' because that is  BS arguement

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SEANMCAD

blueturtle13 said:

It is not an argument at all. You are making it one. When you don't have a cogent and rational line of rebuttal you shut down and exit the conversation.
We are all aware of your lack of rational abilities in regards to intellectual discourse.
Sometimes it is fun to see just how deep into that rabbit hole you will go.
Like a weird reality show.
Cheers!

I am not here to talk about how all games are games and thus one can not talk about the difference between them.

now please...

Gaendric

Both big and small budgets come with their own upsides and downsides.
It's just personal preference which of these upsides and downsides you find important or not.

SpottyGekko

joeslowmoe said:

SEANMCAD said:

joeslowmoe said:

Wow this guy is really hung up on arbitrary titles. 

I am like an x-smoker. I used to drink heavy from the AAA koolaid so I know how the fanboies think

You're just buying into a different type of propaganda.  Same shit, same toilet.

Yup, first he was drinking AAA-koolaid, now he's drinking indie-koolaid !  

[Deleted User]

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